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Well, it’s one way of getting some publicity for a largely unreported working visit.
Hat tip to Ellen Tordesillas
“At the exchange rate of P47.75 to a dollar, the Le Cirque dinner of Gloria Arroyo and her friends cost the Filipino people P954,000 or almost P1 million.”
Who picked up the tab?
Popularity: 3% [?]
[...] as Manuel L. Quezon III writes, but it is only a matter of people getting detached from reality. Manuel Buencamino over at FV is attracting a lot of debate (and LOL, too). Sparks’ satirical take on the matter is [...]
[...] AM Manuel Buencamino raises the relevant questions concerning the tab: Did she pay cash or charge? Who actually settled [...]
[...] AM Manuel Buencamino raises the relevant questions concerning the $20,000 tab: Did she pay cash or charge? Who actually [...]
[...] we could say that as the head of state, GMA should not be seeing eating at a McDonald’s, as Ben Cardinez asserts in Manuel Buencamino’s entry in Filipino Voices. The Presidency should be given the honorable standing that it has from something as grand as a [...]
and what did this guy johnson expect, a dinner at macdonald’s or pinoy turo-turo in queens? what does he think of our president? your contempt of her must have rubbed in on this despicable gossip- monger. even failed american executives of bankrupt entities get to travel around in luxury corporate jets and dine in ostentatious opulence even as they are groveling for bailout money from the taxpayers who, themselves are mostly in financial bind due to unemployment and mortgage foreclosures on their homes. and, btw, need i say anything about travel accommodations for obama and his extended family in the white house? and what about the democrat-dominated congress wanting to gift themselves with 8 luxury jets for their use?
Utang na loob!!!
what the hell is that for? is that from a teleserye?
but obama is US president, a rich country. shouldnt the leader of a (much) poorer country be more circumspect?
how do you define circumspect, gabbyd? at a time when u.s. is reeling economically, with budget deficits in the trillions and taxpayers rampaging in town hall meetings all over the country, among other financial and economic woes, how circumspect this country should be?
circumspect — to be wary. that the filipino president should be circumspect about her actions, especially about ostentatious behavior.
this is coz the philippines is a much poorer country than the US.
And for the reasons you cited — hard economic times, etc… great reasons for austerity.
right?
GabbyD:
a restaurant that has $35/plate dinner isn’t extravagant. it is not cheap, but it is not ostentatious either – it is actually very modest.
a typical weekend dinner in olive garden complete with hour d’ouvres and apertifs, wine, entree, dessert, and gratuities is $40.
…”even failed american executives of bankrupt entities get to travel around in luxury corporate jets and dine in ostentatious opulence even as they are groveling for bailout money from the taxpayers who, themselves are mostly in financial bind due to unemployment and mortgage foreclosures on their homes”
isn’t this exactly what people in the US are criticizing? are you saying the above is OK?
what i am saying is that this guy johnson should wipe out the mote from his eyes first before making fun of somebody else’s. what does he think of tordesillias and buencamino, chop livers?
i don’t get that either. johnson is a NY society/humor writer. he writes about stuff in NY.
this happened in NY.
whats the problem then?
but gabby, pgma is a visiting head of state. what is johnson’s interest in “gossiping” about how much is the cost of her dinner menu, and irrelevantly trying to make a malicious connection with a convicted corrupt military general? who fed him the venom? i bet another pinoy who was not invited and dying of INGGIT.
You know, so many people are overreacting. How sure are you that the money spent for that dinner is from the taxpayers? As far as I know,the cost of meals of government officials doing official business should not exceed what is set by COA. Yung sobra, sila na ang magbabayad. I’m sure, personal money na ni GMA ang ginamit niya. And what should we expect form a President? Conduct a dinner meeting at a fastfood chain just to show that she’s trying to be frugal as all Filipinos are supposed to be doing in these hard times?
If it was a business meeting, they could’ve held it in the embassy.
If it was for r&r and the money spent came out of their own pockets, its an extravagance that should be taken in the context of:
1. appearances, they’re public officials of a developing country
2. a country in mourning for Cory
jan, you know what they would have said if gma, her party and guests had their business dinner at burger king? pakitang-tao, nakakahiya, walang class, artista, mahinang klase, walang galang sa kanyang katungkulan, tanga, malda, baduy, poor taste, tacky, etc., etc.
to these people, this is what i ask, while you guys are at it, why don’t you examine all available record on how much the philippine government spent on the trips of aquino, ramos, and erap and compare each with that of gma (with allowance for inflation & exchange rates)?
Jan:
I agree.
Mourning does not have anything to do with a state dinner – that’s too OA –
As to keeping up with appearances. that’s so hypocritical.
Bong,
We already know what kind of swine run this country. Keeping up appearances on their part would’ve meant a teeny-tiny bit of delicadeza left in their bodies. They could’ve left us some glimmer of hope they’re not all GARAPAL.
But with this bit of news, along with everything else that has unfolded in the past few months, beyond a doubt we can conclude this country is run by swine.
if your country is run by swine, what does that make you?
Sparks:
I agree about the need for fiscal modesty.
Look at the upside, it did not cost taxpayers any money.
swine _ss
Manong Bencard,
It makes me a romantic fool, still living here fighting the good fight. Obviously not smart like you. But I too will grow old, don’t you worry :-)
Let’s assume , GMA did not pay the tab..
Facts:
According to the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009 surveys indicate that bribery has been an increasing problem. In the World Bank & IFC Enterprise Survey 2003, 45% of companies and other admit to having paid bribes in order to ‘get things done’, and in the SWS Business Survey on Corruption 2007. The worst and common types of private sector corruption in the Philippines are illegal donations, gifts or gratuity such as dinner, bottle of wines to public officials and other forms of bribery in order to influence policy-making.
Regardless if GMA was having a personal affair, a public official must conform to the rule of law and be a role model. It is irrelevant to talk that she did not pay for it. The point is , it is not an acceptable conduct for a public figure.
Thats a lot of Gluttons. They could had just eaten in a Chinese
Restaurant. The MENUs are good and cost less. If you eat in a fancy
restaurant, with fancy menus. It can cost a lot. You are also paying
for the name.
Hamburgers that cost in U.S. $3.00 cost in Switzerland U.S. 7.00.
But, you can buy in Grocery Stores. And eat in your HOTEL. If you want to cut cost.
Anyway, these people are not spending their money. Why bother?
I saw a lot of “asungots”, free riders, and other people who are
not supposed to be there. They are all Gluttons.
They could had just eaten in a good Chinese Restaurant. It woould had
cost less. The food are also good. Especialy in the “all you can
eat Restaurant”.
They went to a Fancy Restaurant. With Fancy Menus. And Fancy foods.
So, it cost them a lot.
Anyway, it was not their money the are spending. Who cares? As long
as we can enjoy ourselves!
i can smell INGGIT.
Nagbabayad ka ba ng buwis dito the Pilipinas Atty. Ben ?
No, it is revulsion to the nth degree.
thanks for answering in my behalf, rosa. now i fire you as my self-appointed spokesperson because you have no clue on what you are blubbering about.
ding, yes, mostly property taxes. are you happy now?
Revulsion for GMA and company for their insensitive and unconscionable acts of decadence and arrogance is the feeling that Hyden Toro is expressing. I would never speak for you since you I don’t know what you are foaming in the mouth for except that you are a rabid GMA fan and that even this act of conspicous extravagance by the GMA group of gluttons does not prick your sense of propriety or delicadeza.
Sir its not INGGIT,its CONCERN kasi im sure pera ng bayan ang ginamit,siguro kayo sustentado ng presidente kaya sobrang pagtatanggol ginagawa nyo about this news…..PGMA…presidente ng corruption
Romualdez money paid the dinner…. if you can believe Ellen Tordesillas when she writes pera ni Congressman Romualdez ang ginamit.
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=6617
Anyway, matutulog na muna ko. Bukas na kita kakausapin hinggil sa isyung ito.
They could had rented a good Dining Hall. Hired a good Restaurant
on contractual basis. Enjoyed all the foods they can eat. Let those
Gluttons eat themselves to death.
While people are dying eating leftovers from Phil. restaurants, our president goes to the most expensive place to dine. I wonder how they will spin this. Oh wait, I know, they will say these vacuous Filpinos voted these people into power so it is their fault.
le cirque is not expensive, its menu is priced the same as olive garden. if you want expensive NYC fare – go to
1. Masa
There are just 26 seats in Masa, an elegantly designed Japanese restaurant in the Time Warner Center. There is no menu; all diners will spend about 3 hours having an unparalleled omakase experience.
* Cuisine: Japanese
* Address: 10 Columbus Circle, Time Warner Center, 4/F
* Phone: 212-823-9800
* Neighborhood: Midtown West (Map)
* Hours: Dinner served Monday to Saturday 6:00pm-9:30pm
Lunch served Tuesday to Friday 12:00pm-1:30pm
* Subway: 1/9/A/B/C/D to 59th St./ Columbus Circle
* Price Range: $300-500 prix-fixe
olive garden for 20thousand?! paano yun when per dish, its 20-25 max ang sa Olive garden…
ilan ba silang kumain?
Bong hindi sila kakasys.
The presidentil party was at least 30-strong.
di naman lahat talgang ibinoto sya,FPJ talga ang tunay na winner nun NADAYA lang syempre gagawin nila ang lahat makapandaya lang sa election dahil nasa kapangyarihan sila….kung to si Gloria may malasakit talga sa bansa natin sana di nya insip pa na gumastos ng ganitong halga dahil sa isang dinner lang
aanhin mo ang matalinong politiko kung puro kurakot sa bansa din lang ang gagawin at hayok pa sa kapangyarihan.
kawawang bansa….baon sa utang
What makes you think it was paid for by taxpayers money?
Could have been paid by a host, a supporter, a lobbyist.
jumping to conclusion without the facts, puro tsismis, talagang tabloid.. alang ka-taste taste.. pweh
If it was a business meeting, they could’ve held it in the embassy.
If it was for r&r and the money spent came out of their own pockets, its an extravagance that should be taken in the context of:
1. appearances, they’re public officials of a developing country
2. a country in mourning for Cory
And Cerge Remonde has already confirmed it, per Ellen Tordesillas
Confirmed that it is paid for by Cong Romualdez!!!!
o anong problema?
yes, business meeting with potential foreign investors. ramos did it at waldorf-astoria. erap did at the plaza (or was it sheraton’s at times square?). i attended a business meeting with ordinary entrepreneurs and it was at hyatt on park avenue, what’s the big deal?
as a frequent visitor at the n.y. philippine consulate, i’m not aware of a space big enough, and with adequate facilities, to hold a major task of “selling” the philippines to would-be foreign investors by no less than the country’s chief executive.
Business meeting with investors? If am the investor, I would not even put down a cent when I can see how lavish their spending is. We had a meeting with our potential Asian investors who own mines, software companies, and are extremely rich. We held it a decent Chinese restaurant here. We did not want to spend our shareholders money recklessly and we did not want to scare our investors by our ostentatiousness. Our business partner just sold a company for a billion dollars so I am sure he can afford to “impress our investors” as you put it but he was all for modesty.
Could have been paid by a host, a supporter, a lobbyist.
Bawal yan sa batas,
aling batas?
merong bang bawal sa pilipinas?
bawal kung mahuli..
red light.. go kung walang nakatingin..
wag umihi sa poste.. ihi kung walang nakatingin..
wag umebak sa kalye.. ebak kung walang nakatingin..
wag tumawid kung pula ang ilaw .. tawid kung walang nakatingin..
wag magdrive sa shoulders… drive kahit may nakatingin..
magpakatotoo..
are you condoning breaking the law Bong? what are you saying?
Gab,
Na-disilusyon na siguro si Manong Bong. Nababoy nga naman na kasi lahat eh. Since pinalagpas na ng Pinoy ang lahat ng kagarapalan ng Malacanang, ano nga ba naman itong isang milyong pisong hapunan ni Gloria?
cite the specific applicable law – and let’s discuss. fair?
As stated before, this can be viewed as a one million peso gift from Imelda Marcos’ nephew.
Apparently not a business meeting. And as the news now confirms, it seemed like a celebratory dinner of sorts with 27 people – congs, staff, gma’s family and Fil-ams like Manong Bencard :-)
i used to be a presidential appointee… i resigned, for reasons that are quite obvious to all. Mr. Bencard, you know what I’m talking about.actually, we all know what I’m talking about.No need for accusations,reasons or insinuations. We all need a STRONG CONSCIENCE. I’m still praying for one now. We all should be..
Jimboy, kanya kanyang values lang yan eh. You can cannot impose your values on anyone eh. whatever decision you have made personal choice mo yan. And you can not use that to convince ALL filipino to be rabid Gloria haters for that. You can only lump your slef with peopel who share your values.
I cannot understand on why we qare making a big issue out of it,is only fitting for a sitting president to have dinner on a posh restaurant,do you expect a president to eat on a roadside diner and pick a tab of 25 us dollars for the cheap foods that they have eaten, i cannot understand the mentality of the filipino’s,put yourself in the shoes of the sitting president,what will you do?dont be a hypocrite,will you?
With regards the problem of hunger, quarterly studies by the social polling research firm Social Weather Stations show that the number of Filipino households suffering from hunger has significantly increased during Arroyo’s presidency. Her administration first set the record for hunger levels in March 2001, and beginning June 2004, broke the record again seven times. December 2008 figures saw the new record high of 23.7%, or approximately 4.3 million households, of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger.[38] -Wikipedia
This is why this sitting president should be more circumspect and no, we do not expect her to dine on a diner just to be less ostentatious.
Alvin,
I would spend within my salary.
I think it is good that people are watching everywhere. Maybe soon others will wake up to the fact that to be indiscriminate, as a representative of the People, is highly self-destructive. It is best to represent them well.
Joe
Yes Joe eyes are everywhere. These officials who go on junkets should be required to show a list all the attendees, the accompanying entourage, and the reason of their travel. The itinerary should be disclosed and a report on disbursements should be submitted for the public to scrutinize. Often, I see them come to Calgary just to see Banff which is tourist destination and go to Edmonton to see the biggest mall in Canada. In between these touring, they squeeze in a few hours to talk to the people here. This is on taxpayer’s tab.
it helps to have filipinos in 200 countries and territories all over :-)
ywah and higlight there being tsimosa every nook and corner of the universe
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Hackneyed sentence but it is still so true.
it’s her fault that we find fault in everything she does. hindi kasi siya mapagkakatiwalaan.
Being a poor country with millions going hungry, kagagohan ang gumastos ng sobra-sobra sa pagkain…specially spending the people’s money!
NAKAKAHIYA! Kasama ka ba doon?
It’s not people’s money.
There are entrie subdivision in the PI where residents spend money on food like crazy – Corinthian Gardens, Forbes Park, etc
Bueno Atty. Ben,
Sige kaw na pumasyal sa Le Cirque, marami ka namang ari-arian sa Pilipinas.
So ang sinasabi mo sa akin, sa amin, ok sa iyo na ang buwis na kinukuha sa iyo ay sa Le Cirque nagagamit.
Now I am truly your admirer, Manong.
Such a generous man you are, indeed.
It was not taxpayers money – get over it.
Bong, if you care to:
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/on-glamorizing-issues-and-the-law-on-gifts-to-public-officials/
BongV,
I find it interesting that you take this posture, considering your condemnations of Erap and his excesses. Also, you normally argue for people taking the road of responsibility, which people are: condemning this (apparently private) gluttony in the face of significant (public) need. “Let them eat cake.” You don’s see this?? I’m really surprised, and a tad disappointed.
Joe
same sentiment Joe
Yes yes for once agree with Jabba the Hut. How dare this kanuto compare our Queen who deserves her regal lifestyle to a pig who stole public money.
Bakit mabaho ba rin sin GMA kagaya ni Garcia? Aba hindi alam nang kanoi na Reyna nang Pinas si GMA at dapat lang siyang gumastos parang Reyna.
At kayong mga tanga na nabasa sa ulan sa paghintay nang mga labi ni dating Presidente dito sa Pinas ay inggit lang.
Ang ating Reyna ay hindi baboy period….
sino kaya ang tinatawag ng &*(*)%%& na ito na “jabba the hut”? seguro nakatingin sa salamin at nakikita ang itsura niya, har, har, har!
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/08/08/on-duplicity-and-fake-grief/
to Bencard: with regards to your feedback, i guess the president should at least show to that person(s) whats the real score of our country… yes they could still eat in mcdo or in turo-turo…. they also serve yummy foods. we all know that they are “well-known personality or so” but a million or almost a million dine is too much. if i do have that money i rather feed the orphans dba??? gusto naman cla na publicity e gawin nlang nila yun??? ^^
to hyden: i totally agree with you, there are bunch of good cooks here in our land nka “discount” pa cla sa gastos ^^
to joe: yes there will be lots of eyes who are watchful to there actions. now that the election is near i guess we must be vigilant to these personalities they sucks… sayang naman ang buhis natin kung hindi tayo mag voice-out dba??? i guess it’s time for us to make our big move to our country if not kahit a little. let’s keep what our late president cory aquino what she is fighting for…
Wait till you get an idea about “pagpag” which is special fare to slum dwellers in many urban centers in the Philippines and appreciate Arroyo’s spending a million taxpayers’ pesos for one dinner alone.
“Pagpag” is fastfood leftovers collected by enterprising pinoys who sort out the pasta, chicken pieces, rice, etc., pack these on plastic bags and sell it. Ganyan nabubuhay ang maraming kababayan natin, many of whom live several meters from Malacanang.
That Gloria and company (30 of them) spent $20,000 dinner while slum dwellers eat left-overs. This is what is vulgar and blindly insensitive even if this story gets reported in a linen papered journal and not a tabloid.
In retrospect – one pork barrel allotment will have more than $20000 per kupit in the Philippines – and that is taxpayers money – where is the righteous rage?
If there is known incident, write an article about it Bong and I am sure, you will the get the same outrage from the Filipinos especially at this time of economic hardship. The voters should really think twice or even thrice on what kind of officials we will install in Malacanang in 2010.
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
On a more serious note. It is amazing to watch the process of American socialism evolving since it started taking root some 80-90 years ago. . Both sides of the ideological aisle in American politics took active part in it since.
You see the wacko side of Americans complaining that Obama is socializing the country while most of these people complaining are on a government run health care system called Medicare and an entitlement system called Social Security. It was Ronald Reagan on advice of Alan Greenspan who increased payroll taxes during his term. That is more popularly known as your entitlement taxes or social security contributions.
Anyone who knows what the term surplus value creation will see that the government of the U.S. is already confiscating future surplus value from its citizens. That is called debt. It is not money but it does service as money. That is what is keeping Jabba the Hut literally alive.
As for Atty. Bencard you have to be the dumbest person who posts on this blog. I thought b0 would take the cake but you underwhelm him.
The U.S. is a post-industrial society. We are nowhere near that status.
I would hazard a guess that your property taxes paid would be an almost negligible amount in relation to your total income here in the Philippines.
President Aquino personally was a wealthy woman. Her humility and compassion makes the present occupant look like a pig. Her daughter Kris had said that her Mother had informed her that public service to the Filipino people required sacrificing oneself that Kris did not seem capable off.
That resonated with so many people here. I confess even for a jaded person like myself it struck home.
J_ag,
I agree with most of your points, and as it is a slow night, I’ll opine on a couple.
The complaint against Obama “socialism” in part considers government ownership of GM and several big financial companies as if it were an ideological objective, which it is not. The corporate ownership came from structural failings in the free-enterprise system. Government was faced with a choice: ownership or complete ruin of the American economy. If that kind of ownership be socialism, “all hail socialism”. It is tending to my capitalist greed with a 71% gain in my stock portfolio since Obama took over.
Furthermore, debt is not bad if used properly to obtain today what will be valuable in the future, like road infrastructure or technological innovations (e.g., to understand and combat global warming). When it is used to fight needless wars, however, that penalizes future generations. They get nothing but the paydown of the debt. The tragedy (stupidity) of Cheney/Bush was that they gave tax breaks to today’s rich and then used the wealth of future generations to fund a war that need not have been fought.
Joe
joe, i’ve told you once and i tell you again: just you watch with eyes wide open. there’s no sense arguing. it’s only been 7 months and u.s. is going downhill.
Joe while everyone forgets the main issue on this particular thread — politics and leadership depends a lot of symbolism to transmit or communicate messages.
Also the issue of socialism is not simply who owns the means of production but which economic agent directs and allocates resources in a particular economy.
The economic history of the U.S. teaches us that it was the government of FDR that instituted a 90% progressive income tax rate that created the egalitarian society that the U.SA. once was. This lasted till the government of JFK. The state then and for a time was responsible for the allocation of most of the surplus resources produced. The Humphrey Hawkins bill also tasked the government to insure full employment. Marx’s and Adam Smith’s economic theories sank in the 19th century. His theories on societal development continue to resonate and are proven correct time and time again.
Also the agencies created by that particular government and laws passed in the 30′s once again proved their mettle during this extraordinary collapse of free market capitalism in the financial economy. That has now migrated to the real economy of the planet. Just like in the 30′s.
The contrast in states having institutions to maintain stability in their societies compared to this bunch of apparent arrogant SOB’s who fail to appreciate the state of their own society. People living in the U.S. do not begrudge the wide disparity of incomes in their society as they have mechanisms that temper the contradictions.
They have a nominal per capita income of $ 40k + while the Philippines has a PCI of
$2K.
The Philippines does not the same privilege as the U.S. in simply kiting their debts into the future as the world is subsidizing Americas cost of borrowing. The year 2008 will go down in history as the begining of the end of dollar hegemony. No more free rides for the U.S. on the backs of less developed economies.
We are witnessing the start of the end of a unipolar world dominated by the U.S. No more G-1. In 20 years the center of the planet will move to Asia. There is no stopping the rise of living standards of almost half the worlds population.
Unfortunately by that time the Philippines would probably disappear as a unified state. With leaders like the present one who have no sense of country or emphaty for the majority of Philippine society.
Bencard,
My stocks are up 71% since Mr. Obama took over. The stock market is the best guide as to how the economy is doing, as it speaks to all the pros and cons of every political and non-political impact — the deficit, unemployment, EVERYTHING.
Your enduring exaggerations and miscast blames are intended to slander the President for whom you pray . . . or did you mean “prey”.
They also paint you as either non-objective or uninformed. The economy is sound, it is returning from the brink where Mr. Bush took it, and the future is healthy. You are letting your biases color either your assessments or your utterances.
Joe
Joe,
Please do tell stocks of what companies are you holding. When all the other big names are going downhill, yours grew by 71%?
Danny,
The whole market is up, since April. You could have bought about anybody at that low point and made 40% to 80%. One of my favorites is Cisco. I own GE, which is still struggling because of its financial business. I stuck with Ford to the brink, when it got down to $2 a share; it is now $8. You buy at your own risk, though; now seems pricey to me. heh
Joe
J_ag,
Yes I am with you on most of your points. It is too soon to write off the dollar, however, as the world needs a currency. I note that when the world economy gets shaky, money still runs to dollars.
I do agree that China will become an economic giant, and Asia more dominant than either Europe or the US, separately. And a part of the US “fall” from dominance will be voluntary. Mr. Obama is unlike Mr. Bush, and has backed quickly away from unilateralism.
I appreciate your wisdoms.
Joe
There’s probably a Filipino cook or waiter in this restaurant who ratted on our President. *snicker*
Further insights here from veteran US based Filipino journalist Greg Macabenta who is a leader of NAFFA,the North America Federation of Filipino American Associations:
http://www.manilamaildc.net/2009/07/22/why-mice-walk-with-head-down/
No, I think it’s the work of the CIA, so they can have a stranglehold on GMA.:-)
holy cow… the tab is higher than her monthly CONSTITUTED salary. It is illegal to spend moneyin excess of what is allowable. WE need to demand transparency of allowable expenses for travel and entertainment to every executive. It’s another embarrassing story. I will blame the finance and presidential budget department for recklessly and negligently incapable of allocating proper and tolerable expenses. I would also blame the senate for being so uncommunicative about this issue. When executives have full access to people’s wealth without examining legitimacy… i can only say.. Good luck mga pinoy.
huh1???
… if GMA wants to spend her own money instead of sharing it to the needy Filipinos, then what?
… if it was actually on Juan’s tab, then what?
… can you picture now what kind of “leader” the Philippines have?
Bencard,
I don’t really care what you Americans do with your money. That’s your problem not ours.
I am bothered by the fact that you imply that “monkey see monkey do” is okay.
Besides, the only question I asked was who picked up the tab.
But now that I think about it, I should have asked another question.
Did she pay cash or charge? Who actually settled the bill? I doubt the restaurant would gave the tab to Gloria and she whipped out a bag of cash or her Amex black card.
At any rate….
If the taxpayer picked up the bill then I object.
If she paid for it out of her own pocket then she must have an incredible annual income.
If the bill was paid by a friend then that falls under the ban of government officials receiving large gifts.
If the party went dutch treat, then I want to know who “advanced” payment.
That’s all.
Bencard,
The Phil. Consulate in NYC keeps several boxes of wine. GMA and gang could have gone there.
geezh – the NYC consulate is about to be ejected for nonpayment of rent!!!
buencamino, then sue her, but when you lose, as i know you would, don’t cry “dinaya ako, waaaa”.
exactly.
file a complaint, sue. hindi yung puro tsismis.
Bencard,
then sue her? hahaha. wala ka ng masabi ano? Kabit papaano mo pa pagbalik-baliktarin ang storya hindi mo mailalagay yan sa maayos. Gloria boo-booed, nagpahuli siya sa New York Post. Hahaha!
Hi Mr. Buencamino,
Someone asked earlier what the applicable law was for a Filipino (a fellow politician at that) to spend for an elected official such that the act is criminal? The applicable law is Republic Act 3019.
Dean
Is Cong. Romualdez hosting dinner for any of the above reasons? Where is the proof of the allegation?
Public officials buy each other meals every day, they host parties anytime anywhere in the Philippines, with other officials attending – shall we hold them guilty of corrupt practices as well?
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Kung si GMA nga ang nagbayad, wtf, yun ang kapalit ng paggamit ng domestic flight para makatipid kunyari…eh mas grabe yun ginastos para lang sa alak…
If all 30 of the Obama visiting party joined Ms. Arroyo, the tab would have been $666 per person. It is excessive, and poses an image problem, especially given the blow-outs her husband had in Las Vegas.
Where is the sense of propriety, of perspective? It is like those million dollar corporate bonuses the US banks were paying at the same time they were looking to the US government for bail-out money.
It defies good judgment,
no matter the rationalizations . . .
Joe
Joe:
Cong Romualdez of Imeldific and company ain’t exactly about kowtowing to jolog sensibilities.
Bong,
Clearly. And rich people have the right to party hearty.
I think Ms. Arroyo has a lousy sense of public awareness, or lousy sense of caring, however.
Joe
Joe:
I understand the public’s mood. All am saying is when sobriety sets in, it did not cost taxpayers any money.
What do you think?
BongV,
Corporations have blowouts like that frequently. Public service is different, I think, and Ms. Arroyo seems to fall into situations where she does not read the public mood in the Philippines very well. It just doesn’t play well at home.
She perhaps has a tin ear, when it comes to public mood. Her husband took heat for his Las Vegas blow-outs, and now she does the same thing.
Joe
Joe:
That’s a typical drama in Philippine society which is best answered by the statement “What are we in power for”?
People get the governments they elect.
Lesson: Vote wisely, next time around – or it will be same o same, since the Republic was founded.
BongV,
I refrain from asking exactly how did the benefactor get rich. But lack of trust is an odd thing. Once you lose it, EVERYTHING is suspect. So Ms. Arroyo could do her job better if people trusted her better.
Joe
Joe:
People should have thought about Arroyo’s honesty very hardly – when she made an announcement not to run in public. Then months later, she runs. That was lying in public. If she can lie to a mammoth crowd, can you imagine how many more lies are being told in private?
But, people voted anyway, so…. :)
They asked for it… they got it… everytime these complaints come up – one might say, “I didn’t vote for Arroyo” well, for all authors and commenters in FV who didn’t vote for Arroyo, that’s easily outnumbered by those who voted for her in the elections – even if one removes the supposedly Garci factor. One can only cheat so much, after which it is a fair playing field.
That all these stuff com up is not surprising – at the end of the day, pinili ng pinoy, merisi, magtiis sila, they treated their votes haphazardly.
In retrospect, the perception was had FPJ won, it would have been Erap’s plunder all over again, not FPJ doing the plundering, but the people who have conned FPJ jnto running. Given that both an FPJ/Erap and Arroyo admin will plunder, then the choice becomes of both these plunderers who can at least bring in some economic growth.
BongV,
Yes, I agree, people need to accept responsibility for whom they elect, but they also have an obligation to voice their dissent if they see something wrong. To sit back in the armchair and be voiceless is not what democracy is about. It isn’t speak every four (or six) years, then shutup until the next election. Democracy is vibrant, pressures from everywhere, the checks and balances. The people also have right to check and balance.
Consolidating my responses to your notes elsewhere, a President is not entitled to be irresponsible just because no tax dollars are spent. The President is a caretaker of the country’s image, which has very real impact upon citizens. It is why George Bush did such a lousy job for the US; he didn’t care what others thought, and the US citizens paid the price in many, many ways.
Joe
Joe:
US citizens paid the prize for Dubya, exactly – and the GoP lost.
In the Philippinesm there is no GOP RNC or DNC just vacuous stubs calling itself as parties, Pinoys elect Dubyas one after another – never learn.
If anyone in the room cares to:
http://www.quezon.ph/2009/08/08/saint-and-tippler/
I think bashing this dinner of a president is a waste of time. We’d do better bashing bad Filipino habits and culture.
i’m sure GMA would agree with you
and let’s accuse the New York Post of being a Gloria- hater
Come to think of it, NY Post is another of those journalistic institutions whose truth content doesn’t go over 40%.
I’m not hitting journalists. I am saying… what’s in the papers is best taken with a grain of salt first before believing.
yes chino except that Remonde already confirmed the story
The new York Post is irrelevant. We the bloggers here are within REASON
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6713: Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees
Violation of the Rule of Law
1. Receiving any gift” includes the act of accepting directly or indirectly, a gift from a person other than a member of his family or relative as defined in this Act, even on the occasion of a family celebration or national festivity like Christmas, if the value of the gift is neither nominal nor insignificant.
2. Simple living. — Public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.
3. Solicitation or acceptance of gifts. — Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.
Exemption: As to gifts or grants from foreign governments, the Congress consents to:
(i) The acceptance and retention by a public official or employee of a gift of nominal value tendered and received as a souvenir or mark of courtesy;
(ii) The acceptance by a public official or employee of a gift in the nature of a scholarship or fellowship grant or medical treatment; or
(iii) The acceptance by a public official or employee of travel grants or expenses for travel taking place entirely outside the Philippine (such as allowances, transportation, food, and lodging) of more than nominal value if such acceptance is appropriate or consistent with the interests of the Philippines, and permitted by the head of office, branch or agency to which he belongs.
What is then acceptable to the filipino people? $20,000 is not even acceptable to any public officials in the White House….
what is reasonable for the average filipino or even the average american? ask the question and see if Mrs. GMA is acting according to ethic , value and behavior ?
leytenian:
have you attended a $1000 per plate fundraiser?
$20,000 is only 20 guests.
Do you know that Obama hosts $2000 per plate dinner fundraiser? Attended by more than a hundred Americans.
It seems to be lousy (really lousy!!) doesn’t it, this current “moderate-the-greed” middle- and upper-level bureaucrats of the Philippines as well as the whooopee-doodah line of presidents that Pinas has had through the years.
So will May-2010 elections be when Pinas turns the tide so people can say Manuel Quezon is right in both of these sentences:
benign0 can’t do it.
I dare say that the “we” in the second sentence above refers to Pinoys-in-Pinas voters. And May-2010 elections is as good a time as any :
Because, however bad a Filipino government might be,
we canPinoys-in-Pinas voters can always change it.UPn, i agree. You are half-right.
same protectionist charter under chokehold of landlord classes – since the 40s – what change where they talking about? that statement has still to show an iota of truth.
because however bad a Filipino government, Pinoys-in-Pinas always can leave it to their children’s generation to change things.
…. except (..mlq3 has pointed this out months ago in his articles and musings) a proportion of the 35-and-under generation would rather think of life overseas than work to get a better government in the change-over to a new July-2010-Malacanang resident.
People are always envy for the good fate of other people, if you cannot join them you will criticize them, what a crab mentally.
good fate of government officials? are these the “other people”
dcart,
i wonder if they had crab on the menu
You know you’re right. I am envious of the President and the Tongressmen with her. Now I want to be just like GMA. When I grow up, I want to be President of this Third World dump so I can have a one million peso dinner!
sparks:
by all means, if you are willing to pay the price, you can get there – question is, are you willing to pay the price?
Even if Mayor Bloomberg of New York paid for such a Lavish Dinner. Your country is mourning for a departed President. Your people are searching foods in the garbage dumps. People are laid off from their jobs.
Where is your sensitivity ? “I did not become President to be
popular “. This is what she is lacking;SENSITIVITY TO HER PEOPLE…
Latest Update on Palace reaction to New York Post story.
Gloria buttboy Cerge Remonde added, “It was just dinner pure and simple. There was no partying.”
So it was okay to blow $20 K on a dinner as long as there was no making merry?
apparently, remonde is not the best spokesperson in the world. he seems to have trouble with the spoken english. i bet what he meant by “partying” is drinking, dancing, ribbons and baloons, or what have you. he obviously forgot that it was a business dinner, as when a ceo of a corporation holds a gathering to showcase what his company has to offer to potential investors. as i said, in the u.s., even executives of bankrupt entities are known to spend lavishly for such occasions. it’s part of the “cost of doing business”.
bencard,
it was not a business dinner, It was a celebration of the 41st wedding anniversary of Bonnie and Clyde.
bencard,
who were the US businessmen incited to the dinner? How many were they?
MB, Manong Bencard was just making up the business part.
look guys, whenever the president goes outside of the country officially, he/she represents the whole philippines and all its people in her host country. that’s “doing business” in every sense. he/she has to project a positive image of the country and people, including dining at a decent restaurant. that’s an inherent part of being “presidential”. btw, gma is not exactly a rag-to-riches kind of a lady. she’s the daughter of a president who himself was a successful lawyer, professor and politician, whereas her mother came from a family not exactly impoverished. as to the first gentleman, he didn’t come from a destitute family either.
Bencard,
“It was a private dinner hosted by congressman Martin Romualdez so we do not know the bill. He paid for it,” said Remonde, declining to disclose the date of the dinner. Aside from Cabinet officials, around 30 lawmakers also joined the President in her working visit to the US where she met with President Barack Obama.
So there.
Cost of doing business? I bet a CEO that spends money like that when a corporation is in financial crisis will be fired by the Board.
As long as it is not taxpayers money, that is fine go ahead and blow it. It ain’t your money either, Romualdez has the money, he can flaunt it it for all you care.
Even if it ain’t taxpayers money, public officers are required to lead modest lives.
To give you good information. Olive Garden Restaurant in Times
Square, New York. The cost there of food is 3 times more than the cost of Olive Garden Restaurants elsewhere in U.S.A. Restaurants
anywhere in New York cost more than Restaurants in other States.
It is because; New York is the business center of the world. Restaurants there know that you are there for business. So, they
take some pound of flesh from you also. Especially, if they smell
you have money.
there you go, toro.
If you want great food and awesome ambiance, best is Peter Luger Steak House in Brooklyn. For a fraction of the cost…Then
Ssssssssizzzzzzlllllle!!!!!!
Hyden:
I compared the menu prices of CirqueNYC – and Bono’s Grill in Fl – it’s in the same range.
Same of Olive garden – the cirque menu is online, as well as olive garden – and while you are it – check out Bahama Breeze, Tony Roma’s, Outback, TGIFridays – it is within range of the $35/plate dinner.
Try going to Publix/Jewels/Albertsons and get a gift card to these restos – that’s easily $50 with a $25 mininum.
Now, if you wanna check out the chinese take out place on lexington and 28th – it’s just $5 lunch combo – gen tso chicken, broccoli, and white rice. :)
Hyden:
It really depends, the cost of Chinese food in NYC is actually a lot cheaper elsewhere – I can get a lunch combo w/ diet coke- Gen Tso+vegetables+white rice for $5.00 in Lexington and 35th.
In North East FL – that’s easily $5.50.
(3rd UPDATE)
First Gentleman Mike Arroyo was left behind in New York because he had to wash the plates at Le Cirque. after the restaurant’s management caught him using the credit card of Martin Romualdez.
O, bakit walang galit kay Congressman Romualdez when he could have sent the thousands-of-dollars to buy more rifle-ammo for Govt-Republic-Philippines troops in Mindanao instead of paying for dinner for GMA-entourage?
Now, where did this “…. GMA-group paid in cash” come from?
More tidbits (which one learns listening to the bloggers at EllenT’s site):
#59
prans – August 9, 2009 12:05 am
08 Aug 2009
Just curious, was it really romualdez who paid for the dinner? then my question is, where did he get the money?romualdez will say that his family is reach? my follow up question is where did the romualdez family got their money? and finally, is that martin romualdez the son of cocoy? if he is, then I rest my case.
prans
#60
Chabeli – August 9, 2009 12:18 am
Prans, Martin is the son of Kokoy Romualdez. He bought a 400M peso home previously owned by the spanish Roxas family on McKinley Road, across from his fathers house on Palm Avenue Forbes Park.
=============
Another view into political clans making kumbaya-Conciliation-Conciliation business-as-usual, and apparently Pinas can look forward to more such clans arriving at mutually-beneficial agreements.
“business meeting with potential foreign investors”
There were no foreigners in the retinue at Le Cirque FYI.
Fast track to heaven…
HBO documentary:
Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven
Btw, for a taste of heaven…
DRESS: JACKET REQUIRED
…and danilo suarez and amelita villarosa “did not want to make much of the affair” (from inquirer).
Bongv ‘Hello’,
‘geezh – the NYC consulate is about to be ejected for nonpayment of rent!!!’
The Philippine government owns the building where the Phil-NYC Consulate is located. Maybe you’re talking about the non-payment of taxes to NYC. That case was settled a few months back.
supremo:
thanks for the update. appreciate the new information.
Manong MB,
Ito obvious na halata…
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/of-profligacy-and-lack-of-proportion-the-le-cirque-brouhaha/
Shifting logic…. now pigging out is about “being presidential.”
Sige ng nga. NGE
Harks back to Nixon claiming everything he did as President was legal.
Eto naman : “he/she has to project a positive image of the country and people, including dining at a decent restaurant. that’s an inherent part of being “presidential”. btw, gma is not exactly a rag-to-riches kind of a lady. she’s the daughter of a president who himself was a successful lawyer, professor and politician, whereas her mother came from a family not exactly impoverished. as to the first gentleman, he didn’t come from a destitute family either.”
Ok na rin kahit si Rep. Romualdez ang pinagbayad… eh nagbayad daw.
Utang na loob!
even presidents eat too, ding, only they eat like presidents are supposed to. i wouldn’t exactly call that “pigging out”, that’s for nobodies like you and me, dude. btw, i didn’t nixon said that. did you make that up?
Nixon did.
In that historic interview with David Frost.
Be assured didn’t make it up.
Did you?
Pigging out is of course exercise of graphic literary license. :)
Bencard, di naman halata makagloria ka no?
Another head of state, Benedict XVI only has brot und wurters when meeting heads of states. The Vatican is on recession mode even if it has the treasures of heaven! BTW Benedict’s pair of red Gucci loafers was a gift and when media took notice, he promptly took it off.
Now our President could have been more discreet. She could have dinner at a less ostentatious venue. Her idiotic subalterns don’t get the drift at all. Unlike Marie Antoinette who can be forgiven for knowing only the sosyal “brioche” and having no idea of what being poor meant, Gloria is supposed to know what it is to be poor. After all what are those annoying “GMA cares” all about? For that alone she deserves the flack and her subalterns need to get the blade al a Marie Antoinette!
Gloria Arroyo did say I’m a hunger victim too.
how can you be certain that the pope doesn’t have a medical condition that requires him to eat just “brot and wurters”? btw, i thought prelates traditionally take a vow of poverty and simplicity. pgma is not a prelate, you see. so, apple and orange comparison, teacher.
Bencard is in cross-examination mode. :-P
Bencard,
You make a good point that presidents have to be presidential because they represent the country. Unfortunately that point is missed by those the president is trying to impress.
The reaction of those in first world countries to third world leaders spending lavishly is to see that leader as a panhandler who spends her can money on a fancy meal and a bottle of wine.
A President is a public servant right? so is our president exempt from 1987 Constitution Article XI Section 1 (read last part…and lead modest lives)?
ARTICLE XI
ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS
Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.
i don’t think a single instance of dining at la cirque is equivalent to NOT “leading modest life”.
Lito Lapid is doing his version of Clinton’s “… but I did not inhale” line.
Lito Lapid says “….but I did not enjoy the French dinner”.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090809-219446/Lapid-did-not-enjoy-French-dinner—Miriam
The president can still be guilty regardless if she pays the tab or not. It is irrelevant and unreasonable to what is normal and customary in modern view.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6713: Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees
Violation of the Rule of Law
1. Receiving any gift” includes the act of accepting directly or indirectly, a gift from a person other than a member of his family or relative as defined in this Act, even on the occasion of a family celebration or national festivity like Christmas, if the value of the gift is neither nominal nor insignificant.
2. Simple living. — Public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.
3. Solicitation or acceptance of gifts. — Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.
Exemption: As to gifts or grants from foreign governments, the Congress consents to:
(i) The acceptance and retention by a public official or employee of a gift of nominal value tendered and received as a souvenir or mark of courtesy;
(ii) The acceptance by a public official or employee of a gift in the nature of a scholarship or fellowship grant or medical treatment; or
(iii) The acceptance by a public official or employee of travel grants or expenses for travel taking place entirely outside the Philippine (such as allowances, transportation, food, and lodging) of more than nominal value if such acceptance is appropriate or consistent with the interests of the Philippines, and permitted by the head of office, branch or agency to which he belongs.
What is then acceptable t the filipino people? $20,000 is not even acceptable by any public official in the White House….
what is reasonable for the average filipino or even the average american?
The latest personality to take the cudgels for the presidential dinner delegation is Congressman Danilo Suazrez of Quezon province:
I don’t know why they are making such a big deal, it’s New York where everything is more expensive than Manila. We were more than 50 in our group, the President’s security and the secret service joined us. We had been invited for dinner by Rep. Ferdinand Romualdez’s brother, a well-established architect in New York who lives at the Hamptons but the summer resort’s yacht club but it was full.
We decided to move instead to Le Cirque. There is nothing to apologize for the dinner because I would have done the same since it was meant to celebrate the wedding anniversary of the First Couple.
I planned to do the same, maybe next time.
They are not clueless. CALLOUS IS MORE LIKE IT!!!
DingG: Mar Roxas and Jamby surely have gone on record to speak about Le Cirque, haven’t they? What about Panlilio, Fernando and the other presidentiables — what say them?
And is there now closure to the question :
Who picked up the tab?
Or has the operative structure become ” Who cares about the facts? I already know the truth!”
So I return to Pinas and find this story splashed all over the place.
How ridiculous.
Private money spent in NY, one of the most expensive cities in the world, for a high-level VIP dinner celebrating the First Couple’s wedding anniversary.
This is not a serious political (nor moral) issue. It is instructive to see exactly who is trying to make it as such.
Exactly.
It’s not taxpayer’s money. So, taxpayers clam up.
Now, as to mourning – seriously- you have a former President who walks with other people asking the incumbent to resign. If the former dies, that’s dad – but don’t you think the incumbent will think – one less tinik, it’s not something to mourn about – but to REJOICE!
Keep it real.
Hi RC,
Good of you to drop by.
By way of a welcome, if you care to, click to get a quick update:
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/on-glamorizing-issues-and-the-law-on-gifts-to-public-officials/
Thanks, Ding.
Yeah, the subject is silly. There are no laws or rules broken.
The only way there was any lack of delicatezza was if we believe that expensive dinners and parties by rich and powerful people never occur. Truth is: This was standard practice.
Same people as always, jumping up and down and yelling. No meaning, no action….much words. Sigh.
————–
Good to see that nothing has changed during my month-long trip to the US. ;-)
The president can still be guilty regardless if she pays the tab or not. It is irrelevant and unreasonable to what is normal and customary in modern view. Are you guys sleeping?
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6713: Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees
Violation of the Rule of Law
1. Receiving any gift” includes the act of accepting directly or indirectly, a gift from a person other than a member of his family or relative as defined in this Act, even on the occasion of a family celebration or national festivity like Christmas, if the value of the gift is neither nominal nor insignificant.
2. Simple living. — Public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.
3. Solicitation or acceptance of gifts. — Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.
Exemption: As to gifts or grants from foreign governments, the Congress consents to:
(i) The acceptance and retention by a public official or employee of a gift of nominal value tendered and received as a souvenir or mark of courtesy;
(ii) The acceptance by a public official or employee of a gift in the nature of a scholarship or fellowship grant or medical treatment; or
(iii) The acceptance by a public official or employee of travel grants or expenses for travel taking place entirely outside the Philippine (such as allowances, transportation, food, and lodging) of more than nominal value if such acceptance is appropriate or consistent with the interests of the Philippines, and permitted by the head of office, branch or agency to which he belongs.
What is then acceptable t the filipino people? $20,000 is not even acceptable by any public official in the White House….
what is reasonable for the average filipino or even the average american?
what was the purpose of the dinner? regardless of the type of travel…. Mrs. GMA remains to follow the rule of Law… unless she is the law… then kawawa kayo…
Now, if we have a new president in 2010…
1. are we going to allow this kind of behaviour?
2. What is the role of the Senate? is it not to assess and balance?
3. what is then the role of the local representatives? magtulog tulogan?
don’t tell me Mang Juan and Pedro must remind the people office to implement and follow the rule of law.
4. What is then the role of the Justice Court?
calculate per capita income and see if $20,000 is reasonable… For a third world country like Philippines, the world will be reasonable to criticize that ” it’s not simple living” according to the rule of law…
Good luck mga pinoys… I am already blonde. LOL
one word, “dim-witted”.
some old fart cannot argue the rule of law… and he/she is a lawyer? dim witted is the word indeed for you not me. speak for yourself and argue the rule of law. let’s get physical .. hehe
leytenian,
Blondy shoooootssss, and scoooreeeeeeessssss!
You are all right in my book.
Joe
Let’s assume that the tab was paid by private individuals or by a private entity.
Ordinarily speaking, a “gift” is a payment which benefits a public official. Instances include, meals, lodging, flowers, bottles of wine, tickets to cultural or sporting events, travel expenses, etc. While the making of gifts to clients or prospective clients may be standard practice in the PRIVATE sector, that activity should be highly regulated when the gift is made to a public official.
We should demand legislators to have a display and transparency of tools to implement prohibitions against illegal gifts. It is significant to emphasize that just because a gift falls within allowable legal limits does not mean that the gift could be not be deemed a bribe or illegal gratuity. We need to have a ” Gratuity LAW” . If a gift is prepared “for or because of any official act”—whether in the past, present or future—then the official who receives the benefit (and in many cases the entity making the gift) should be subject to criminal prosecution. Accordingly, gifts cannot be made as a “reward” for past conduct, or as an inducement for future conduct, to any public official; and all gifts must be permissible under the limits applicable to our Laws ( the simple Living above)
The tab can be considered an ABUSE of POWRRT in the eyes of the world but maybe not for pinoys?
leytenian:
i bet you have yet to receive an invitation for a $1000 per plate fundraiser by the RNC. McCain had $1000 dinner per plate.
The DNC’s currently going rate is $2000 per plate.
Wanna bet walang Pinoy a-aattend doon… :)
except of course, NaFFAA President Loida Nicolas Lewis or US Federation of PilAm Chambers of Commerce – Yolanda Stern :)
All of that is privately paid for going into the political campaign.
actually, I’ve been to a DNC fundraiser.. $500 per plate, but still you are correct in that statement, there are numerous cases, especially in New York, where the going rate is so much higher for these fundraisers..
Bongv,
when can you be right? you are wrong again and again. If you really wanna argue with reason, think about the law. Invitation means will full public disclosure. Do you think the New York Post will publish the TAB if the dinner was publicly disclose and legal.
second, do you think New York Post will risk writing an article knowing that they can be sued for libel? No reasonable firm will risk its publishing company without doing any research.
Malacanang has no defense whatsoever.
let’s assume there was an invitation. An invitation should not be discriminative among 5 mil or more pinoys in the USA. Did you receive one or Nick? Not I for sure, so the tab was paid by a few. It was a careless judgement, lacking proper forum. It’s time for public officials to watch what they do in public. They are subject to public scrutiny. In modern view, very few of them win when they get sued. Oftentimes, they will resign due to shame and embarrassment. However we are talking about the Philippines…
The heavens do still smile on GMA. Maybe GMA is currently the holder-on-record for the Cory-Aquino rosay. Whatever. If there is doubt that the heavens want a peaceful transition of powers for Pinas (versus Sugod-the-Malacanang-gates!!!), then contemplate Le Cirque.
Had this Le Cirque happened in January 2010 (after the Christmas holidays and super-really close to her leaving Malacanang), the torrent wave where every “moderate-the-greed” plus “I have family to feed” turn against GMA may result in a Talsik-Diyan. “Wala nang pakinabang” is the reward for the incumbent who manages to prove that “follow-1987-Constitution” is what Mang Tasio and Aling Ping want, not hakot-the-crowds for PeoplePower-seven.
But seriously, GMA showed lack of judgment. I think (in addition to an anniversary celebration) GMA wanted to impress Lito Lapid that she/GMA can outspend Erap any which way to a FAMAS award. But buying $800 bottle of champagne was from one out-of-touch with reality — a masseuse visit would have been magic. And if that’s out of bounds, then round after round of single-malt scotch interrupted by a bring-on-a-heart-attack juicy steak was called for (not Alsatian-recipe buttered-up tilapia with 12 string beans). And if GMA wanted bubbly, sweeter-tasting Italian spumante or Spanish cava would have been more enjoyable to her guests, to be followed by tiramisu or some decadent chocolate. To wrap up a dinner, sweets are more appropriate than moldy cheese. And maybe, just maybe, a certified-with-the-US-marine logo 9-mm Beretta for Lito — the perfect gift for a Pinoy dude.
The Le Cirque event shows the irrelevance of what GMA knows about economics. Knowledge of what can move Pinas forward is not what today’s Pinas politics asks for!
That GMA does not know how to deal with the Lito Lapids of Pinas is serious, proof that it is time for GMA, definitely, to leave Malacanang to another president.
The question is — is it a priest, a mechanical engineer, an accountant grunt now a billionaire or a Jamby (Mar Roxas??? no chance) who has the pulse of the common tao? May-2010 will reveal the answer to this question. LameDuck GMA will have to watch what Barack Obama and Ambassador Kinney applauds — a peaceful transition of government.