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% [?]
… “do not judge a book by its cover”… apparently, this is not applicable to GMA.
- where is her “delicadeza”
- is she thinking clearly recently?
- what is she trying to show publicly [and in a foreign country for that matter]?
that she is a cheapo – the foreign country’s leaders regularly host $2000 dinner per plate – and she can only afford $600 per plate.
…so you’re literally saying that she should’ve spent more or you’re just doing a reverse psychology about it?
…”CHEAPO” is that all you can say? and you think that justifies GMA? she should be our leader and role model but instead she simply allowed that to happen. I wouldn’t mind if she did that when she’s not in public service.
…ok, now i ask you – if you were GMA, will you spend that money or allow someone else to spend that there – knowing very well (it should be logical) that majority of your “kababayans” are hungry… what reason(s) could you lay down to justify yourself?
… listen to what Meriam Santiago has to say.
number one – it ain’t taxpayer’s money – she can spend a million dollars for all i care.
Bong,
politcal fund raisers yan, They invute you to pay 2K for dinner, Campaifb contribution!
The host does not pay. The guest pays
the figures are pointed to give you a sense of proportion.
you folks are raving about a wedding party, paid for by a host (NOT taxpayers money) – $20,000.
so, again, back to our sense of proportion – the $20,000 split between 30 people is only $700 per plate (including tax).
Yes, it looks “excessive” by Philippine standards – but it is below par using American standards. That pales in comparison to the $1000 per plate dinner of McCain. and Obama’s $2000 per plate dinners.
It’s a wedding anniversary for gadzooks, yeah sure Aquino died, “country” is in “mourning”, but if she is not a close or a direct relative of the celebrant, why in the world will a celebrant let her death take precedence over a wedding anniversary? Susmaryosep – nagpapaipokrito na naman ang mga hunghang.
Unless this dinner shows up on a government employee’s expense report, there is absolutely nothing here to see.
The “immorality” approach is laughable, borne by naivete or hypocrisy. These dinners are nightly occurences around the world.
i bet many of the naysayers here have attended a “bonga” fiesta in a barrio where their host had smashed his piggybank and mortgaged the old carabao to feed them the “best” food he could serve (as a matter of “honor”).
It is laughable to guys who are numb and have no fellow feeling with the suffering Filipinos. That others do it all the time does not rationalize this.
Bencard, In just the last two months, I have been to so many dinner parties and events including that of Condoleeza Rice, FVR, institutional parties etc. mostly in five star and posh restaurants and exclusive country clubs here where I live. Yet I still feel that GMA and company, being public officials should have shown have shown more restraint and modesty.
so, are you saying you are better than they are? who cares what or how you feel? among all the things i hate, it’s hypocrisy!
I am not a public official feeding on taxpayers trough.
who said you are? and who are the “public official feeding on taxpayers trough”? those that get paid salaries or wages for their services, aren’t they?
Regardless, public official or not, you’re just as guilty! Did you not think about the poor, hungry filipinos while you were attending all these parties and events in these five star hotels, posh restaurants and exclusive country clubs? How could you be so insensitive? You should just have saved all that money and had it sent to the Philippines. Well, ain’t that the logic of those who refuse to accept the explanation that no public money was spent on that much ballyhooed dinner?
Let’s assume no public money was spent. A public official (GMA or Romualdez) paid for it and therein lies the difference to Rosa who is not a public official. There is a saying that you work hard, you should enjoy the fruits of your labor. That does not apply to public officials since the work they do was entrusted to them by the people.
oh, i see what you are saying, tray, that public officials and employees are NOT entitled to compensation for their labor and services because the “work” was “entrusted to them by the people”. do know you what “slavery” means?
My company supports my networking activities Jepo450. I contribute quite a bit of my time, energy and money to the Filipino community. I have several scholars in my former school in the Phil. as well as support their projects. I also support Gawad Kalinga here as a contributor, various Filipino events where either I am a sponsor or donor, my former university in Baguio for their charity, and of course my relatives who I support in school as well as for medicines etc. In my sparetime I talk to a lot of new immigrants and show them how to avail of the training that the technology school here provides esp. for university graduates as well as share some review materials for engineers to get licensed here. In short, I am doing everything I can to help right now. Hopefully, my company will prosper so I can fulfill my dream to start a home for the orphans in Baguio.
I hope you will read carefully next time before replying. The operative word is “enjoy” the fruits. A public official who is independently wealthy, as some people here are trying to say when they argue “paid from their own pockets”, is still madated by the Constitution to live a modest life. Hence, a public official is restricted from enjoying the fruits of his labor.A public official who is not independently wealthy should not have a problem with than since his salary will moderate his lifestyle enough. But what about those public oficials not independently wealthy but can pay a $20,000 bill? Do I have to spell that out for you as well?
Filipino is a nation of hatred and envy. Two kinds of people who make this news so fussy, people who are tax evader and didn’t pay taxes and not an ally to the administration and would like attract people attentions. Also those people that would like to run for the coming 2010 election.
What about those who just want the current administration to change its ways for good governance for the sake of the country?Do you think they don’t exist?
Gloria was apparently on a food binge as more reports of her eatings come in.
For sure Gloria did not spend her own money in any of those meals. In washington it was her bag lady who paid 15K in cash at Van’s steakhouse.
Well at least they ate steak. If they had eaten baby back ribs or pork chops that would have been cannibalism
buencamino, i’m surprised you didn’t say the president ate all that food and drunk all that wine. what else can come from your rear end?
Hi, MB…
Here’s an overview:
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/when-perceptionrealty-and-public-outrage-converge/
Another question that is bothering me is the number of people who is part of the presidential entourage. Why so many? What is the criterion for someone to be joining this trips? We have a company and when we promote our company overseas, we limit the number to what is reasonable and only the people who are meeting with the investors are allowed to go. Families are not allowed to join in order to limit hotel and food expenses. Otherwise the company will go bankrupt.
Rosa:
Private companies do not need protocol officers, security details, and aides to key decision makers in the major legislative committees.
Having a full complement of the key decision-makers who will sign off on matters of state allows signing of MoUs and MoA on the spot. It accelerates the process of reeling investors in.
Without the personal “touch”, your alternative is a massive marketing campaign on multiple channels which costs more than a trade mission. The gestation period is longer, the projects get cold and wind up getting shelved.
I see..and having Lito Lapid will aid in what key decision?Was there any MoU or pledge of investment that was announced by Malacanang, which they normally do to justify a trip?All I heard was Lapid complaining of not having a picture with Obama.Oh,I forgot that Obama appointed the Philippines as chief coordinator of US relations with ASEAN, hooyah!Happy to be of service to the US.
In your opinion a head of state needs 50 people to make a decision and have that “personal touch”.Basically its a question of management style.Others would see that as a waste and make full use of technology such as telephone and internet to lessen costs. Cory went on trips with less people, FVR a little more and Erap a lot more. A President indeed has discretion if she feels Lapid et al must tag along but is that discretion absolute that people cannot question it?A public office after all is held as a trust for the people represented.
True:
Why don’t YOU ask Lapid what he was doing there.
Better yet ASK THE BOZOS WHO VOTED FOR LAPID.
Hi, rosa,
My contribution to the thread…
http://midfield.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/when-perceptionrealty-and-public-outrage-converge/