‘Tuktuk’ motorcade caps royal dinner for summiteers

BANGKOK (via PLDT) — Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum went on a "tuktuk" motorcade after a royal dinner reception hosted for them by Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his wife, Queen Sirikit.

The 21 APEC heads of state with their respective spouses were ushered out of the Chakri Mahaprasat or Grand Palace after dinner Monday to take a short ride on board a two-seater version of the popular Thai motorbike.

This year’s summit host Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife were the first to ride the open door tuktuk for the 200-meter drive to the Royal Thai Navy Conference Hall. US President W. Bush and wife Laura took the next tuktuk and they were followed by President Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Painted with the blue and white APEC colors and its sides emblazoned with the APEC logo, the Thai version of the tricycle was given a new and modern look for the occasion.

Driven by the Royal Thai Navy officers, each of the APEC heads and their spouses were motored by tuktuk to watch the parade of barges to cap the evening of cultural shows.

A laser light show with multi-colored fireworks display added glitter to the parade of gold colored royal barges, powered by the synchronized rowing of Thai men in native costumes.

The motorcade followed the dinner reception hosted by the longest reigning Thai monarch at the end of the first day of the leaders’ retreat last Monday night.

The 76-year-old king, in black tuxedo. with the rest of the royal family posed for a souvenir photo at the Chakri Throne Hall with the 21 APEC leaders and their spouses.

Mrs. Arroyo stood out in her shimmering sequined aquamarine colored terno with matching orange and green sashes that flowed down her back, especially designed for her by Joe Salazar.

She was escorted to the dinner by her husband, Attorney Arroyo, who was in barong Tagalog.

At dinner Mrs. Arroyo was seated at a round table between Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Bush. The leaders’ spouses sat at different tables.

As dinner was taking place, schoolchildren performed the song "Getting to Know You," from the Broadway hit "The King and I," based on the story of a former king of Siam, Thailand’s old name.

In the group photo with the King and Queen of Thailand, the Arroyos stood at the center of the second row. To Mrs. Arroyo’s right was Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn while Mr. Arroyo stood beside the Bushes.

After a brief picture taking, the APEC heads bade goodbye to the Royal Thai family in alphabetical order of their countries.

Mrs. Arroyo recalled with fondness her first royal encounter with Thailand’s King and Queen when they visited the Philippines as state guests in the early 1960s during the term of her late father, President Diosdado Macapagal.

"And now, I also made a state visit here last year. 2002. And I visited them again today," she said.

"Our bilateral relations with Thailand are at fullest bloom," she added.

She likewise noted with satisfaction that the normally spicy Thai cuisine was toned down to moderately spicy to suit their tastes.

With the rather stiff dinner affairs of APEC leaders, the President only got to indulge in her favorite durian at a post-dinner reception she hosted for the Philippine media delegation at the Oriental Hotel where she has been billeted during the two-day APEC summit.