GMA goes back to work, leaves for Europe today

After fully recovering from acute diarrhea and mild dehydration, President Arroyo leaves today for Italy, the Vatican and Spain.

Mrs. Arroyo will meet with state leaders, Pope Benedict XVI, business and Filipino communities to seek investments and reinvigorate bilateral relations with three of the country’s European allies.

Mrs. Arroyo and her delegation will fly at 9:40 a.m. on a chartered flight to Milan then proceed to Rome, where she will have talks with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

"In her meetings, not only will she seek to establish rapport with the new Italian government but try to increase economic links through more trade, investments and tourism," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

The visit, he said, would hopefully strengthen cultural ties between Italy and the Philippines.

The Vatican visit will be an opportunity for Mrs. Arroyo to meet with Pope Benedict for the first time and to reaffirm Manila’s ties with the Vatican.

The Philippines is the third largest Catholic country in the world and the largest in Asia. Mrs. Arroyo will also meet with Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican’s top diplomat.

The President said she would personally inform the Pope of the Philippines’ decision to abolish the death penalty.

In Madrid, Mrs. Arroyo will have a meeting with King Juan Carlos I and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero as well as the leaders of the Spanish business community and local officials.

The visit to Spain coincides with the fourth celebration of Spain’s Hispano-Filipino Friendship Day, which falls on June 30, and the celebration of the Philippine-Spanish cultural year 2006.

Bunye said the thrust of Mrs. Arroyo’s Madrid visit is mainly economic. "She will seek Spanish investments in alternative energy, information communication and technology, infrastructure and tourism development."

Both in Italy and Spain, Mrs. Arroyo will express her appreciation for the kind and generous treatment of Filipinos employed there.

Spanish Ambassador to Manila Ignacio Sagaz said his government was all ready to welcome Mrs. Arroyo. "We want her to feel at home," he said.

Mrs. Arroyo was discharged yesterday from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City after suffering a bout of acute diarrhea and dehydration.

Mrs. Arroyo had been at a restaurant for an early birthday party for her husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo. His birthday is next week, but Mrs. Arroyo was scheduled to leave Saturday night for a trip to Italy, the Vatican and Spain. Her hospital stay, however, forced her to reschedule her departure for Europe.

Administration officials attributed Mrs. Arroyo’s illness to her busy work schedule and excessive stress.

Large delegation

Mrs. Arroyo will be accompanied by her husband and children, Evangeline Lourdes and Diosdado, along with wife Maria Victoria Celina and daughter Eva Victoria.

Members of the official delegation include Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Ambassador to Spain Joseph Bernardo, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Senators Edgardo Angara and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

The others are Romulo’s wife, Lovely Rose, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Government Mass Media Group head Cerge Remonde, Deputy Executive Secretary Susana Vargas, Presidential Protocol Chief Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., National Historical Institute chairman Lamberto Ocampo, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Marianito Roque and Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Florante Soriquez.

Twenty members of the House of Representatives are joining the President’s trip, along with five of their spouses.

They are Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino and wife Rosa Marina; Pampanga Rep. Francis Nepomuceno and wife Regina; Batangas Rep. Victoria Reyes and husband Rodrigo; Masbate Rep. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete and husband Joshur Judd; and Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri with wife Audrey.

The other representatives are Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela, Jesus Reynaldo Aquino of Pampanga, Arthur Defensor of Iloilo, Del de Guzman of Marikina City, Cecilia Jalosjos Carreon of Zamboanga del Norte; Uliran Joaquin of Laguna, Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas, Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte, Herminia Ramiro of Mindoro Occidental, Lorna Silverio of Bulacan, Danilo Suarez of Quezon, Mary Ann Susano of Quezon City, EmmyLou Talino Santos of North Cotabato, Eduardo Veloso of Leyte and Amelita Villarosa of Occidental Mindoro.

Local government officials joining the trip are governors Erico Aumentado of Bohol, Miguel Rene Dominguez of Sarangani, Ben Evardone of Samar, Adolph Edward Plaza of Agusan del Sur, Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, Josephine de la Cruz of Bulacan, Pax Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.