MANILA, Philippines - Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives in a pre-Halloween party exclusive for “neophyte” lawmakers wearing a witch’s costume several days ago.
The party was held at the Laurel Mansion in Mandaluyong and hosted by Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar of the Nacionalista Party.
First-time lawmakers gather every month as an informal club with one member hosting, but since the gathering was held close to All Saints’ Day, it turned into a costume party.
There are over 140 first-time House members.
Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco said he commented on Mrs. Arroyo’s outfit when he met her at the hallway of the mansion.
“Oh, this (witch’s costume) is the easiest to put on,” Tiangco quoted the former leader as telling him.
He, however, was not able to put on his soldier costume as he rushed from the ongoing budget deliberations at that time.
He said for 10 years he has been a critic of Mrs. Arroyo but she was “very gracious” when they were together at a table with Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas and Western Samar Rep. Mel Sarmiento.
Many lawmakers said they remain reluctant to engage Mrs. Arroyo due to her status as a former president as well as her seeming aloofness. She belongs to the opposition bloc in the House.
She later visited some other tables and greeted her colleagues, Tiangco said.
Ma. Elena Bautista-Horn, Mrs. Arroyo’s spokesperson, said there was nothing to the costume as it was the most common they could find.
“Actually, the costume part there was only the hat,” Bautista-Horn said.
Cebu Rep. Luigi Quisumbing wore a Boy Scout costume while Lanao del Norte Rep. Imelda Dimaporo donned a Cleopatra outfit.
An unidentified congressman had on a Fred Flintstone costume and won a pair of boxing gloves signed by Manny Pacquiao – a first-time lawmaker himself representing Sarangani province – in the best costume contest that night.
Pacquiao expressed willingness to host the next gathering of his colleagues in November to coincide with his victory party as he expects to defeat Antonio Margarito on the 13th.
Meanwhile, to avoid the crowd during All Saints’ Day, Mrs. Arroyo visited the grave of her husband’s dead relatives at the Manila North Cemetery yesterday sans the usual fanfare and media coverage.
The former president arrived very early and left the cemetery an hour later. Her late father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, and his wife are buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.