GMA spends Easter with foster father

DAGUPAN CITY — A reunion with a dear friend and a seafood feast was how President Arroyo and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo spent Easter Sunday.

The President and her husband were here yesterday for a private reunion with her foster father, Pedro Balingit, and close relatives from Pangasinan.

Arriving on the presidential helicopter at 11:55 a.m. from Baguio City where she spent Holy Week, Mrs. Arroyo feasted on her favorite crabs, prawns, grilled Bonuan milkfish and barbecue for lunch.

The Easter lunch, without any local official in sight, was held at Matutina’s Restaurant at Bonuan Tondalingan here, where Mrs. Arroyo always dines whenever she visits the province.

Balingit, called "Don Pedro," is a close friend of Mrs. Arroyo’s father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal.

Pangasinenses consider Balingit one lucky guy. And why not? He is often visited by no less than the President of the Republic, the last time being on Feb. 18 when she dropped by to have lunch on the weekend she attended the Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming.

Since her days as a senator, Mrs. Arroyo has often stayed overnight at the Balingits’ residence during her visits to Pangasinan.

She is just carrying on the tradition began by her father, the 92-year-old Balingit said in Filipino.

"She’s like my own daughter. I’m very happy every time I see her," Don Pedro said, adding that he advised her to play golf once or twice a week to help keep herself physically and mentally fit.

But even in their private get-together, politics could not be simply shunted aside, according to the old man seated to the left of the President at the dining table.

Don Pedro said Mrs. Arroyo was in an upbeat mood yesterday following the rescue of American Muslim Jeffrey Schilling from the Abu Sayyaf after eight months in captivity.

He added that the President also wanted a 13-0 sweep for the administration People Power Coalition (PPC) in Central and Northern Luzon, particularly in Pangasinan, her maternal home province.

The First Couple left at around 12:35 p.m., with the President promising Don Pedro that she will again stay overnight in the Balingit residence when she comes back on April 21 for the PPC’s grand rally in this city.