After hectic foreign travels and the day-to-day pressures of governance, President Arroyo took a much-needed break at the Baguio Mansion House during the All Saints’ Day holidays.
"You know, Winnie, I slept for 10 hours in one night. And I had my second night already. That’s vacation for me," Mrs. Arroyo told former Economic Planning Secretary Winnie Monsod, this week’s anchor for the radio/TV program May Gloria ang Bukas Mo!
The President took her first respite after two grueling trips to China, first for the ninth Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shanghai Oct. 19-22, then the official trip to Hong Kong and state visit to Beijing Oct. 29-31.
A visibly recharged and freshened up Mrs. Arroyo appeared yesterday in public over her program, aired straight from the Mansion House where she spent the All Saints’ Day break with her family.
"Napakababaw ng kaligayahan n’yo (It takes so little to make you happy)," Monsod told the President, still reveling from the luxury of sleep.
Mrs. Arroyo also expressed delight that she was able to play golf at Camp John Hay, and put in a few rounds of practice shooting at the firing range of the Philippine Military Academy at Fort Del Pilar.
The President was in such a lighthearted mood that Monsod’s attempt to needle her with sharp questions relating to criticism on her frequent foreign travels was in vain.
"You can never tell, baka mapikon natin siya (we might get her goat)," Monsod wisecracked but Mrs. Arroyo merely smiled.
Even while vacationing in Baguio, the President still had to host official functions, such as the luncheon meeting Friday with ambassadors of countries supporting the international coalition against terrorism.
The President said Baguio has always been a favorite vacation place for her family.
But yesterday afternoon, she flew back to reality to prepare for another trip, the seventh ASEAN leaders’ summit in Brunei Darussalam. — Marichu Villanueva