Pinay White House staffer of Bush in advance party

A Filipina who works at the White House in Washington is with the advance teams of the US government that did the spadework for US President George W. Bush’s official activities here during his eight-hour state visit.

Susan Bonzon Ralston, executive assistant to Carl Rove, Bush’s senior adviser, was informally introduced to Malacañang reporters yesterday by her Philippine counterpart, Ambassador Victoriano Lecaros.

Lecaros, who had been designated by President Arroyo as the Philippine government’s official spokesman for the state visit, said Ralston is in charge of the arrangements and media requirements of the White House press corps who will cover the Malacañang leg of the visit.

Accompanied by other members of the US advance team and their respective Philippine counterparts, Lecaros and Ralston joined the "walk through" for the formal reception rites under the watchful eyes of US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone and Ambassador to Washington Albert del Rosario.

Del Rosario arrived last Wednesday from Washington.

In a press briefing after the "walk through," Ralston told Palace reporters she was born in the US and her mother, whose surname is Lagman, lives in Quezon City.

"It’s an honor to represent them here," Ralston said.

Lecaros noted that Ralston is among a number of Filipino-Americans working at the White House. This, he said, only clearly demonstrates the close ties and friendship between the two nations.

Lecaros added that during Mrs. Arroyo’s state visit to the US last May, Bush had also introduced to her one of the Filipino-Americans working as his personal valet. This Filipino, he said, is a former US navy man who has been working for the US president since he was governor of Texas.

Meanwhile, all are set for the warm "barrio fiesta" reception rites for Bush at the Malacañang gardens.

While the reception rites, which include a 21-gun salute for the Palace’s most important visitor in decades, were all outdoor activities, Lecaros said they are ready with alternative plans in case it rains.

Briefing Palace reporters after the "walk through," Lecaros disclosed some of the more or less fixed official activities during the visit.

He said that after the reception rites, there will be a "restricted" meeting between the two presidents. This will be followed by an "expanded meeting" which will include Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople, Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita and National Security Adviser Roilo Golez.

From the Palace, Bush will proceed to the Batasan complex to deliver a 30-minute speech at the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Bush and wife Laura will then go back to the Palace for the state banquet.

In between these two events, Lecaros said that the American first couple might be expected to stay either at the Palace or in a five-star hotel to change and rest before dinner.

The US president will immediately fly to Thailand after the dinner.

"I think it’s being done well. It’s planned with great thought and precision... I think it’s going to be a great visit," Del Rosario told The STAR.

He said there is no expected signing of any bilateral agreements at the end of the expanded talks between the two presidents.

"But there will be a joint communiqué that would be issued to the press at the end of their meeting," he said.