First Couple, kids to have reunion at HK Disneyland

A promise to a granddaughter will briefly reunite the First Family in Hong Kong.

First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo’s promise to his eldest granddaughter Mikaela Gloria that he would bring her to the Hong Kong Disneyland paved the way for another family reunion and a short vacation for the Arroyo family in the Chinese special administrative region.

President Arroyo and her daughter Lourdes Evangeline fly to Hong Kong this evening to be with the rest of the First Family after the President attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit in Busan, South Korea.

Instead of flying straight home tonight, the President will return on Monday morning, after she takes time out to spend the day in Hong Kong with her family.

Mr. Arroyo left for Hong Kong Wednesday on Philippine Airlines flight PR 300, bringing with him his granddaughters Mikaela Gloria, Eva Victoria and Eva Angelique.

Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo followed his father yesterday at 8:25 a.m. on PAL flight PR 300. His wife Angela is already in Hong Kong with their daughters Mikaela Gloria and Eva Angelique.

The First Couple’s youngest son, Diosdado Ignacio, flew to Hong Kong last night on PAL flight PR 310.

Palace sources said the First Gentleman promised Mikaela that they would visit Hong Kong Disneyland as soon as they returned from the United States, where he had gone into exile accompanied by Mikey and family in July.

The First Gentleman and his eldest son left the country at the height of the jueteng controversy in which they and the First Gentleman’s brother, Ignacio Arroyo, were alleged to have received payoffs from illegal gambling operations.

Since their return nearly three weeks ago, Mikaela had reportedly been asking her grandfather about the promised Hong Kong trip.

"The First Gentleman wants to enjoy the company of his grandchildren at Disneyland," a source said.

The President left for Busan Thursday with the rest of the Philippine delegation to APEC. — Aurea Calica, Rainier Allan Ronda