Nope, I didn’t go to Rome – this is a day for saints, not sinners

To my astonishment, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported yesterday that this writer, namely myself, flew off to Rome last Wednesday night as a member of the President’s party. No such luck. I’m stranded here in this Vale of Tears, our beloved Metro Manila along with all of us ordinary sinners.

The Inquirer story, headlined "GMA Handpicked Her Vatican Party for 14-hr Flight, Says Malacañang" made the list of Vatican-goers sound like some hush-hush secret entourage. But it was all over television who went, and who didn’t go. Oh well. I’m flattered, but I wasn’t included, although they did ask me discreetly if I wanted to go. But I’ve already got airplane tickets to other destinations.

To absolve the PDI reporter of his mistake, may I say he only jumped to conclusions like newsmen in a hurry, or eagerly trying to sniff out a conspiracy sometimes deplorably do. We all err at times. There used to be an archaic expression about it in English literature (but "English" isn’t written here anymore, mostly Taglish) – it went: "Even Homer nodded." If you can’t figure that out you must be under 60.

For I did go to the PAL Centennial II airport Thursday night, but as that sorrowful immediate postwar ditty about American GIs leaving their Filipina girl friends and "fiancees" behind when they were posted home, "Hanggang Pier Lamang" (Up to the Pier Only), I was hanggang airport lamang. I went to see President GMA off, and, of course, my wife, Ambassador Preciosa, who did go to attend the Holy Father’s funeral in GMA’s party.

My latest report from the Vatican front came in a phone call from my wife. They had just gone to St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects to the Pope lying in state on his bier there, while scores of thousands were still queuing outside. The group, which included Press Secretary Ignacio "Toting" Bunye and the bishops, was accompanied through the VIP and diplomatic entrance by our very capable envoy to the Holy See, Ambassador Nida Vera.

The President herself lunched yesterday with the Speaker of Italian parliament and other legislators. (Perhaps they were making up for having made a U-turn to return to Rome on hearing of Pope John Paul II’s death, and thus missing the ongoing International Parliamentary Union Conference here).

The President and her official delegation all have reserved seats for today’s funeral, packed into Basilica along with the 200 other chiefs of state, royals, and leaders of different countries, including George "Dubya" Bush, Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian (the Vatican is one of the 25 states which still recognize Taipei instead of Beijing), and Britain’s Prince Charles, who postponed his wedding to Ms. Camilla Parker Bowles by one day to enable him to attend the Holy Father’s funeral. Anyone, if one may venture to remark about the latter without incurring the ire of the House of Windsor (Saxe-Coburg Gotha), they’re already had their honeymoon.

I believe it’s little short of miraculous that most of the Filipino delegates found hotel rooms in the Cavalieri Hilton on the Via A. Cadlolo, which is on one of Rome’s storied seven hills, very near St. Peter’s in the Vatican. As an old Roman "hand", I recall that the La Pergola de l’Hotel Hilton, owing to its renowned chef, Heinz Beck (sanamagan, a German, not Italian or French) is reputed to be one of the Eternal City’s best restaurants, with a magnificent view of Rome – although I prefer the terrific view from the Hassler’s rooftop restaurant atop the Spanish Steps. But, I digress. The pious Vatican expedition went there to bury His Holiness, the saintly Supreme Pontiff, not Caesar.

* * *

Going to the airport Wednesday night had a plus factor. I was able to talk with some who were leaving with the President, but even more importantly, those who weren’t going.

Among them was Foreign Affairs Secretary Bert Romulo who told me he couldn’t join the group because he’s hosting the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Mactan (Cebu) from Sunday, April 10 to the 12th, and must make sure everything in tip-top shape, and everything ready for the ten foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the ASEAN Secretary General and their 40 senior government associates, at the Mactan Shangri-la. Their staff members have, in fact, Bert said, already begun arriving.

The "informal" gathering is supposed to prepare for the ASEAN summit of heads of state in Kuala Lumpur this coming December, Bert informed me. I urged him to discuss with his fellow foreign ministers and the ASEAN secretariat the problem of Myanmar (Burma) which is scheduled to assume the chairmanship of ASEAN under the round-robin practice. Several member countries of ASEAN have already voiced their opinion that Myanmar must not be given the chairmanship until the junta of generals free Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and permit the pro-Democracy party and other political groups to take part in free elections. Instead of "engagement" with ASEAN convincing the military despots in Yangon (Rangoon) to return their country to democracy, it has only made them more arrogant and stubborn – and more repressive, despite all the sweet-talk they have been throwing at their disappointed ASEAN brethren.

Having been kicked out of Burma in 1960 by another military despot, the late General Ne Win, I can say that when the military stays in power by the gun and the bayonet, they’re never in a hurry to give up totalitarian control. On the contrary, they’ll want to rule forever. The cruel General Ne Win himself fell from power, and, ironically, became the final victim of the SLORC and the current military junta which is the same vile gang under another title.

Another "non-goer" who was at the airport to see GMA off was Executive Secretary Ed Ermita who, in a sense, is the real caretaker of the government until the President returns tomorrow, Saturday morning.

Ed was humorously complaining of his latest encounter with us in the media, where he again got shafted. During a television interview, he grinned (but painfully), a reporter asked him whether he and the government were "monitoring" the media when prominent rebels and other anti-government personalities were interviewed. Ermita said he answered cautiously in Tagalog that, of course, they were keeping track of what was being discussed in the media. Thereupon, Ermita shrugged, the TV report declared: "Secretary Ermita confirms that the government is monitoring the media."

He shrugged and said, "You ask the questions, I suppose, then you provide the answers you’re looking for." I told Ed that "by now you must be used to it."

Ermita, a former general and Defense Secretary, directed a long-suffering smile (smirk?) at Bert Romulo. "Well, Bert," he remarked, "you passed this job on to me, so you know how awful it is."

Bert just grinned back blissfully. Perhaps he’s happier than he’ll admit to be out of that snakepit called the Palace.

* * *

President GMA herself arrived at the airport about 10:30 p.m. when most of those in her party were already aboard the chartered PAL plane – I think it was a B-737. She walked attired in a brown pant-suit, looking fresh and perky even though she had flown in that same day from Mindanao.

The Manila International Airport General Manager, Alfonso Cusi, had thoughtfully set up a large birthday cake in the special waiting lounge, which had its candles hastily lit, so all present sang the "Happy Birthday to You" song, off-key, and La Presidenta blew out the diplomatically few candles – and made her secret wish. I don’t think it was: "Pass the VAT, you laggards," or anything like that.

In any event, she shook hands all around. Naturally, the top brass of our military and police were there to swear fealty to the Commander-in-Chief and whisper, possibly, that they wouldn’t make or countenance any trouble while she was off to pray in the Vatican.

In full uniform, with the usual dish of decorations twinkling on their chests, were Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Efren Abu, Vice-Admiral Ernesto de Leon, FOIC (Flag officer in command) of the Philippine Navy, and Philippine Army Commanding General Senga – all of them belonging to the "ruling class", PMA ’72. The Philippine Air Force Chief, General Reyes, belongs, it must be said, to PMA ’73 – one of the young ones.

Then there was our friend, General Arturo C. Lomibao, the Philippine National Police Director General and Chief, who, incidentally, also hails from PMA ’72. General Lomibao’s policemen very swiftly solved the crime in which a Belgian parliamentarian, who left his hotel and took a tricycle to look for a church in which to pray (for the Holy Father?) at the crack of dawn, got mugged and robbed. In quick fashion, the cops arrested the tricycle driver who had brought the prayerful Belgian to a dark street, where the visiting IPU delegate was mugged by a confederate, and his valuables taken. They also nabbed the fellow who had roughed the victim up.

I hope they will prove as efficient in crime-solving, and nabbing perpetrators, when us ordinary folk, and non-parliamentarians fall victim to crime – or journalists get murdered.

One thing can be said of General Lomibao. He personally takes charge, and isn’t one of those lofty police generals who leave subordinates to do the work or take the risks. In his off-duty hours, which are scarce, he also plays the guitar – and sings. I’ve heard him do an Elvis-type version of It’s a Wonderful World.

If Lomibao can reform the police, and give us a git-up-and-go PNP (who catch the racketeers and criminals, not sponsor them), then the world will begin to look better – if not eventually wonderful.

* * *

As for Rome, I hear that the authorities are pleading to the millions who’re flocking into their city to pay their affectionate last respects to the Holy Father to stop coming. The city’s "full", they cry. Please stay out. Yet, they keep on arriving.

John Paul II was truly loved. When the Cardinals meet on April 18 in a Conclave to pick his successor, it won’t be easy.

Now, I hear that His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, though very sick, hopes to fly to Rome to participate in the Conclave to elect the next Vicar of Christ.

I noticed in our In-Box the other day that a reader texted in to "correct" me, saying we have only two Filipino Cardinals, not three. I thank this reader for his concern over my arithmetic, but I repeat what I wrote last Tuesday, April 5. We have three Filipino Cardinals: Jaime Cardinal Sin; Ricardo Cardinal Vidal (who’ll vote in the Conclave); and Jose Thomas Cardinal Sanchez. I know all three of them, perhaps to the annoyance of one of them.

In any event, probably our reader overlooked Cardinal Sanchez since he’s based in The Vatican, and, indeed, has his office only a few doors away from that of the late Pope, Papa Wojtyla. Cardinal Sanchez knew the late Holy Father very well from frequent meetings with him, but he will not be able to vote in the Conclave since he’s over 80.