A Palace christening

A few hours after firing two Cabinet members and abolishing the Public Estates Authority – a baptism of "firing" for GMA, who’s never fired a Cabinet secretary before – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had to squeeze in another appointment before calling it a day: the baptism of her first grandchild Mikaela Gloria Montenegro Arroyo.

The first baby-in-residence at Malacañang in decades, "Mika" was baptized at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park with five pairs of godparents, led by no less than her own grandfather Mike Arroyo. Mikaela wore a baptismal gown made by Joe Salazar, who also made her mother Angela’s wedding gown.

Later that afternoon, it was as if pink and yellow confetti rained on the Palace grounds. Dozens of round tables covered with pink and yellow tablecloth were set up in the Palace lawn for an afternoon reception that was mostly a family affair.

"I do make time to be a grandmother," said a proud GMA, the tension of running government easing up a bit as she cradled her granddaughter. "Usually Saturday nights and Sunday mornings."

Unlike the First Gentleman, who said he wanted Mika to call him "Papa," Mrs. Arroyo says she doesn’t mind being called "Lola."

"My children were not taught how to call my parents, and they ended up calling them Mom and Dad, too," she related.

Luli Arroyo, Mikaela’s aunt and godmother, said her dad would stare at his granddaughter for minutes on end.

"He said he wouldn’t spoil her, but in the next breath he would be screaming, ‘Look, she’s smiling at me’!" Luli said.

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The weather was perfect. It was a cool November afternoon, and the skies held their peace.

Buffet tables laden with pasta dishes, a Mongolian barbecue, and a smorgasbord of barbecued meat (including, would you believe, isaw?) were set up under several long tents. Cibo and the Plaza were the proud caterers. A center of attraction was a baby pink fondant cake with teddy bears in various playful poses, a masterpiece by Martha Matute. Nearby was a table with two towers of Saint Honore, which consisted of cream puffs stacked one on top of the other.

As in the wedding reception, Teyet Pascual helped spruce up the Palace grounds for the baptismal party. Each table had a centerpiece of a trio of angel figurines surrounded by pink and white orchids and chrysanthemums.

The baby’s mother Angela, in an off shoulder turquoise top and black pants, almost stole the show from her infant daughter. Less than a month after giving birth, Angela had shed 35 pounds.

"Diet!" she answered when asked how she did it. Other "losers" at the party were Angela’s mother Charito Montenegro, Lovely Romulo ("in anticipation of all the parties this Christmas!") and Gina de Venecia, who attributed her five-pound weight loss to walking the treadmill.

Mikaela, for her part, had gained almost three pounds. She slept throughout most of the party. Me thinks she now looks like Angela.

Her godparents included her grandpa Mike Arroyo, Raph Mondragon, Peewee Cruel, Vince del Rosario, Jun Almeda, Gay Padiernos, Tek Aguilar, Emilie Yupangco, Rose Montenegro, Luli Arroyo, Chin Katigbak and Katrina Datoc.

Guests went home with a stuffed toy in the shape of a baby bottle.

If GMA needed inspiration to work for a better Philippines, to muster the strength and the political will to govern according to what she believed is right rather than popular, she had just to look at her sleeping grandchild. Like all babies born in this land, Mikaela Gloria will inherit the gains of a good presidency and the debts of a bad one.

"A better world for our children and grandchildren" – a staple in most political speeches – will no longer just be mere rhetoric for President Arroyo.

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