Night of the Presidents

It was JFK’s 76th birth anniversary (May 29), we were in a room full of images of Marilyn Monroe, and three presidents, a senator, two cabinet secretaries, a couple of generals and several civic leaders were in "fellowship."

It was the night businessman Chris Carrion, the first executive director of the EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC), hosted a dinner to get all the leading players of EDSA 1 and 2 together.

There was nothing auspicious about the day the fellowship was held – I think I was the only one in the room who knew it was John F. Kennedy’s birth anniversary, and Chris is a Marilyn Monroe, not a JFK fan. (The den adjoining the room where the fellowship was held even had more Marilyn memorabilia.) May 29 was simply a day when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could squeeze in an evening with the EDSA gang (not all of whom are now on speaking terms with each other).

But GMA greeted everyone, including one of her most vociferous critics, Pastor "Boy" Saycon.

"Good to see you again, Boy," she smiled when she saw him.

Chris wasn’t awed at all by his clout – imagine being able to get President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos together on a rainy night?

"Oh, but this isn’t the first time!" Chris quipped. "The three of them have been here before." Presidential convoys and motorcycle cops are no longer strange occurrences on the street where Carrion lives.

* * *

Lorrie Lina, the new executive director of the EPPC, gave a briefing on the commission’s projects. Regardless of who is president, the EPPC wants to ensure that EDSA is never forgotten. The commission wants EDSA to be viewed in a historical, not just a political, perspective.

President Arroyo has approved the turnover of some 2,000 sq. meters of government property inside Camp Aguinaldo (behind the People Power Monument) to the EPPC for the construction of the EDSA Freedom Center. Carrion is chairperson of the project.

"The Freedom Center," says Carrion, "will focus on the struggle and fight of the Filipino people for freedom – not just in EDSA, but from Mactan to EDSA. I also want to put up a ‘Wall of People Power Heroes’ from Corinthian Gardens to the EDSA Shrine."

Carrion’s nephew Ramon, says the center will include a 360-degree light and sound auditorium that would relive the scenes of EDSA.

Carrion has persisted in establishing this Freedom Center so EDSA 1 and 2 will outlive the people who participated in them.

"EDSA should rekindle the pride and challenge the Filipino’s capacity’s for greatness – always!" says Ramon.

* * *

During the gathering, there was an attractive woman in the background. Few know she plays a very important part in GMA’s "strong republic." Her name is Cynthia Carrion-Norton and she is the President’s fitness guru. She supervises President Arroyo’s weight training and aerobics regimen.

If GMA can keep up with a grueling schedule – you could give credit to the stamina she’s built up by working out regularly under Cynthia’s supervision.

* * *

When I asked the President why she made time to motor all the way to Alabang from Malacañang (motorcycle escorts can stop the traffic, but they cannot stop the rains!), she said it was good for a leader "to go back to the fountain, so to speak." It was clearly, an allusion to a biblical phrase (see, it’s not only the justices who read the Bible!).

So, come 2004, who will the fountain bless?

Carrion: "We will work to influence Presidents Arroyo, Aquino and Ramos to endorse one candidate."

FVR: "I have a candidate, but the candidate is barred by the Constitution from running."

Cory: "No comment."

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