FEASTING ON GLORIA’S “LE CIRQUE” DINNER

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s critics are having a feast of the President’s $20,000 cabinet dinner of Gloria in Le Cirque, New York. What is exactly in it and what’s all the fuss connected to it?

The dinner, which had by now turned into a mockery, a sinful buffet is of course a tempting issue to provoke the Pinoys against the Gloria administration. Looking into it with a deeper perspective, however, would one really think that senators like Mar Roxas or Miriam Santiago would be interested in the issue of a million peso-worth dinner? It would seem strange when these same people themselves are guilty of excessive spending. One million pesos is nothing compared with Roxas’ lavish mansions and even wedding preparations with Corina Sanchez. Even Sen. Santiago’s husband, who loves spending at cock fights, would agree that the said amount would mean nothing less than a single “sultada”.

But of course, GMA’s critics would easily deny these things, especially when the public is not completely aware of the kickbacks these senators benefitting from their budget.

No one is ignorant enough to believe that Roxas would be spending his “hard-earned” billions for mere public service, the Senate being the easiest way to collect paychecks. Wouldn’t it be enough compensation for the spending millions in promotional ads on national television?

People are unaware of the fact that Roxas’ pays TV networks millions for every airing of his “tabi anak at ako muna” campaign ad. This goes to say that if Gloria was lavishing-out for a one-night feast, Roxas could be accused over and over again of copious political stunts worth millions in a few minutes of political ads.

The remorse regarding the Le Cirque dinner would have been much appreciated if it had not come from people who are heavy public-fund spenders themselves. True, that most of the time recognizing others’ error is far easier than of our own. This had been relentlessly blamed on people’s much regard for himself or worst politician’s way of looking good for the public. The Le Cirque fiasco is not an issue of setting things right or banging the ones on top for their misbehaviors. It was more of Roxas’ excuse to get himself in front of cameras and buy him sometime to talk about how “cheap” he thinks of himself and not of his spendings. The louder he screamed, the clearer it had been for the public that he simply isn’t good for anything less than a “talker”.

I am hosting a dinner at my residence tonight. Any one care?##