I meant to watch the full coverage of the Bush visit, but it didn't work out that way. I started watching it after Bush had already left Villamor, and the last thing I saw was his speech at Batasan. To make my unemployed self feel better, I kept thinking "Been there, done that" while watching the coverage. Although that backfired quickly because for someone who had access to the second (or is he third after the Vice President?) "most powerful man of the free world" last year, why the hell am I unemployed these days? HaHa. However, everything that transpired last year was subpar compared to the events that happened today.
First, the clear roads going to/from the venues. We definitely didn't have that last year. We traveled on Roxas Boulevard by using the service road. I think one of the cars got into an accident with a taxi seconds after we left. Once we turned onto EDSA, nagkawatak-watak na ang motorcade/convoy namin because of all the traffic. I found it hilarious because only drivers in the Philippines can literally tangle up a long line of cars even with police escort. We finally got the line going again when we got inside Villamor. What was the first station I saw? ABS-CBN. Its van had a bright light beaming on my window as we passed by.
Unlike Bush who landed 6 minutes earlier than planned, we waited hours for Powell. The only excitement I got from that was when the news reporters were let in and allowed to position themselves on the tarmack. We were ways away from them. Suddenly, we heard a loud roar. I thought it was trouble, but it turned out that it was only the reporters scrambling to get the best position they could.
When the plane landed, you can't help but be in awe (and happy, because you can only sit and stare at the sky for so long while famished). After Mr. and Mrs. Powell did their "publicity wave" and left, we left our positions and moved towards the plane. I was literally beside Air Force One, err, Air Force Two...whatever. I did stare at the plane during the whole time that I was next to it. It was another one of those moments in my life where I had stood there thinking, "Am I really experiencing this?! Me? College student me? Are you sure it's not some other person who's supposed to be standing here? Why am I standing next to one of the planes owned by the most powerful government in the world?!" But really, a "Look, Ma!" would have been fine also. HeHe.
After that, we proceeded to The Manila Peninsula. Does anyone have a copy of ABS-CBN's coverage of the Powell visit because I am super duper wondering now if I got on TV last year. HeHe. There were a lot of cameras/reporters outside of The Pen when we got there. Since I had to wait for the driver to lock up the back of the truck after everyone else unloaded all the baggages, I was just standing off to the right of the group of cameras with my badge around my neck and a walkie-talkie in my hand. Does anyone know if I got my 5-10 minutes of fame (I still have 5 more in the future!)? HeHe. After getting the keys, I was left all alone to proceed upstairs. To this day, I am so glad that there were no cameras allowed inside the lobby of the hotel because had there been cameras there, they would have surely caught on camera this super lost-college senior-girl roaming around the lobby, trying helplessly to find the mahiwagang elevators! I was totally embarrassed during this time, but I soooo needed to find those elevators because I didn't want to be left behind for good by the rest of the entourage. For those who don't know, The Pen elevators are "hidden;" the doors don't face the lobby so you can't see them right off the bat. At least that was my excuse, ok? HeHe. To make it worse, while standing there, waiting for the elevator to come, one of the hotel workers (I think...or one of our people...not too sure of his role there) ushered me to this other "special elevator." I saw this guy a couple of times already while walking back and forth in the lobby, and I'm like, "Why didn't this dork help me out earlier?!" Ugh! Yes, this can be a running joke on me now...to make sure to give me a map of where the elevators are whenever I'm in a hotel. Har Har...not funny! {;P
Okay, enough reminiscing. Here's my "mini-hirits" of today's events based on the things I got to see:
- Calm down, ANC anchor people. They were trippin' (excuse my ebonics) because Bush made an unannounced stop at the Embassy, and thus the ANC folks' given itinerary became obsolete. Quit crying about it and just wait. Goodness.
- Bush standing alone in front of Jose Rizal, at the same location where Jose Rizal was put to death, and surrounded by men with guns. It wasn't a comfortable sight to watch.
- Why are Filipino children taught to be cheesy? "That was a good story, Mrs. Bush!" in that horrible tone that is so familiar to those who have seen Little Miss Philippines Q&A portions on Eat Bulaga. Gag! I don't blame the kids, I blame the adults who teach them to use that trying-hard tone.
- I smiled when I saw the St. Scho students inside Malacanang. Someday they will grow up to be just like me. =P
- Bush's speech to Congress. It is not bad to accept any forms of help, especially ones that are really needed by the country. However, I do hope that any help that is accepted is not just taken at face value (as with many other things). Possible benefits and consequences should be looked at (Being friends with someone means being enemies with his/her enemies, too). Also, it would be helpful to look at our interests first. The Philippines is so supportive with the US's war on terrorism, but what about the country's needs? Definitely, getting rid of ASG will be a big help to the country, but is that the #1 priority for the Philippines? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. However, I do know that the Veterans' benefits and waste at the former bases have been issues for a long time already. Since our friend is so appreciative of this friendship we have, why not talk about the issues just like good friends do all the time?
- The economy. During the bilateral meeting, PGMA mentioned the numerous new investments that the country is receiving. I'm happy to see that, but I hope that there are laws already imposed to prevent some of the negative consequences (further degradation of natural resources, waste management, human rights violations to name a few). Also, we really need to fix the infrastructure of the country. I think investments will be plenty if there's a better way to transport goods to/from/within the country. Businesses today emphasize JIT and such a process cannot exist with the kind of infrastructure the country has today. For someone who once experienced a travel time of 5 hours from Pasay to Quezon City, I say the infrastructure of the country is a nightmare. I don't believe that flyovers = solution, either. Lastly, population control is badly needed. To me, more people = more poverty for the Philippines. With the "modern problems" facing the Catholic Church today, isn't it time for them to start thinking like it is 2003? Is the Church doing more harm than good by tightly holding onto some of its values?
No comments:
Post a Comment