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SINGAPORE?President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo missed her first ?Kodak moment? here, stumbling Friday night upon a huge Vietnamese delegation that kept her from the red carpet welcoming leaders for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum here.
Wearing a red coat, Arroyo and her uncharacteristically lean delegation arrived at the Changi International Airport shortly before 6:30 p.m. only to find the main exit clogged by members of Vietnam President Nguyen Minh Triet?s delegation.
Having waited for about 15 minutes, Arroyo decided to take a side exit instead while on board a black BMW sedan that brought her to the Singapore Art Museum to grace the opening of a Philippine exhibit, according to a Filipino official who saw the incident.
Because of the congested exit, a photographer waiting to capture Arroyo?s arrival said the Philippine leader did not have her moment on the red carpet while standing in front of an APEC background for the customary photo shoot.
?To me, it was very undiplomatic because not only did she fail to walk the red carpet, she also had to be driven along the side exit,? a photographer told the Inquirer.
The Filipino official who also saw the incident said Arroyo had to take the unglamorous exit because the Vietnamese delegation was yet to clear the area. The Vietnamese leader had arrived about half an hour before Arroyo?s plane was scheduled to touch down.
Still, the photographer said the President kept her poise, flashing a bright smile and waving on her way out of the parking lot.
In contrast to the Vietnamese entourage, Arroyo?s was relatively small. She brought only four Cabinet officials?Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, and Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.
Also joining Arroyo was an all-female delegation from the House of Representatives: Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa, Anna York Bondoc of Pampanga, Rachel Arenas of Pangasinan, Zenaida Angping of Manila, and Maria Cosculluela of Buhay.
Ostensibly missing were House members like Representatives Danilo Suarez of Quezon and Martin Romualdez of Leyte, and Aurelio ?Dong? Gonzales of Pampanga, who usually tagged along on her foreign trips.
Remonde said First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo would not be available for the APEC, particularly during the so-called ?Singapore Evening at the Esplanade? where leaders and their spouses were to be treated to dinner and concert Saturday night.
Mike Arroyo, like some 20 lawmakers, is reportedly in Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquiao?s bout with Puerto Rican welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on Sunday (Saturday in Las Vegas).
Remonde said there was nothing particularly nostalgic or sentimental about Ms Arroyo?s final attendance at the APEC summit. He described her attitude going into the leaders? summit as more of ?been there, done that.?
?I?m sure the President will definitely be missed in this stage because, modesty aside?like the proverbial (a prophet is not without honor save) in his own country?the President?s leadership, especially in the area of the economy, is quite recognized,? he said.
?Right now in both the ASEAN and the APEC, she?s already considered as one of the most senior leaders. She?s among the very few women, especially in the APEC region.?
