President Arroyo and her entourage spent a P1million for one extravagant dinner in a fancy restaurant in New York. This enraged a lot of concerned citizen. How in the world could they ever spend that lavishly amidst the never-ending strife of the Filipinos.
Here is the picture of Le Cirque in New York where the presidential group was said to have eaten their $20,000 dinner.
photo copied from About.com
Whether it was paid by Leyte Rep. Romualdez or not, the point is they have spent much for it. It is an issue of delicadeza as Atty. Gaby pointed it out in Unang Hirit this morning.
It is so sad that these people who were entrusted to run our country do not set good example at this time of global economic crisis. They are trying to justify it by saying that they were celebrating the wedding anniversary of the president and also by saying that the delegates were hungry. Let them tell that to those hungry Filipinos. Their excuses are just so lame that I can’t help but raise an eyebrow.
As government officials, they are entitled to a respectable dinner but a million worth of dinner is unreasonable.
Malacaňang Palace refused to say sorry. Whether they asked for apology or not, the deed was already done. But this is an issue that people don’t normally get a way with. This for sure would mobilize critics, reformists or activists. This entails more discussions and disputes for the executive pork barrel. For 2007, P693 million was said to be the audited budget for presidential trips. And each year, that increases. Now, who would say that we don’t have money.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that this is a propaganda to anger the people. They have said to occupy only two tables and ordered a “set” meal consisting of soup, salad, a main course, drinks and coffee or tea.
Here is the article posted last August 7 in NY Post by Richard Johnson:
The economic downturn hasn't persuaded everyone to pinch pennies. Philippines President Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was at Le Cirque the other night with a large entourage enjoying the good life, even though the former comptroller of her country's armed serv ices, Carlos Garcia, was found guilty earlier this year of per jury and two of his sons were arrested in the US on bulk cash-smuggling charges. Maca pagal-Arroyo ordered several bottles of very expensive wine, pushing the dinner tab up to $20,000.
NY Post
The restaurant tab, purported copies of which have since circulated on blogs, showed that the Arroyo delegation had five servings of wild golden osetra caviar ($1,400), 11 bottles of Krug champagne ($5,610), and 25 orders each of the Chef’s Seasonal Menu and Tasting Menu (totaling $1,450 and $4,500 respectively), along with 17 other items.
Inquirer
Government officials need to be reminded once again that they are living in public scrutiny.
This is simply embarrassing and unacceptable.
photo from http://www.ellentordesillas.com/
Here is the picture of Le Cirque in New York where the presidential group was said to have eaten their $20,000 dinner.
photo copied from About.com
Whether it was paid by Leyte Rep. Romualdez or not, the point is they have spent much for it. It is an issue of delicadeza as Atty. Gaby pointed it out in Unang Hirit this morning.
It is so sad that these people who were entrusted to run our country do not set good example at this time of global economic crisis. They are trying to justify it by saying that they were celebrating the wedding anniversary of the president and also by saying that the delegates were hungry. Let them tell that to those hungry Filipinos. Their excuses are just so lame that I can’t help but raise an eyebrow.
As government officials, they are entitled to a respectable dinner but a million worth of dinner is unreasonable.
Malacaňang Palace refused to say sorry. Whether they asked for apology or not, the deed was already done. But this is an issue that people don’t normally get a way with. This for sure would mobilize critics, reformists or activists. This entails more discussions and disputes for the executive pork barrel. For 2007, P693 million was said to be the audited budget for presidential trips. And each year, that increases. Now, who would say that we don’t have money.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that this is a propaganda to anger the people. They have said to occupy only two tables and ordered a “set” meal consisting of soup, salad, a main course, drinks and coffee or tea.
Here is the article posted last August 7 in NY Post by Richard Johnson:
The economic downturn hasn't persuaded everyone to pinch pennies. Philippines President Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was at Le Cirque the other night with a large entourage enjoying the good life, even though the former comptroller of her country's armed serv ices, Carlos Garcia, was found guilty earlier this year of per jury and two of his sons were arrested in the US on bulk cash-smuggling charges. Maca pagal-Arroyo ordered several bottles of very expensive wine, pushing the dinner tab up to $20,000.
NY Post
The restaurant tab, purported copies of which have since circulated on blogs, showed that the Arroyo delegation had five servings of wild golden osetra caviar ($1,400), 11 bottles of Krug champagne ($5,610), and 25 orders each of the Chef’s Seasonal Menu and Tasting Menu (totaling $1,450 and $4,500 respectively), along with 17 other items.
Inquirer
Government officials need to be reminded once again that they are living in public scrutiny.
This is simply embarrassing and unacceptable.
photo from http://www.ellentordesillas.com/
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