I was watching the TV coverage of the funeral mass for the former President Corazon C. Aquino. Shortly before the mass began, former anchor of Tagalog-language TV news programs and now Vice President of the Philippine Republic Noli de Castro arrived. He was quite in a hurry to go to his seat as if afraid that he would not get to sit in the front rows. When he arrived at the proper row, he was greeted by former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos. Ramos introduced him to East Timor President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta. De Castro did not seem to give much attention to Mr. Ramos-Horta. He seemed to be concerned only with finding his seat. And suddenly, he pushed aside — with his two hands — the East Timor President so he (de Castro) could sit next to ex-President Fidel Ramos.
I couldn’t believe my eyes! I asked my companion if she saw what De Castro did. Yes she did. So, I thought that maybe it was not Ramos-Horta. Maybe it was just his (Ramos-Horta’s) aide.
A few minutes later, Ramos-Horta was shown entering his limousine and leaving the Manila Cathedral. The news anchors did not know why Ramos-Horta was leaving. And when the cameras went back to show Fidel Ramos and De Castro, there was noone seated next to the Vice President.
Why would anybody go through all the trouble of attending a funeral in another country and leave just before the mass begins?
How I wish I had TIVO so I could just rewind and verify if it was indeed Ramos-Horta who was unceremoniously shoved aside by Noli de Castro.
PRESENCE / ABSENCE OF ARROYO
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo went to the wake of former President Aquino early morning today. Only one child of the former president was there to greet her. She sat near Senator Noynoy Aquino for some 10 minutes and left. She will not be attending the funeral.
I think Arroyo’s advisers got it all wrong. Arroyo should not have come for the wake because wakes are usually for friends and relatives, of which she was neither. She should have come for the funeral proper as it would be more politically-correct. It is only proper that a sitting president would attend the funeral of a former president, especially a former superior. Ms. Arroyo was appointed as Assistant Secretary and later Undersecretary at the DTI by then President Aquino. It was at the Department of Trade and Industry that Ms. Arroyo started making her fortune.
I was at the funeral of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, President Aquino’s husband. I joined the very long caravan from Sto. Domingo Church to the Memorial Park. We left the church around 9 or 10 a.m. and reached the memorial park some 11 hours later. That was an experience.
But this time, I pass.