The propaganda

(Rep. Romualdez w/ GMA in New York. Photo from the congressman's web site.)

DOESN'T anyone find it strange that Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who supposedly foot the $20,000 Le Cirque tab of the presidentita and her band of loyal sipsips, is nowhere to be found? He's just keeping quiet about the whole affair, which I think is even more incriminating for the presidentita dontcha think?

(Btw, pls. be warned that the "tab" that supposedly has been posted by several bloggers and shared on Facebook is not real. The original post can be found in Manolo Quezon's blog and he clearly says there that it's a "theoretical" tab, an explanation how it could have reached $20,000. So quit posting it guys and stop spreading the disinformation.)

So, people are wondering how Romualdez could afford such a dinner. Well from what I hear, he was a banker and of course, a million pesos is just a drop in the bucket for bankers esp. if they're working for foreign institutions. And well, just read your history books and find out how the family became so wealthy. (Just for your added knowledge, Rep. Romualdez is the son of former Ambassador Benjamin 'Kokoy' Romualdez, a brother of former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos. The congressman is also the younger brother of Benjamin Philip Romualdez, chairman of Benguet Corp. who is married to the Inquirer's Sandy Prieto.)

I wonder what Rep, Romualdez's constituents now feel about him after reading that he spent $20,000 for a lavish dinner for his beloved president? You see, apart from progressive Tacloban, most of the municipalities in the congressman's first district are either 3rd class, 4th class or 5th class municipalities - meaning people there are dirt poor and don't have access to basic services. Imagine how P1 million could've helped his constituents! Tsk, tsk.

(FINAL UPDATE: The Presidentita and her loyal sipsips at dinner. Many have been asking if this is the photo of THE dinner - or dinners, as we are now hearing - at Le Cirque. I just confirmed that it is not bec. NEDA DG Ralph "Ate Vi" Recto, who is at the right of GMA, wasn't part of this last NY trip. As per a source, this is the dining room at the Townhouse, the official residence of our Philippines Permanent Rep. to the UN, Hilario Davide. This was taken sometime in Sept. 2008, when the presidentita made a speech at the UN. Rep. Romualdez is on the far left. I told my source that this room kinda reminds me of the private dining area of the Presidential Suite in Waldorf Astoria. Hmmm...)

In case Malacañang still doesn't get it (and yes, Le Cerge, we know you're just doing your job but you're really just making an A** of yourself doing so), the howls of protest from the citizenry are not about the dinner per se and who paid for it, but how the presidentita (and her loyal sipsips) can sleep soundly at night, having just eaten a costly dinner (about P950,000), when the rest of her kababayan here can't even eat one square meal a day? And pls. don't tell us Le Cerge that nobody among your crew knew how expensive dinner at Le Cirque would be - well maybe YOU don't - but that's exactly why nagkandarapa kayo sumama sa dinner na yan is bec. you know can't afford kayo!

No one is begrudging Mrs. Arroyo her good food and wine on her wedding anniversary at that, and by most accounts, Le Cirque is one of the best fine dining restaurants in New York, but yes, it is all about appearances. The leader of a third world country where most of its citizens earn less than $2 a day seen dining at an expensive restaurant just sends the wrong signals doesn't it? There she was trying to get some bit of good news for her and successful trip, hoping she gets a mention in the foreign media, but she just botches it by dining, unthinking, at Le Cirque. Even NY Post's Richard Johnson knew something was amiss in that picture. Then again, hey, at least she did get a mention in the US media. Oh aren't we all so proud of her!

(The presidentita and her minions sightseeing in LA in 2008. Is that Jaza I see on the right? My, my, we've put on the pounds haven't we? Rep. Romualdez's web site is such a treasure trove for photos documenting the presidentita's moves. We thank him from the bottom of our heart for all these photos.)

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Now I don't mean to waste your time or bore you w/ text messages. But I just wanted to let you read the kind of propaganda coming from Malacañang, especially in the light of the recent $20,000-dinner at Le Cirque. These are just examples of the kind of poor, inefficient thinking that goes on in the seat of power. And I feel insulted, because man, if this is the kind of sh** we taxpayers are paying for (to defend the presidentita's honor), then I want my money back!

From: 0935-1913-785 (Aug. 10, 5:36 pm): masyado nman sinesensionalays issue bawat galaw GMA. Ganito trabaho oposisyon. dpat linisin bakuran nyo alisin puwing mata b4 magma2linis s sambaynang pilipino

From 0916-9194-270 (Aug. 10, 4: 37 pm): BAKIT SI BINAY PAG PUMUPUNTA SA ABROAD SA JAPAN AT PINAPAKAIN SIYA KOBE BEEF NG MGA JAPON NA NAPAKAMAHAL D SIYA NAG REREKLAMO MAGPAKATOTOO KA NAMAN

From 0905-8381-099 (Aug. 10, 4:37 pm): C MAR ROXAS AT DRILLON DPAT MAHIYA SA LIBING NI PRES. CORY WLANG GINAWA KUNDI PAG HUMIHINTO CORTEGE BUMABABA AT NAKIKIPAGKAMAY S MGA TAO PRA KUMAMPANYA NAKA2HIYA (Me: teka na-late ata tong text na to a. Last week pa ang libing.)

And you don't want to know what Malacañang has been saying about Sen. Noynoy Aquino during the wake of his mother. Out of respect for Tita Cory, I'm not gonna publish it, but imagine how idiotic Malacañang's propaganda machine is, its handlers won't spare anyone, even the son of the deceased president. Tsk, tsk.

Oh and maybe, someone should shut up Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, who is probably doing even worse explaining the dinner away. Loose lips sink ships.