August 10, 2003

The Philippine STAR, Opinion Page

A Bush Visit is Important 

For The Philippines  

By Babe Romualdez

A Bush visit is, without a doubt, important to the Philippines at this time. Especially after what happened at Oakwood, which almost drove the country to its knees. Since I last spoke to US ambassador Frank Ricciardone, he said the visit will go on as scheduled. George W will arrive in the country sometime around mid-October and hopefully he will stay overnight before he leaves for Thailand for the APEC meeting. But even though his stay will be for a short period, you can bet that the publicity behind this presidential visit will be enormous.

A US presidential visit is always a major international media event, and no doubt it will have a global impact on the country. In fact, as early as last month, about 300 to 400 media people have already made reservations in a number of hotels within and around Metro Manila. Dick Gordon, the cabinet member assigned for this visit, is fast tracking everything in preparation for the international event. He knows the visit of George W will once more boost the image of the country in the international community, certainly, tourism among other things. This for sure will bring the country back into the international radar screen on a more positive light.  Although recent events like the al-Ghozi escape and the young officers’ rebellion at Oakwood caused the country to take two steps backward, the US presidential visit, some foreign analysts believe, will give the Philippines a chance to show to the world there are more positive things happening to the country than meets the eye. More than anything else, the visit would focus support on the many issues surrounding the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which is badly needed today. Government has already signed an agreement to increase the food allowances and wages of Filipino soldiers. US Pentagon sources tell us they are pushing the AFP to fasttrack the needed reforms before US military aid starts to pour in. They are still hoping that some kind of peace agreement will be signed between the government and the MILF. If the peace process is successful, the US has promised to give the country 30 million US dollars for development projects in the South. 

Washington, no doubt, is preparing as well. If we can take the cue from Bill Clinton’s visit, a visit of George W will cost the American taxpayer roughly 25 million US dollars for a two-day visit. After 9-11, they probably have to spend more. Bill Clinton brought with him at least 500 people -- from his protocol officers to security personnel -- in two “Jolly Green Giants” – the C-130s. Clinton himself arrived on Air Force One with a backup aircraft. He also brought with him several bulletproof vehicles, K-9 teams, two helicopters, high-tech communications equipment and satellite gear. Two advance parties came to the Philippines months before Clinton stepped into the country. The Clinton entourage occupied most of the Manila Hotel. Shortly before Clinton arrived, his security team found out that the bed at the MacArthur Suite was too short for him, so they had to rush a similar bed making it six inches longer. Sources in Washington said George W and his staff are thinking of bringing an entourage of around 800 people together with the same equipment, perhaps even more. Americans have always been protective of their president, considering four have already been assassinated. As such, they will not hesitate to spend millions of taxpayers’ dollars to see to it that their chief executive is safe, especially after 9-11. Air Force One alone would probably carry with it more than enough security personnel to keep a housefly from landing on George W’s forehead. Just the same, we are told that George W is hell bent on coming to the Philippines – come hell or high water. His enthusiasm is being boosted by many good stories from Filipinos working at the White House.

Somehow, Bush’s security officers are not certain where Bush will stay. They would have preferred the Malacañang Guesthouse where Erap used to stay. Today, it has been turned into the office of the Executive Secretary. This guesthouse was actually built for the visit of Muammar Khadafy during the late 70s. It used to have a small mosque built beside it, and a private swimming pool. The guesthouse would’ve been the perfect place for a guest like George Bush because of its proximity to the Main Palace. Dick Gordon, the cabinet secretary in charge of the visit, has identified possible places where Bush could stay, but he’s not at liberty to divulge them at the moment. Needless to say, Malacañang should have a guesthouse – like the Blair House in Washington DC -- for foreign dignitaries, especially if they intend to have more visitors this year, like Thaksin Shinawatra who’s coming in September.

Bush is known as a person who does not enjoy formalities. Like any Texan, he would rather come dressed down and be in comfortable light clothing, not in black tuxes, ties and matched outfits. He would rather wear his Texan boots with his barong tagalog. That’s why Bush entertains many of his foreign guests at his Crawford Ranch in Texas. It has been suggested that it would be more appropriate for GMA to throw a simple Filipiniana-type “fiesta” in keeping with the times. I am sure George W will deeply appreciate a warm and simple reception like this, complete with a string of local dishes, entertainment and hospitality that Filipinos are known for. He has never traveled to the Philippines, much less this part of the world. 

There are a few narrow-minded noisemakers who are hell bent on derailing the visit because they see it purely as a boost to the political image of GMA. It may be so. But more importantly, it would be a bigger boost for the country at a time when we need it the most.

#########

Email: babeseyeview@hotmail.com

BACK TO TOP