NY Post item on PGMA dining smacks of racism, decries seasoned Asian diplomat

August 11, 2009 9:17 am 

By Gloria Jane Baylon

MANILA, Aug. 11 — A recent item in the “New York Post” on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s purported excessive high–style dining at the well-known Le Cirque in New York City smacks of racism and discrimination, “where even a Filipino President is not expected to be seen,” a top Asian diplomat expressed today.

The diplomat, who asked for anonymity, also said that Filipino critics of the President should have more understanding of their own culture and analyze why the “New York Post” derided Macapagal-Arroyo for reportedly being part of a dinner entourage that cost her Filipino host a whooping USD20,000 (almost P1-million)

On page 6 of the August 7th issue of the New York City-based tabloid-sized daily, the Post said:

”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 services, Carlos Garcia, was found guilty earlier this year of perjury and two of his sons were arrested in the US on bulk cash-smuggling charges. Macapagal-Arroyo ordered several bottles of very expensive wine, pushing the dinner tab up to USD20,000.”

Malacanang acknowledged that PGMA did join the dinner group, but noted that she did not use a cent of her own or of government’s for the gathering since Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, a known ally who belongs to the moneyed Romualdez clan, took care of the bill.

As soon as the Post story came out, her critics both here and abroad took the opportunity to cast another round of aspersions and derisions of the President.

The Asian diplomat said this was practically toeing the line of the American-run newspaper, "in the manner of those with a colonial mentality."

But the diplomat, who is very familiar with the socio-political scene in the U.S. East Coast, said the Post is very racist in degrading Filipinos who it supposes should not be dining in elitist restaurants.

The diplomat also emphasized that USD20,000 “is a small sum” for the size of PGMA’s entourage, which also included Americans security personnel assigned to her by the White House. The diplomat pointed out that New York is one of the world's most expensive cities, a reality the United Nations Development Programme supports in its Index of Cost of Living.

Why? Does the newspaper think the President of the Philippines should go into a “turo-turo”?, the diplomat raised. (“Turo-turo” refers to the action of pointing at one’s choice of a dish in a Philippine style mom-and-pop diner, closely associated with hawker’s style street-food eatery.)

She is a head of State, for goodness sake, and she was winding up her official working visit at the White House, the Asian diplomat proferred.

In full agreement with the Asian diplomat, a Filipino colleague in the diplomatic circle also said that critics of the President should only have to look at where diplomats and foreign high officialdom in the Philippines live and eat.

Even those from generally perceived as from the poorest of countries have to live and dine in well-situated villages that many Filipinos could not afford. "You won't expect them in the slums, don't you? Not eating in street carinderias, either!"

“It’s not arrogance, it’s not profligate living," the Filipino diplomat intoned.

At the same time, the Asian diplomat stressed that it is not relevant whether or not a “mole” from the opposition or anti-PGMA media had tipped the story to the Post.

“What Filipinos must ponder upon is why the newspaper reported it the way it did. And why the opposition used the story to strike at the administration again.

Foul, the diplomat cried. (PNA)

DCT/GJB

Similar Posts:

Filed Under: National
Tagged:

Comments

Comments are closed.

Bad Behavior has blocked 17907 access attempts in the last 7 days.