 The recently concluded 1st Provincial Anti-Poverty Summit was held at the Provincial Capitol in Borongan City, Eastern Samar on November 8-9, 2007. Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graced the event, as the keynote speaker in its culmination.
Aack. drop the crap. i don't mean to make this into a "journalistic" entry, acting as if i was one of the press who actually went there to cover the event. Let me have a take that is different. As a citizen, who used to be semi-nonchalant about the world. (are you saying that you're suddenly "involved" now?) I didn't really have to be here in the first place - a sub, yes that's what i was 'cause my superior had to go somewhere (more?) important. a whole different story right there...
well, in the natural way of things, i had to "follow orders". it's not that i'm doing this disdainfully, but i just felt that my presence would be irrelevant anyway. but yeah, i kept my word and spent a day and a half in attendance to the summit. (i'm gonna write more about that in another entry, wait for it.)
i'd say that i had an emo-mix in being there. hope and cynicism rushed through my veins. like a child waiting for the rain to stop or counting sleep before a family outing, i sat there restless. i guess my "marshmallow" was the fact that i could see THE PRESIDENT in the flesh, is that "reward" enough?
funny how everyone was rattled when they heard "she just landed". the summit's closing program was cut short. just because HER EXCELLENCY got to the place earlier than expected. (and yes, i know that the more i bash, the more i'd put myself into trouble. so what?) yeah, it's a given that people would act the way they did. excited, nervous, anticipating. it's not everyday the country's TOP LEADER would go all the way to faraway land to talk for less than an hour. yeah, she awarded "grants" to selected areas as funds for their projects. Having done that was great honor for the whole province. (i could just imagine those selected few who were able to shake her hands. bet they won't wash them for days.)
was i thinking out loud? was that uttered in spite? envious cause they were that close, they got that close? why? 'cause the closest i got was a mere three-to-five meter distance. at the back of the stage? so much for connections. well, i got "locked" inside the capitol building. was too lazy to get out of the room, 'cause of the sun's scorching heat outside the grounds. well, that's what i got for delaying everything. and if it were not for the uberly strict guards, i would've taken a good photo of HER. (way better than the one i posted, and yeah, you should've seen my other snap, a tiny WOMAN in light blue. HER BACK facing me. and huge images of a Mr. Striped Shirt and Ms. Shiny Hair. how's that for a mental picture?)
so i just recant images of her from memory. man, they were way waaaay better i tell you. close glimpses of the President. she was thisclose, and yet too far at the same time. damn you, PSG. (well, i know they were just doing their job. but it's not like i'd take her soul with one good photo op!)
guard:"mam, bawal pong mag-picture."
me: "eh, kasali naman ako sa summit ah." (shows my ID to his face)
guard: "okay lang naman po sana, kaso wala sticker ang camera niyo."
me: ampf. (i didn't want to push it, he had a point. pero sayang pa rin.)
like a child in disappointment, i went home with a half-heart  .
the only reason i stayed in the afternoon program was the "chance" i thought i'd have to have a good photo of HER EXCELLENCY.
so much for my goal right?
but still, it's the experience that mattered.
like i said, it's not everyday that you'd get to see the President in person.
and i was thisclose to it...
 | aw sayang pero at least you saw her in person :) |
 | miday wrote on Dec 9, '07  aw sayang pero at least you saw her in person :)  oo nga e. i guess i should be more grateful than whiney diba?
once in a lifetime experience rin yun.
wahahaha. ang babaw. |
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