Me———— “Tart! Tart! Pupunta pala dito si Obama.”
After a few seconds…
Me———— “Naku Tart, hindi tayo magkikita, wala tayo dito.”
Edm———– “hmm”
Me———— “Pano yun, wala tayo dito, magkakasalisi tayo.”
After a minute.
Me———— “Ay Tart, Oct 6-10 pala. Nadito tayo”.
Edm———– “Sweetheart, ano ba yan. Para namang kasama tayo sa dinner.”
Me———— “Eh kasi nung dumating si Bush, nagkita kami”.
Oh Lord, I want to meet President Obama and shake his hands, or at least see him in person even from 10 meters away.
When GMA went to Washington DC, during the last year of her term, my name was not included in the official list of guests to the White House building. The Department of Foreign Affairs was required to submit the names at least 3 weeks in advance but I only confirmed that I would be joining them a few days before the departure.
When I received the letter of invitation to accompany the delegation, I just got back from the US. I was busy and wasn’t sure if I wanted to go. Meron pa nga akong jetlag. I received a call from one of the DTI officers and she requested me to join. That was less than a week before the scheduled departure, kaya they were not able to submit my name to the White House protocol and security office.
I wanted to go with the entourage when they were about to leave the hotel. Even if my name was not on the list I was willing to take my chance. Somehow, I had that strong feeling that I would be allowed to get in. If the FBI guys block my path, okay lang sa akin, I was willing to take that chance. But the Philippine embassy people didn’t want me to go.
When they came back to the hotel from the White House, they told me this pampalubag loob “Miss, Annie, you should have come with us, pwede palang pumasok. There were two tourists wearing shorts and rubber shoes, they were allowed inside”.
The more I got inis.
By the way, I was the only business person who went out of her way to accompany then president GMA on her last official trip to America. Her term was about to end and I was the only one who didn’t mind going. Wala naman akong personal agenda. For me, it’s just a simple show of sincere support for our government and country, regardless of who the president was, is, or will be.
Naalala ko lang bigla, flashback. There was a dinner somewhere in New Jersey yata yun, tendered for Pres. Gloria Arroyo by the Filipino community. Sec. Ermita and some other officials were standing and waiting for the Presdient. So nakisali ako sa kwento kwento, kumusta kumusta. Sec. Ermita noticed that I was the only one around and I knew that he appreciated my presence. We met during FVR’s term and Sec. Ermita knew that I had no business agenda. Basta show of support lang ako.
Someone introduced me to a cabinet official. I shook his hand. Nanay ko po, hindi na binitawan, sabay ng lagkit ng kanyang titig sa akin. At kinakamot pa nya ang palad ko. Ako naman, bale wala sa akin yung ganun. Alangan namang sapakin ko. Manhid na ako sa mga tsansing. Pero turn-off na turn-off ako sa kanya. Considering that when you see people on tv di ba parang mga dignified?
While he was molesting, sorry, that’s too harsh a word, rewind: while he was kamuting my hand, I just looked at him, tatanungin ko sana, “Manong, tapos ka na ba?”
Nilamutak yung kamay ko , para syang reflexologist.
Kung hindi lang ako naka Americana, I would request him sana to massage my back instead.
You know what, I think he’s dead na. Oy, I didn’t kill him ha? Ano kayang ginagawa nya when he suddenly died? Naku po, sorry, sumalangit nawa.
