PGMA Finally Hears From Obama

Beggars can't be choosers, as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo might have realized when she called but failed to talk to United States President-elect Barack Obama at least three times for various reasons.

The first time Arroyo called Obama was when she was in the US while the Presidential campaign was going on. The second and third time she called Obama was to congratulate him for his victory. All calls remained unreturned apparently because Obama was just too busy or too tired to accept the call.

And now, finally, Arroyo can sleep in peace knowing that Obama has finally recognized the Philippines' existence by calling her and assuring her of a continued good relations between the Philippines and the US. Obama's phone call to Arroyo was announced by Press Secretary Jesus Dureza.

A Pitiful Sight?

It's time to collect my dues. Speaker of the House Jose de Venecia is unkonwingly saying this when he ranted during yesterday's Congress about the many things he did for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo even before she became secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

De Venecia said he was behind Arroyo when she begged him to take her in as his vice presidential candidate during the 2008 elections. He begged former President Fidel V. Ramos to also endorse Arroyo during that time. He was also responsible for asking former President Joseph Estrada to make her DSWD secretary.

And now, de Venecia's days as Speaker of the House are numbered and Arroyo is not doing anything about it. De venecia is a master politician. He should know that in politics, there is no such thing as "utang na loob", only personal interests.