GMA in U.N.

*** Filipino Americans last month stood ten feet tall after US first lady Laura Bush announced the appointment of a Filipino to be the first woman and first minority to assume the post of executive chef of the White House kitchen. Today, the same Filipino Americans are faced with the problem of whether to be proud or ashamed that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will preside in the meeting of world leaders in the United Nations Security Council in New York.
*** This will be the same President who admitted her participation in the”Hello Garci” tapes, whose family has been accused in Philippine Senate hearings of receiving jueteng payolas and who reportedly pressured her supporters in the House of Representatives to virtually “kill” the impeachment case against her so that she can go to the UN on a ”clean slate.”
*** The failure of the impeachment process does not clear her of the charges. Her attempt to sweep the scandal under the rug because she controlled Congress and the government’s purse strings will not improve her image before the world leaders.
*** Instead of seeking vindication by facing the impeachment proceedings as suggested by her own backers and the opposition, she opted to shortcut the process in order to show up in the United Nations. The Philippine delegation to the United Nations explained why it was necessary for her to go to the UN and even possibly preside over the Security Council meeting. They said this will be an opportunity for the President to “repair” her international image.
*** We are not sure whether the world leaders will welcome ‘Hello Garci’ in their midst while the cloud of doubt over her alleged rigging of the 2004 election and other scandals still hang over her head.
*** While some Filipino Americans will surely welcome her, hundreds, if not thousands, are expected to demonstrate against her not only because of the Garci tapes but also because of her failure to stop the human rights violations inflicted on children languishing in Philippine jails. Even as she was in the UN, the US Congress was holding a hearing about this issue.
*** One virtue Filipinos hold in high regard is ‘Hija,” (shame). Many will go to great lengths to clear their name and honor before venturing out in the world.
*** Should we be proud or ashamed that she is presiding at the United Nations?