Filtered By: Topstories
News

Arroyo party checks in at D.C.’s costliest hotel


President Arroyo talks with Bahraini Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Salman Al Khalifa Wednesday at the Bahrain International Airport. PCPO
CHICAGO – If President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo misses the chance to have face time with President Barack Obama on Thursday, at least her party will have a bragging right of staying at Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown (www.fourseasons.com), the most expensive hotel in Washington, DC. A source who asked not to be identified told this reporter that the presidential party would arrive at 1 a.m. Thursday and would stay overnight at the luxury hotel. It will leave for San Francisco, California the next day on its way back to Manila. President Arroyo’s delegation will be coming from Italy. They will be billeted at Four Seasons Hotel where the deluxe overnight room rate fetches at a minimum of $595 and a maximum of $12,500 for a Royal Suite. Malacañang’s deputy spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo told GMANews.TV in a Wednesday interview that they are still in the process of finalizing the list of Arroyo’s entourage to Washington. Asked if 10 persons are too much for the President to bring, Fajardo replied, "No I don’t think so." Some sources were quoted as saying that the decision of President Arroyo to attend the 57th National Prayer Breakfast organized by US congressional leaders was so sudden it caught the Philippine Embassy officials by surprise. Officials of the US government have invited guests from 160 countries. The event will be highlighted by an address of President Obama on Feb. 5 at the Hilton Washington in Washington, DC – a tradition started by US President Dwight Eisenhower. The event that is usually shunned suddenly became the hottest ticket in town after word spread around that President Obama will be a guest speaker. “She really just wanted to have a photo opportunity with Mr. Obama," a source said, referring to President Arroyo, “even for one minute." The officials of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs are pulling every string to make sure Mrs. Arroyo gets Mr. Obama's attention, a source added. "This breakfast event used to be no big deal in DC until this year," the source said. The invitations to this event were sent out six months in advance. Former President Fidel V. Ramos has been attending this event for many years. For this year, Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero accepted the invitation a long time ago. It was reported that Escudero also planned to greet Obama at the event. Former Quezon City Rep. Dante Liban was also reported to be attending the breakfast prayer. Escudero will also be attending the IMF-World Bank Forum on Thursday at 5 p.m. The forum will be attended by members of the diplomatic corps, Filipino American Community leaders, economists, and other guests. "I hope to be able to get the chance to say hello to President Obama," Escudero said before he left Manila Monday night for the United States. He is the only Filipino lawmaker attending the event. The annual four-day event, which began on Feb. 3 and ends on Feb. 6, will be attended by officials of the US government and guests from 160 countries. "I am deeply honored to be invited to this prestigious event, especially at this time when world leaders are crafting solutions to address today’s momentous challenges," he said. Escudero was invited last October by organizers of the event. - With a report by Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV
LOADING CONTENT