Mexican First Lady arrives in PHL for special visit

Mexican First Lady Margarita Calderon arrived Wednesday morning in Manila for a two-day special visit to the Philippines. Calderon arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) early Wednesday, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported. The Department of Foreign Affairs said Mrs. Calderon started her Philippine visit with the laying of flowers at the tomb of former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino. She was scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III at Malacañang. President Aquino will host a lunch reception in her honor, attended by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, members of the Cabinet, and legislators. Mrs. Calderon will then meet Philippine officials in an evening reception to be hosted by Mexican Ambassador to the Philippines Tomas Calvillo. On Thursday, Mrs. Calderon will tour Fort Santiago, visit the Nayong Kabataan shelter for children, and meet with secretaries Corazon Soliman (social welfare), Enrique Ona (health) and Armin Luistro (education). She is expected to discuss Mexico's programs for the protection and welfare of children, the prevention of drug addiction, and national census for People With Disabilities. Capping her visit will be a cultural gala hosted by Sen. Edgardo Angara, which will showcase artist-performers of Cultural Center of the Philippines and the launching of the "Dia del Galeon" (Galleon Day) commemorative stamps. "Dia del Galeon" is the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-instituted commemoration of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade, which is celebrated by the Philippines and Mexico on October 8. Mrs. Calderon's visit follows a visit to Mexico by Soliman and Luistro last May 30 to June 3. At the time, they led a 17-member delegation to study the "Oportunidades" poverty alleviation program for the benchmarking of the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" (4Ps), the conditional cash grant program for the poorest families in the poorest municipalities. For his part, Ona had led a delegation of PhilHealth officials to study Mexico's "Seguro Popular" (public health insurance) program in the thrust to attain 100 percent health insurance coverage for all Filipinos. Both the "Oportunidades" and "Seguro Popular" are considered successful models for social service programs for their high positive impact and effective results in providing assistance and services to the poor. — LBG, GMA News