Sunday, March 05, 2006 (Philippines)

President Arroyo waves to supporters prior to boarding her limousine following her visit to a public market in Manila. The visit came a day after she lifted a week-old state of national emergency she declared to thwart an alleged coup plot. To Arroyo’s right is Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, himself the center of another political storm. A faction of the Liberal Party declared Atienza their new party president last week, replacing Senate President Franklin Drilon.(Ap photo) MANILA - President Arroyo visited a market in Manila yesterday in an apparent effort to project an image of calm after lifting a state of national emergency. “Overall, aside from the people who can no longer see the good things in this country, people who are the usual nags and complainers, all is well and the response of the economy is good,” said Government Media Group Secretary Cerge Remonde. But while analysts do expect investor confidence to revive next week, with the end of Proclamation 1017, not everyone is buying the administration’s message that all is well. [full story]