Wednesday, April 05, 2006 (Philippines)

President Gloria Arroyo applauds as she accepts greetings of well-wishers in Mapandan, Pangasinan on the eve of her birthday. She is 59 today. Her husband Miguel Arroyo earlier said he still had to buy a gift in addition to the roses he usually gives her on special occasions: one red rose and 11 white roses.(Malacañang photo/Via Ap) About 48 percent of Filipinos believe that removing President Arroyo by a people power uprising would be good for the country, the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed. Only 27 percent of those surveyed disagree with the statement, while 21 percent are undecided. Malacañang said that President Arroyo, who turns 59 today, remains unfazed by the new SWS survey results. “It is unfortunate that there are those in the political arena who are still following the old track of search and destroy, when the whole nation is jumping onto the new track of unify and build,” said the President. [full story]