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Friday, July 28, 2006
Arroyo hospitalized for flu, stable: doc
MANILA -- A sick President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cancelled all her appointments Thursday and Friday including her meetings with Pastor Rick Warren and hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas led by Filipino-American member Allen Pineda Lindo, more popularly known as Apl.de.ap.
Arroyo was brought to St. Luke's Medical Center at 5 p.m. Thursday, said Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Arthur Yap.
Arroyo, who was suffering from flu, underwent some series of tests but it was not clear if she would stay overnight as of this posting.
Sources said the President was brought to the hospital on the advice of her physicians.
The St. Luke's hospital is expected to issue a medical bulletin Thursday night.
No members of the First Family or Malacañang officials were with the President when she went to the hospital.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita stood on behalf of Arroyo in the meeting with Warren, author of the book "A Purpose Driven Life" and his companions Steve Komanapalli, Art Guino, and Dave Arnold, and Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches head Bishop Ephraim Tendero.
During the one-hour meeting, Ermita and Warren talked about the history of Malacañang Palace and the executive secretary's experiences in the military, in Congress, and in the executive branch.
Warren also said prayers for the continued prosperity of the Philippines, the healing of the nation, the unity of Filipinos, and the increased wisdom of present leaders. He also prayed for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) "who have brought far greater impact around the world than just their own border."
After the event, Ermita was then joined by Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, Presidential Management Staff chief Arthur Yap, and Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye in meeting with Pineda and fellow group member William Adams, also known as Will.I.am.
The two other Black Eyed Peas members, Jaime Gomez (Taboo) and Stacy Ferguson (Fergie) were unable to come and witness the conferment of the Presidential Medal of Merit to Pineda, which was given by Ermita in behalf of the President.
The absence of Arroyo and the two group members, however, did not diminish the excitement of their fans -- including some employees of the Office of the President and their relatives and some students from around the Malacañang complex - who were treated to a performance by Pineda who sang the APL song and Bebot.
At one point, while the APL song was being sang by the Pineda, a male toddler went to the stage to dance with the Black Eyed Peas members who were later joined by other youngsters who attended the event. Defensor and Bunye were also seen swaying and clapping their hands in tune to the songs.
A photo opportunity with the group's members followed after the event. The Black Eyed Peas, formed by Pineda and Adams in 1989, is known for the hit songs "Where is the Love?", "Shut Up", "Don't Phunk with my Heart", and "My Humps".
Defensor said Arroyo has heard of the Black Eyed Peas and knows that they are popular among the youth. She, however, is not aware how popular they really are, or that they were recognized by the UN following their release of the anti-war song "Where is the Love?"
"I'm sure the President didn't want to miss meeting these two important people, very established and renowned Mr. Warren tapos Filipino si APL (and APL is a Filipino). Talagang hindi lang kaya ng katawan niya (Except that she is really sick)," Defensor said adding that Arroyo's throat hurts while her lungs are congested.
Ermita said Arroyo asked him to stand in for her in her scheduled public activities for the day while Defensor said the President had to cancel her schedules, including those for Friday, on the advice of her doctors.
Bunye said Arroyo was down with flu and is now resting in the Palace. He said the President's private physician and a Presidential Security Group doctor is attending to her and monitoring her condition.
Bunye and Ermita said there is nothing to worry about Arroyo's condition because it is just an ordinary flu similar to what other people get especially with the present weather conditions.
Ermita, Bunye, and Defensor said aside from the weather, the President's hectic schedules, including the late hours she spent working on her State of the Nation Address, added to her frail health condition.
Bunye said Arroyo started feeling ill after leading officials in welcoming the latest OFWs who fled Lebanon late Wednesday night.
This is the second time that Arroyo was taken ill this year, the last one led to her confinement at the St. Luke's Medical Center from June 22 to 24 after she was diagnosed with acute infectious diarrhea.
Bunye denied there is a flu going around the Palace although he admits being downed by flu early this month. Defensor also suffered from flu sometime last month. (JMR/Sunnex)
(July 28, 2006 issue)
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