News Commentary

by Benigno Tutor Jr.

Cold wind greets Arroyo visit to Japan

UNSPOKEN RULES of hospitality normally define the behavior of host and guest. One of these is the norm that an invited guest should not ask for too much from his host.

Obviously, there is a lot of pressure on the part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was invited by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko for a state visit to Japan from Dec. 2 to 5, to make this more than just an occasion for social climbing or a ceremonial exchange of pleasantries.

Before she departed for Tokyo, she was briefed by her henchmen of the Pulse Asia survey indicating a significant plunge in her approval rating from 54 percent in July to 45 percent in November. The verdict on her capability as president was even harsher, indicating that only 12 percent of the populace would vote for her as president if elections were held now, compared with 19 percent for ousted education chief Raul Roco and 17 percent each for Fernando Poe Jr. and Noli de Castro.

In a meeting with representatives of some 20 Filipino organizations in Tokyo, Arroyo betrayed none of the dismay she may have had inside, even ebulliently pronouncing her latest economic accomplishments of a 4.1 percent increase in GDP and a 5 percent rise in GNP. "The difference between these two figures," the former economics professor lectured, "is accounted for by your remittances." That's a whopping US$6 billion last year, an amount that has already been surpassed in the third quarter of this year.

(l to r) President Arroyo, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, Ambassador Domingo Siazon, Jr., and Congresswoman Sato

If she was not ingratiating herself with a future overseas electoral block that has no first-hand experience of the poverty at home, she certainly tried to sound disarming when she announced to the flag-bearing crowd that she was appointing her husband Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo as special envoy for the OFW's. Mike's assignment would bring OFW welfare issues close to home, literally. The job would be gratis, except for her "love." But the job is certainly more than ceremonial?it would place the First Gentlemen at the helm of an interagency team consisting of at least the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment. It would also gain him foothold on the 7-million strong overseas constituency whose franchise will soon be formalized by the House and Senate.

Obviously, the OFW welfare issues that Arroyo has in mind are at variance with those in the mind of the attending organizations. Foremost of the issues the organizations raised concerned the human rights of Filipinos who have overstayed and were deported or voluntarily surrendered. Under the revised Immigration Law, once repatriated, even mothers who have children with the Japanese are banned from re-entry to Japan for five years.

Campaigning for 2004?

In her historic speech at the Japanese Diet, the first female world leader and the second Philippine president to do so, Arroyo by protocol tiptoed only on the issues of regional security and free-trade agreement with Japan, largely recycled issues that she has already aired in other international forums.

The closest OFW issue she could bring to the fore was the further opening of the Japanese labor market to caregivers, already hyped in the local Philippine media as an "open market." Arroyo cited the success of Philippine nurses in serving the health needs of people in North America and Europe. With close to half of Japan's population being 50 years and older, Arroyo was confident that Filipino health workers could adequately fill the labor shortage in this area.

Lauded six or seven times during her 24-minute speech, the warm reception to Arroyo was confined largely to the closed Diet hall.

(l to r) Silangan Shinbun publisher Mario Heriales, PT Editor Butch N. Talorete, a PAG-IBIG Fund staffer, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Mar Roxas, and Mrs. Chua of PAG-IBIG Fund.

By and large, the reception of the Japanese media to Arroyo given the rarity of visiting female state leaders, let alone of a female leader addressing the Japanese Parliament - was as chilly as the winter air that wafted at her face as she reviewed the honor guards on her arrival at Haneda airport. She got very little press coverage on newspapers and TV.

For one, state-appointed security was overwhelmingly tight. For another, the Japanese media does not usually provide entourage to a foreign visitor paying curtsy to the Chrysanthemum throne with one hand outstretched for aid. That Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's attendance at Arroyo's Diet speech was inserted into his schedule at the last minute also indicated that her red carpet ended where Japan's domestic economic needs began. With Japan's own unrelieved economic woes, it may have worked well for Arroyo to be bidden home with the $350 million-relief package for Mindanao tucked safely away from the glare of the Japanese public. *

See related article: An Open Letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

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You may email the author at benny@philippinestoday.net.