A $35,000 Question - What's For Dinner?

It was just a simple controversial dinner. Some steak, caviar, lobsters and fine wines. The venue was a French Restaurant Le Cirque along New York. The bill was $20,000 or almost a million Pesos. Congressman Romualdez of Leyte gave that blow-out for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the entire Presidential entourage, around sixty-five (65) of them. Anyway, it was a meaningful treat for the First Couple. Both will celebrate their 41st Wedding Anniversary soon.

The second most-talked dinner in Bobby Van's of Washington, D.C. was a little bit cheaper. Congressman Danilo Suarez of Quezon Province treated the entourage. It costed him $15,000 including tax and tip for that. He showed some receipts lately. Of course, it wouldn't pass thru Commission on Audit (COA) because that was a personal expenditure.

Those two dinner dates had a total amount of $35,000. The whole entourage did enjoy such dinner. They shared some fantastic conversation and more bonding moments with each other.

However, on the contrary, the Filipino nation tremendously reacted after knowing the news from the New York Post. Gossips also scattered thru the internet.They commonly claimed that the Lady President must remember the hungry Filipinos she left back home in the Philippines. Why should she spend much?

One thing, we forgot are the privileges and amenities, the working President is entitled of. She represented our country as smart as she was with dignity and pride. She only showed that we are a strong nation of great leaders and sensible citizenry always ready to beat the hardships of life. Otherwise, shall we allow our leaders to be embarrassed in the international front?