SERIOUSLY?!

I am all for exposure to China and the world at any given time and I’m willing to part with my taxes and have it spent on visits to world meetings such as the BOAO Annual Conference which the President just attended. However, a quick look at the delegation list of the Philippines as listed on the BOAO Delegations page surely made my eyebrows cross my forehead all the way to the back. I mean, seriously, there has to be several Luggage Officers included in the delegation? And tell me, I pray, what does a Blanket Carrier do? (Just stating the obvious).

Here’s a quick look at the people that accompanied President Arroyo:

Agusto ADIS Vice President & Resident Manager Philippine Sinter Corporation
Alan Mitchel G BELEN Delegation Luggage & Passport Officer Philippine Government
Alberto G. ROMULO Secretary of Foreign Affairs Government of the Philippines
Alejandre RICAFORTE Doctor Government of the Philippines (Lucky guy!)
Alfonso Yuchengco Honorary Chairman Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
Alfredo LABRADOR Assistant to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Government of the Philippines
Alicia R. PANGAN Boao Secretariat Philippine Government
Ambrosio Brian F. ENCISO III Principal Assistant, ASPAC Philippine Government
Art A GONZAGA Admin & Logistics Officer Philippine Government
Arthur C. YAP Secretary of Agriculture Government of the Philippines
Bernardita SM. DE JESUS Advance Protocol Officer Philippine Government
Beth AGRAVANTE Private Secretary Government of the Philippines
Beda Sluggo F ELEGADO Signal & Commo Officer Philippine Government
Blanch Joan C GUIBONE Female Close-in Security/Food Tester Philippine Government
Carlos CLET OP-SMADC Government of the Philippines
Carmencita E. DULAY Passport Officer Philippine Government
Carol M. DAQUIAL Advance Protocol Officer Philippine Government
Clarry S FONACIER Close-in Security to PGMA Philippine Government
Daniel R. ESPIRITU Director, ASPAC Philippine Government
Danilo AGUIT Presidential Security Government of the Philippines
Enrico B. RIVERA PSG Liaison Officer Philippine Government
Edgardo H PALMA Operations/Convoy Officer Philippine Government
Edwin C OPENIANO Blanket Carrier Philippine Government
Emmanuel ANG Commercial Attache Government of the Philippines
Erlinda BASILIO Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Government of the Philippines
Ernesto C. CABADING Assistant Luggage Officer Philippine Government
Eufracio MALIG JADC (role ?) Government of the Philippines
Evan P. GARCIA Special Assistant to OSEC Philippine Government
Florencia Celeste DIMACULAGNAN Technical Associate RPDEV
Francis G. Estrada President Asian Institute of Management
Francisco Viray President Trans-Asia Power Generation Corporation
Francisco,Jr. del ROSARIO President/COO Roxas Holdings,INC.
Franklin C LEDESMA Close-in Security/Vest Carrier Philippine Government
Generoso MIRANDA Support Staff Philippine Government
Gideon O NAVARRO Shift Leader/Close-in Security Philippine Government
Gilbert G OBILLO Luggage NCO Philippine Government
Ignacio BUNYE Presidential Spokesman Government of the Philippines
Irineo CORNISTA OP Protocol Government of the Philippines
Jaime B. JAYCO Gifts Officer Philippine Government
Jaime S POCHE TOC & SAP Passport NCO Philippine Government
Jesus A BAUTISTA Billet Security Philippine Government
Jose Jr. Leviste Chairman, President & CEO Mirant Philippines Corporation
Jose Paolo Abaya Vice President & General Manager Isuzu Manila
Joseph CALDERON Close-in Security Government of the Philippines
Leandro MENDOZA Secretary of Transportation and Communications Government of the Philippines
Lily CHUA Interpreter/translator Philippine Government (don't we have an interpreter in China?)
Marciano A. PAYNOR Chief of Presidential Protocol Government of the Philippines
Maria Andrelita AUSTRIA (role?) Philippine Government
Maria Edna S. GAFFUD Executive Assistant to Chairman Ramos Boao Forum for Asia
Maria Elena Algabre MISRAHI (role?) Philippine Government
Maria Josefina CEBALLOS Deputy PA for Foreign Affairs Philippine Government
Marie-Charlotte TANG Second Secretary and Consul Philippine Embassy, Beijing
Mario MALANA Senior Inspector Philippine Government
Milagros S. CRUZ Executive Assistant Philippine Government
Oscar H. RABENA Flight Safety Officer Philippine Government
Peter FAVILA Secretary of Trade and Industry Government of the Philippines
Quirino De LOS SANTOS Presidential Security Government of the Philippines
Rafael del Pilar OIC- President PNOC ¨C Exploration Corporation
Ramon MONTAÑO Consultant San Miguel Corporation
Ralph MAMAUAG Close-in Security Government of the Philippines
Ralph Stephen M. CALDERON Transportation Officer Philippine Government
Reghis II Romero Chairman of the Board R II Builders Inc/Philippine Ecology Systems Corp.
Reginald BERNABE OP Protocol Government of the Philippines
Revimare DE MESA Deputy Chief of Presidential Protocol Philippine Government
Romeo MANALO Assistant Secretary Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs
Romeo PRESTOZA Head of Presidential Security Group Government of the Philippines
Ronnel D MASANGKAY Close-in Security to PGMA Philippine Government
Rose Paz NARVAJA Substantive Secretariat Philippine Government
Sonia C CALIXTO Private Secretary to PGMA Philippine Government
Sonia Cataumber BRADY Ambassador Embassy of the Philippines
Susana D. VARGAS Deputy Executive Secretary for Administration and Finance Philippine Government
Teddy Poul P. DATU Luggage Officer Philippine Government
Usec Francisco BENEDICTO Undersecretary,OP, Visayas,Mindanao Government of the Philippines
Zafrullah G. MASAHUD Executive Director & Coordinating Officer DTI/FTSC Philippine Government

PLEASE tell me we didn’t fly all these people to China for a mere 12-hour visit? Imagine how the list would look like if the 5-day Working Visit would have pushed through! How many luggage officers does a working visit need? And close-in security officers?

Sabagay, panis yan lahat sa isang interesting delegate title from Pakistan:

Tariq-ul-Hassan MEHDI Gunman Pakistan Government

Panalo, ‘di po ba?