"M. Arroyo was here"

Have you been to any place popular enough that you want to prove to someone that you've been there? I guess even if the place is not popular at all, you'd still want to show off your identity. I have seen them in school washrooms, boarding houses and other places not too private for outsiders to see.

Amid the political situation in Manila, First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo had a self-imposed exile to try to isolate himself from the situation, hoping to be vindicated from the accusations he is facing. Indeed this man is surrounded by controversies in his reign as the top man in the land. He was implicated in the "Jose Pidal" case; he is also alleged to have amassed millions from jueteng lords, probably, if true, used to implement a program that helps policemen smile proudly.

I am laughing to myself to learn about President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's statement about losing a doting father and grand father to his children and grandchildren, respectively. Why? To me, she does not need to mention it for every father or mother will have the instinct to feel the same. Just ask any Filipina domestic helper sitting down there in Chater Road's "Blackman". It was said to justify the trip as something they did not wish to happen and not something to do in order to avoid the Congress hearings (with some In Your Face Kulang Sa Pansin Congressmen Who Want Video Appearance) in live telecast. Sorry, I know a little about that thing called immunity.

Mike Arroyo is here in Hong Kong at the time of this writing. Hong Kong is popular, with the world's best airport, best airline lounge, best airline opening up of Hong Kong Disneyland in September among reasons to come here.

So if I would like to find a place where "M. Arroyo was here" grafitti, I'd like it to be that Hong Kong Park marker and the green The Peak Tram letters at Garden Road. Surely he will be proving to be in Hong Kong. As I failed to talk to his wife during her whirlwind travel in Hong Kong, I'd expect an even more media-shy husband this time.