During her visit, President Arroyo witnessed the signing of three memorandums of agreement with private pharmaceutical companies in India related to the Philippine government’s program for cheaper medicines.

The Chief Executive, who was accompanied in the trip by several Cabinet members, was expected to return at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 10:30 p.m. last night.

Mrs. Arroyo’s state visit to India was also highlighted by joint declarations to fight terrorism and enhance cooperation in renewable energy.

Also signed during her visit was a declaration for expanded bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and India with the establishment of a joint commission for the purpose.

Mrs. Arroyo also announced the liberalization of regulations for the entry of Indian nationals to the Philippines to boost the country’s entertainment and tourism industries.

The President also encouraged Bollywood directors to choose the Philippines as a potential venue for their films.

An agreement between the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) and India’s State Trading Corp. is expected to reduce production costs of medicines in the Philippines and, in the long run, help provide cheaper medicines to Filipinos.

Arroyo also promised to support India’s "Look- East" policy and encouraged the Indian business community to invest in the Philippines’ mining, pharmaceutical, energy, and construction sectors.

India’s exports to the Philippines reached US$ 490 million in the fiscal year which ended March, 2006. Imports from the Philippines totaled US$ 255 million in the same period.

Though Philippine trade with India is lopsided in favor of India, President Arroyo is confident of a positive return in revenues.

"We are bullish on 21st century India and on your ability to help drive positive change in the world. We have the unique opportunity to learn from you, and create our own path to development," Mrs. Arroyo told India’s business leaders during a forum here last Friday.

President Arroyo takes a break, visits Taj Mahal

AGRA CITY, India – President Arroyo yesterday visited the world renowned Taj Mahal together with Cabinet members and Philippine dignitaries who accompanied her in the three-day state visit to India.

President Arroyo said her visit to Taj Mahal helped ease her frustrations with political bickering back home.

"If I listen to all the political noise, my energy will dissipate. I focus like a laser beam," the President told reporters here.

Mrs. Arroyo, who is facing another impeachment case filed against her by a former lawyer of the Magdalo group, said eradicating poverty in the next two and half years of her term remains her ultimate goal.

Her idea of energy management includes time management, eating the right food, getting the right amount of sleep, praying, and focusing, she said.

"Because if I have to attend to everything, if I listen to all the political noise, my energy will dissipate. My frustration has nothing to do with my work. I do the same work whether I’m frustrated or not. But it bothers," she said.

Arroyo said she won’t mind if persons critical of her government want to take the credit for all the programs she implemented during her term.

"It’s OK. They can take all the credit. It doesn’t matter. I made difficult decisions, but I made permanent changes," she said.

"You know what they teach in religion? Why did God create us? To love, to know him, and to serve him in this world so that we can be happy with him in heaven forever. That to me is important," she said.

She said the country wouldn’t have attained a 7.5 percent growth rate if she focused on the political bickering.

"If I would have spent my time thinking about such things, we won’t be where we are. So credit is not part of that formula. So let them take the credit," she said. (Hannah Torregoza)