A day after arriving from her trip to the Danish capital of Copenhagen for the United Nations climate change conference, President Arroyo flew to Hong Kong Sunday for a threeday family vacation in “fulfillment of a promise to her grandchildren,” Malacañang said.

“President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is in Hong Kong from December 20 to 23 for a private family vacation in fulfillment of a promise to her grandchildren,”  Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said.

When the Chief Executive’s parents – former President Diosdado Macapagal and former First Lady Evangeline Macapagal – were still alive, they also spent Christmas in neighboring countries, including Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Remonde said even though the President is away, she continues to keenly monitor the situation in the Bicol region where restive Mayon Volcano is feared to undergo a major eruption anytime.

“Even while on family vacation, the President will be closely monitoring the developments of Mayon,” he said.

The President has directed National Disaster Coordinating Council chairman and acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and Secretary Esperanza Cabral of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to work closely with the Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council headed by Governor Joey Salceda to prepare for the worst from Mayon.

Mrs. Arroyo left the country for the former British colony to spend time with her family after joining other leaders from the developing world in calling on rich economies to cut their carbon emissions in Copenhagen.

Remonde said the President, who earlier in the month joined the congressional derby to represent the second district of Pampanga in next year’s elections, will spend Christmas with her provincemates.

“She will spend Christmas eve with her cabalens in Pampanga. She will deliver her traditional Christmas message on December 24,” he said.

In the past, the First Family annually and traditionally spent the Yuletide holidays in Baguio City where they stayed until New Year’s Day. Even before the President assumed office in 2001, the First Family had been spending Christmas in the City of Pines.