With First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo on the road to recovery from a heart ailment, President Arroyo is gradually resuming her rigorous work schedule this week, including her public engagements and probably her foreign travels.

The President marks her return to the public spotlight since her husband was confined at a hospital two weeks ago with her 63rd birthday on April 5, Monday, in her home town in Lubao, Pampanga.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said the President’s decision to attend her birthday mass at the San Agustin Church was good indication that her husband’s medical condition is improving.

The President’s work is now “back to normal” while she continues to pray for the full recovery of the First Gentleman, according to Olivar.

“Let’s hope and pray that the President’s birthday mass will be the start of her larger public role or she will be more available now because this means the First Gentleman is recovering,” he said in a media briefing aired over government radio.

On her last birthday celebration before she steps down in office this June, the President is expected to offer prayers not only for country’s clean and credible May elections but for the speedy recovery of her husband of 42 years, Olivar added.

“I am sure she will use the occasion to thank the Lord that she achieved another year of service as the country’s President. I am sure she will also pray for the swift recovery of the First Gentleman and pray for the country’s progress, successful elections and rightful choice of the new leaders,” Olivar added.

The President has postponed her public engagements, including her campaign for a congressional post in Pampanga’s second district, since First Gentleman was rushed to the hospital last March 25 due to back pains related to his past heart surgery. Mrs. Arroyo has set up remote office at the hospital to keep working while watching over her husband.

Doctors found out he developed another tear in his aorta but later declared he has passed a critical stage with the help of medicines. With the President by his side, Mr. Arroyo is undergoing progressive aggressive physical rehabilitation at the hospital.

Marilen Lagniton, vice president for customer affairs of St. Luke’s hospital, said a medical bulletin on the First Gentleman’s condition could be issued on Monday.

The last bulletin on the President’s husband issued last March 29 stated Mr. Arroyo was moved from the internal care unit to a regular room after his heart condition continued to improve.

While she may have called off her previous public engagements in the last two weeks, the President has not cancelled her upcoming foreign visits this week despite the First Gentleman’s confinement at the hospital.

“We have not received word about the cancellation of her trips,” Olivar said.
Olivar admitted though the President’s trips to Vietnam, United States and Spain within the next two weeks would still depend on the medical condition of the First Gentleman.

“The First Gentleman’s long term recovery would be a factor so let’s see how it will affect her long-term traveling plan,” the Palace official said. “But as I said it looks like the prognosis seems to be continuing improvement.”

The President is set to attend the two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Hanoi, Vietnam on April 8 and 9.

From April 12 to 13, the President will attend a summit on nuclear security organized by US President Barack Obama in Washington DC. She is also scheduled to visit Madrid, Spain on April 16 and 17 for a meeting with King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia.

Meanwhile, thousands of local folk in Pampanga will converge in Lubao Monday to give show their wholehearted support to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is celebrating her 63rd birthday celebration.

Lakas-Campi-CMD Pampanga gubernatorial candidate and Senior Board Member Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda said Sunday that the President will spend the whole day Monday in Lubao, also the birthplace of her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal.

According to Pineda, the President also thanked her supporters for standing solidly behind her administration, especially those who are helping the President creating six to 10 million jobs.

Pineda cited GMA’s legacy of development and infrastructure projects not only in Central Luzon but also in the entire country.

One of her achievements is the expansion of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport terminal facilities which now can accommodate increased flights and generates more jobs.

Central Luzon Police Director, Chief Supt. Arturo G. Cacdac Jr. has instructed police commanders to secure the place were the President is celebrating her birthday Monday.

Meanwhile, on attempts by some groups to drag the First Gentleman in the presidential battle while he is enduring heart problems, Olivar dismissed them as baseless speculations to earn brownie points for their campaigns.

He lamented that these opposition groups are trying to use First Gentleman to sow division and defection in the administration party.

The last medical crisis of the First Gentleman was in November 2008 when a plane carrying the President to Lima, Peru made an emergency landing in Osaka, Japan after he complained of abdominal pains. He was then rushed to St. Luke's hospital where doctors discovered he was suffering infectious diarrhea.

In April 2007, the First Gentleman underwent a risky heart surgery after being diagnosed with dissecting aortic aneurysm, a tear in the large blood vessel. Mr. Arroyo was discharged from the hospital three weeks later and was forced to go on a strict diet, undergo rehabilitation, and avoid stressful activities.

In December 2006, Mr. Arroyo had a coronary angioplasty to restore blood flow in his blocked artery.

The First Couple has been married since 1968. The couple, who knew each other since teenagers, has three children, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo and Marie Evangeline Bernas, and four grandchildren Mikaela Gloria, Marie Angelique, Eva Victoria and Diosdado Luis Miguel. (with a report by Franco G. Regala)