The Hillary Clinton in Manila Live Blog: She’s landed. (Updated)
1230. Flurry of activity. The convoy moves to the landing strip.
1307. A plane with United States of America on it approaches and lands. Doors open, disgorging many youngish people in black suits.
1315. The Hillary has landed.
Post pictures in a bit, when van stops jumping.
The traditional media hasn’t seen her yet, so there. I am introduced to the foreign press as the “embedded” blogger. I like that. In answer to turmukoy’s question, No this is most emphatically not a paying gig. I was invited by the State Department. They first tried the live blog when Secretary Clinton visited Mexico, and it turned out so well they decided to do it again.
1433. In Malacanang Palace, waiting for the press conference.
Nick Merrill from Secretary Clinton’s team was the traveling press wrangler. This is one of the rare moments he is not on his Blackberry.
First time I set foot in the palace. Chandeliers! Chandeliers!
Not just chandeliers from the ceiling, but chandeliers from the floor.
Among the media are Earnest Zabala and Erwin Romulo whom I did not recognize as he was dressed as an adult. Earnest wants to ask a question about the Reproductive Health Bill. We wonder if it can be squeezed in.
1546. I love her. I wish I were a Marine so I could properly salute her. More details later: immediately after her press conference we had to dash into the van and now we’re zooming from Malacanang to Marikina. I did not know it was possible to zoom from Malacanang to Marikina in the middle of the afternoon but it is and it’s fun, like a theme park ride in a blender. 25 minutes!
Earnest didn’t get to ask her question about reproductive rights, but Howie Severino did. Basically Secretary Clinton said it was not the US government’s place to preempt or go around people’s beliefs, but family planning is essential to development. A woman’s right to determine the size of her family affects the sort of educational and economic opportunities the children will have. She put this in very strong terms.
She also talked about government corruption in Afghanistan and the need for free, transparent elections in Burma. I overinterpreted them and imagined she was also referring to the Philippines.
More when the van stops being a mini-cyclotron. Dorski, yes, there are cute security guys but they do not want their pictures taken and you have to listen to the muscles.
Protesters in Marikina are hustled away as the Clinton motorcade arrives.
1638. Hillary Clinton: Rockstar. 2,000 cheering high school kids from the Malanday High School in Marikina welcomed the Secretary. She presented book donations from USAID, opened their book fair, and announced US$5M more in flood relief assistance. Of course Pinoys are always effusive particularly when the guest is so popular, but I got the impression the students were genuinely thrilled to see her. She gave a short talk, reminded the kids to study hard, and made one female student the celebrity of the day by asking her how to pronounce “Mabuhay.”
Going to Sofitel. Should post photos shortly. My eyes hurt from this jolting.
2119. Leaving Malacanang in a while. Had dinner in the clubhouse on the golf course while Sec. Clinton dined with President Arroyo and her guests–cabinet members, military, some columnists and businessmen. I checked out the place cards–Don Emilio Yap and Manny Pangilinan were invited.
President Arroyo just before conferring the Order of Sikatuna on Secretary Clinton.
I’m wiped out and going home. Shutting down my computer, apologies for any typos and errors that crept in while we were bouncing down the highway. Back tomorrow at the crack of dawn (aaargh).
Malacanang Palace at night
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
November 12th, 2009 at 14:05
Are the secret service agents as goodlooking as those in the movies? (No, I’m not thinking of Clint Eastwood but Dylan Mcdermott is cute.)
November 12th, 2009 at 15:07
Ask Hillary if she has seen Obama’s birth certificate, and if Obama has ever bought her a burger (like Obama did for his staff when cameras were following him for a TV documentary).
November 12th, 2009 at 15:17
Ms. Jessica… I’m glued to your blog. I just have to keep on refreshing the page. As I’ve said previously, they couldn’t have chosen a better blogger to do this gig! I really love the way you make a running account of this important visit. Whether at the tennis court – clay, grass, or concrete – or sharing airspace with the Hillary Rodham Clinton, you rock!
November 12th, 2009 at 15:21
Does the Secretary of State use Air Force One for missions like this, when the President isn’t using it or does she have her own plane, errrrr Air Force 3 or 4?
November 12th, 2009 at 16:35
“I did not know it was possible to zoom from Malacanang to Marikina in the middle of the afternoon but it is and it’s fun, like a theme park ride in a blender.” I’m still laughing!
November 12th, 2009 at 17:23
is she really that nice??? no “bella flores” moments?
November 12th, 2009 at 17:41
what is she doing here again? to give aid or to make sure their bases stay?
November 12th, 2009 at 17:47
In most live-blogging I’ve seen, the blogger puts the latest entry on top (with a time stamp). Works better, because one does not have to scroll down each time one refreshes.
November 12th, 2009 at 17:58
At the town hall meeting tomorrow, ask her
1) what she thinks a female Secretary of State (she, Condi, Madeleine Albright) brings to the job that distinguishes her from her male counterparts.
2) what kind of boss is Obama?
November 12th, 2009 at 18:07
Oh, her hair is coiffed. It must be anti-humidity hair spray. I don’t know anything about the reproductive health bill so I’ll just say something about her hair. Love et!!
November 12th, 2009 at 19:26
She’s so gutsy, that if she’d be a man, she’d probably have twice the number of balls of an anatomically-correct male.
November 12th, 2009 at 19:37
wow. good job. are you also taking the pictures yourself with that heavy dslr (saw a canon with an L lens on one of the first pictures posted)?
November 12th, 2009 at 20:15
Uh-oh. You shouldnt have disclosed that she brought books. If the Dept of Finance people get a whiff of this, theyll tax them.
You could ask her what she thinks of our country’s policy of taxing book imports despite being a signatory of the Florence Agreement which is a treaty we’re supposed to be bound by.
November 12th, 2009 at 20:52
“what is she doing here again? to give aid or to make sure their bases stay?”
hillary said the VFA was the best expression of of the U.S and Philippine partnership. best for whom?, i wonder.
ms. jessica i wish youd ask her this question again. and thanks for the updates.
November 12th, 2009 at 22:23
>Grafton Uranus
Air Force One is whatever plane the POTUS rides; it’s more of a codename rather than a specific plane.
i’m joining the town hall meeting tomorrow.
we were advised not to bring a camera, so please take our pictures!
November 13th, 2009 at 01:42
Great job. I will definitely keep track of your Hillary updates. As a U.S. immigrant, I am interested to hear about the Manila sojourn of the woman who is responsible for thousands of cracks on the ceiling.
November 13th, 2009 at 04:40
since I don’t get to watch news (I don’t have time for anything relevant nowadays) I can go by just reading this live blog. I didn’t even know Hilary was visiting until I learned it from Jessica, yeah, SAD but TRUE.
note: we do have a working TV
November 13th, 2009 at 10:53
Ji jessica,
Thanks for the updates. Am sure both print and media reporters must have been peeking at your site to get infos on Hillary’s trip.
The school she went to is more than what an average public high school would look like.
I hope our lawmakers would think of her statement and pass the reproductive health bill…..