I am trying very hard to keep my head from rolling off my neck but I need to do this to keep my brain fluids from coagulating.  My mom just left leaving us with, as I told you guys, a good lunch and merienda for tomorrow.  Pitik or slipper lobsters wrapped in smoked salmon for starters, lapu-lapu as the main course and chocolate mousse topped with white chocolate shaped in either a boot or a 10-galloon hat for dessert all from Manila Hotel.  Merienda is from the barrio fiesta held before the state dinner and catered by Cibo.  I owe my October 19 fare to the entire Filipino nation.

There are flowers and there are flowers.  They aren't helping my condition at all but they are gorgeous!  Toni Parsons did a wonderful job which was not unnoticed.  Aside from being in awe of the Palace itself, the Bush's couldn't get enough of Philippine flora.  Well, Bangkok and Singapore will be able to give us a run for our money but our local florists can stand proud and tall.  Truly world class.

Lucky for him, Dubya's tripping on the red carpet during the arrival ceremonies inside the palace grounds was not covered by the media.  Klutzy nga, sabi ni BlueNun.  My insider, who had to wear a Secret Service pin on her left collar during the entire time (and got to keep it!), specified that the left foot was the culprit. 

He was a good 30 minutes late for the Batasan (I was asleep and caught his speech only at the end) because the police were unable to contain the protestors.  The most powerful man in the free world was already getting antsy because it was going to delay his flight to Bangkok.  As if he needed to be in the airport on time!  If it was going to be delayed any longer, he threatened, he wasn't going to proceed and this of course sent little brown sister into a sreaming fit.  Wow, did they get it from her!

The jusi was just too itchy for Bush to wear his barong in formal fashion.  Sorry, no cerrada for him never mind if it was a state banquet.  I guess malagkit na rin siya.  If he thinks it was humid in Manila, he's in for a big surprise in Bangkok and Singapore. 

Watching his arrival this lunch time, BlueNun and I were texting each other about his supposedly unscheduled stopover at the US embassy before proceeding to Rizal Park.  Actually, alam ng mga tao sa loob na dadaan siya but security prevented them from mentioning it to anyone.  His stay was long enough for us to build a whole story around that sidetrip.  Nag drive thru muna sa McDo tapos nag dump ng toxic waste sa banyo ng embassy.  While he was having his high level meeting, Laura was deep in her own negotiations with the Muslims from Greenhills who came to Roxas Boulevard with their South Sea pearls.  Queen Sophia, on her last visit to Manila, had asked to visit the tiangge where she ended up spending a fortune.  So since Laura couldn't go to Ortigas, Ortigas would have to come to Laura.  We noticed that he was still cringing while laying the wreath so maybe, we thought, di pa talaga siya tapos. 

Air Force One was originally scheduled to "hang" at Clark and if it did, naka tour sana tayo sa loob.  The Secret Service had planned to open it to a select group and my mole had us in mind.  Sayang, hindi natuloy. 

I am sure she will remember and give me more stories.  For now, based on pogi points alone, they are as follows:  Al Gore & Bill Clinton tie for first place while Dubya is not exactly a close second.  Bill has an edge because during his stay, he jammed with Ming and Executive Band.  Using someone else's sax, he didn't even bother to remove the mouthpiece.  Medyo ewwww, but for whom? 

Question:  My mole said that Cory was very pretty tonight, but where were FVR and Ming?

Good night pipol.  Red Lobster nag-uulat.