Arroyo visits Spain

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel, arrived in Madrid late Sunday night (Manila time) for a four-day state visit as part of her week-long European trip. Mrs Arroyo's arrival marks the first state visit of a Philippine president to Spain in over four decades. Her late father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, was the last one to do so in 1962. She flew in from Tarbes, France where she made a brief religious pilgrimage to the Lourdes Grotto, a popular destination of Filipino Catholic pilgrims. Her state visit to Spain was meant to further enhance the economic, historical, cultural and diplomatic ties between Spain and the Philippines. Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Miguel Angel Moratinos and Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Arias Romero were earlier expected to heading the welcoming committee at the Madrid Barajas International Airport in Madrid. Other members of the welcome party include Director General for Asia-Pacific Foreign Relations of Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jose Eugenio Salarich Fernandez de Valderama, Director of Madrid Barajas International Airport Miguel Angel Oleaga, aide-de-camp of the King of Spain Lieutenant Col. Ramon Alvarez de Toledo. On the Philippine side, Presidential Chief of Protocol Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr, Philippine Ambassador to Spain Joseph Delano Bernardo and Mrs Bernardo were expected to welcome Mrs Arroyo. After the airport ceremony, the first couple were scheduled to depart for the Palacio Real de El Pardo, Mrs Arroyo's official residence during her state visit. In the early evening, Mrs Arroyo was to visit the Philippine Embassy and meet with the Filipino community at the La Salle Colegio Nuestra Senora de las Maravillas, then have a private dinner. She was scheduled to receive welcome honors at the Palacio Real de El Pardo Front by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia at the Palacio Real de El Pardo Front Courtyard. She was set to address the joint session of the Spanish Senate and congressional leaders, then join the Royal Couple at a private lunch at the Palacio de Zarzuela after a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Plaza de la Lealtad. Mrs Arroyo will also expected to receive calls by some officials and businessmen before her scheduled visit to the Madrid City Hall. A gala dinner hosted by the King and Queen at the Palacio Real de Madrid will cap her second day in Madrid. - GMANews.TV