‘MANO PO’ GESTURE LAUDED AS SPEAKER, GMA, GONZALES STAND UNITED

By Maricel V. Cruz

ALL is well that ends well with a “mano po” gesture at the House of Representatives.

Speaker Martin Romualdez bowed and placed the hand of former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo on his forehead -- the traditional Filipino sign of respect for an elder -- during Monday’s House plenary session.

The gesture drew applause from the lawmakers present at the plenary, dousing speculations that the two allies have parted ways after Arroyo was replaced as senior deputy speaker.

Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, who replaced Arroyo as senior deputy speaker, did the same honorific gesture.

Before his oathtaking, Gonzales fetched Arroyo from her seat and asked her to join them at the rostrum with Romualdez.

The former President then joined her two colleagues at the rostrum where the Speaker administered Gonzales’ oath of office.

Romualdez and Arroyo are stalwarts of LakasCMD. The Speaker is its president while Arroyo is the party’s chairman-emeritus.

SHOW OF RESPECT. Former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is flanked by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales after both kissed the hand of the elder lawmaker (inset) and before Gonzales was sworn in as Senior Deputy Speaker on Monday.