This is in reaction to the editorial, ?Outrageous spending?. (Inquirer, 8/11/09)

For once we would like to suggest that the Philippine Daily Inquirer accept what Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said?that the Le Cirque dinner in honor of the Arroyos, who celebrated their wedding anniversary, was just a ?simple? one and not ostentatious.

Outrageous spending has long been the trademark of this government under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Just look at the several dozens of foreign trips she and her ilk have accumulated. Had she been flying the same commercial airline all those times she could have earned the company?s most frequent traveler award many times over.

What is $20,000 to her? Peanuts, she could have exclaimed. If she could afford to give away P500,000 to her favorite representatives and governors in that stinking palace beside that stinking river where snakes hiss and lapdogs salivate, what is P1 million to spend in that posh New York restaurant where the rich and the famous dine and wine with hedonistic abandon?

And Remonde, as host (who would pay the bill), would you appreciate it if the guests, in whose honor you give a ?blowout? to, ordered the most expensive food and drinks?

We don?t have the slightest doubt that it was for them just a simple dinner, but we certainly doubt if it was somebody else who footed the $20,000-bill for that simple dinner.

?RAMON MAYUGA,

GeRMayuga@aol.com