President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the guests at the inauguration Friday evening of the EDSA Shangri-La Chi Spa, a $2.1-million investment inspired by traditional healing philosophies that is expected to attract both local and foreign tourists.

The President was welcomed upon her arrival at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel along Shaw Blvd. in Mandaluyong City by Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Mandaluyong City Mayor Nepthali Gonzales Jr. and Ms. Kay Kuok, executive director of the Shangri-La Group of Companies.

The President led the opening rites by striking a gong three times to officially open the Chi Spa. 

The Chi Spa concept was developed in collaboration with a team of recognized experts in traditional Chinese medicine and Himalayan healing philosophies.     

The Chi Spa offers over 30 specialized body massage and facial therapies, with an exclusive product range created based on the Chinese philosophy of the five elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth working in balance with the yin and yang energy within the body.

Drawing inspiration from the Philippines healing traditions, the menu also features the "Hilot" (a healing massage based on time-honored Filipino folk medicine that has survived the ages) and "Dagdagay" (a traditional foot massage using bamboo sticks employed by indigenous mountain tribes in the Philippines).  

The Palace certainly looks forward to working with Congress in sustaining reforms and making our country more competitive.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants to allocate a bigger funding on education, infrastructure and health in the 2008 national budget which is now being prepared by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

This was revealed by Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. during "The Cabinet Speaks" TV program that was shown over the government television station, Channel 4, Friday evening.

In the talk show, which was hosted by outgoing Press Undersecretary Isabel C. de Leon, Andaya pointed out that because "maganda ang ating ekonomiya, maganda ang ating koleksyon, nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang ating mahal na Pangulo na pumili ng mga sector na bigyan ng pansin, bigyan ng malalaking pondo)…"

"Offhand, education, infrastructure, and health. Ang tatlong iyan ang gusto nyang bigyan ng pansin…" announced Andaya.

Andaya enthused that the focus on the three sectors is quite obvious, judging from their annual budgets: "Nakikita mo yung diperensya. Yung 2005, 2006 to 2007 (budgets), yung infrastructure natin, sa public works, eh ang talon eh P30 billion na…Ang laki!" As for the education sector, "P24 billion agad ang tinalon," stressed Andaya.

The jump in the education and infrastructure budget does not stop this year. "Next year, gusto pa dagdagan (by the President) ng P24 billion ang infrastructure; around P8 billion for education; and P3 billion for health," the Budget chief said.

The additional P8 billion for education shall ensure that "makahabol ang ating education sector in terms of teachers, classrooms and instructional materials," said Andaya, who revealed that the budget for the hiring of 12,000 additional teachers for this year has already been approved; and that 10,000 more teachers will be hired next year.

"Sa katotohanan po niyan, kanina, inaprubahan ang pag-hire ng 12,000 new teachers for this year… Nailabas na natin yan… I just met with Education Secretary (Jesli) Lapus to tell him… Balak ho natin almost 10,000 (teachers) next year uli para sa ating 2008 budget."

As for the focus on the health sector, Andaya pointed out that health is actually a devolved function which everyone would do well to bear in mind. "Alalahanin ng lahat na health is a devolved function, kaya ang concentration ng ating mahal na Pangulo ngayon ay iyong mga primary hospitals para ma-upgrade to secondary hospitals na nagka-cater sa mga regular na mga sakit… Gusto niya specialized na…"

This year alone, said Andaya, "P500 million na ang nai-released natin" for the upgrading of hospitals. "Next year, she wants another P1 billion" for the improvement of the said hospitals.

Saying that "maraming pondo ngayon," Andaya added: "Ang importante ma-target natin sa mga problema na ating hinaharap ngayon… yung nga, yung sinabi ng ating mahal na Pangulo -- education, infrastructure and health.. (At) lahat bigyan ng pansin…"

Andaya further enthused that "for the first time in 10 years, mabubuhay tayo sa sarili nating collection lang," without any need to borrow for next year’s proposed government budget of "around P1.2 trillion."

"Marami pa tayong dapat pag-gastusan. Masuwerte lang tayo ngayon dahil marami tayong pondo. Dati, ang nangyayari, kung konti lang ang pondo mo at napakarami ng problema mo, ang ginagawa mo, kung baga, hinahati mo sa lahat ng problema yung katiting mo lang na pondo," explained Andaya.

As for the other sectors, the Budget secretary said that he had just released P5 billion for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization program, particularly for the purchase of helicopters. "Kari-released ko lang kanina, 30 minutes ago, for the modernization of our AFP, regarding our helicopters, para masimulan na ang pag-angkat ng ating mga helicopters… P5 billion.. Bidding pa yan… Ibibigay ng AFP kung ano ang kailangan nila, to say what specific brand, model, depende na po ‘yan sa mananalo eh, sa AFP, sa kailangan nila…"

"Actually, P5 billion is scheduled for this year. Last year, nagbigay din tayo ng P5 billion. So tuluy-tuloy ang programa na ito…"

For the election of local officials, some P2 billion has been reserved for the election of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials. "It is in the budget so wala tayong problema kung idadaos talaga yung eleksyon… Nakatabi na po… P2 billion for that electoral exercise…"

For the promised increase in the basic salary of government workers -- whether permanent, contractual or casual – P10.3 billion is reserved in this year’s budget, said Andaya who pointed out that this is the first-ever increase in the salary of government workers since 2001. "Ngayon lang mangyayari yan… pero dahil po sa ating mahal na Pangulo, nung nakaraang taon, nagbigay tayo ng P500 na additional allowance… And then naman, ngayon, eto, 10 percent increase sa basic salary… Example, sa Teacher I, Salary Grade 10 ‘yan, effectively, magkakaroon siya ng additional na P1,000 sa take-home pay."

Meanwhile, "uniformed personnel… will have an increase by way of their allowance, so that will be an additional P1,020 in their subsistence and hazard pays…That will start next month." The uniformed personnel come from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Malacaņang expressed assurance today that it is ready to work closely with the incoming 14^th Congress with an aim to sustain the positive momentum of the Arroyo administration’s successful reform measures and make the country more competitive in the global arena.

"The Palace certainly looks forward to working with Congress in sustaining reforms and making our country more competitive," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement.

Bunye was reacting to published reports that the opposition senators have expressed their cooperation with the administration in the passage of vital measures, including the national budget because it is necessary for the country’s development.

Bunye particularly cited the statement of Senator Loren Legarda who was quoted as saying that "we never supported extra-constitutional means…and have never taken advantage of any situation that could have led to an extra-constitutional ouster of the present government."