In the Seagull party, the gift certificates and cash handed out totaled at least P188,000.

As of December 18, at least P300,000 worth of gift certificates had been given away to the media in the two Malacanang-hosted parties in Mindanao.

This does not include the cost of the luncheon parties and the cost of transporting the reporters to the venue. The Sarangani party for media in General Santos, South Cotabato and Sarangani was held in Isla Parilla; the Davao—Bukidnon party in Dureza’s mountain resort, 85 kilometers from downtown Davao City and 100 kilometers from Malaybalay City.

Some  200 media practitioners from Bukidnon, Davao City, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, and Davao del Norte were shuttled in airconditioned passenger vans for the "media holiday party” here on  December 18.

Dureza,  a journalist in Davao City during his younger years, said in the Sarangani party on December 5  that similar parties would be held in other parts of the country. He said the Palace wanted to “give importance to the local press to erase the perception that only the Manila-based media are superior.”

Prior to the Seagull party, the President was reported to have visited Cotabato City, Sarangani province, General Santos City, and Kidapawan City.

Efren Elbanbuena, Philippine Information Agency Southern Mindanao regional director said the visits are part of the President's "governance functions.”

"Since the place (Seagull Resort) is along the way, they decided on the event," he said.

Seagull mountain resort is 85 kilometers from Davao City and 100 kilometers from Malaybalay City.

The President arrived at around 1:15p.m. on board the Presidential chopper  and was ushered to a two-floor pavilion where the media had gathered for late lunch.  The President was here exactly two months earlier, as godmother to the wedding of Dureza’s daughter.

The party  was marked by picture taking with the President as she moved around the hall to meet the media. Gifts were given to children brought by some media practitioners, and there was also a raffle draw for reporters and a succeeding program for the children.

"Nalipay ko kay gi greet ko ni Presidente og Maayong Pasko (I'm happy the President greeted me Merry Christmas)" a female reporter from Bukidnon said.

Most of those present took turns posing and chatting with the President briefly.

Like the Sarangani party, there was no interview with the President.  She also did not issue any statement. But Dureza granted requests for interview.

Dureza facilitated the raffle draw. A laptop, broadband internet kits, cellular phones, and other gadgets were raffled.

He also announced the distribution of "gift certificates" to each media practitioner. Not everyone accepted but majority did.

The Philippine Information Agency in Southern Mindanao said 172 media workers from Davao registered. From Bukidnon, there were 17 media workers.

Dureza called in first the media from Bukidnon to get their "gift certificate" because they had to leave early. He said  the  President requested that the Bukidnon media, who traveled in two passenger vans from Malaybalay and Valencia cities, join her in her convoy to Malaybalay.

Among the Bukidnon reporters who accepted the envelops said there was no gift certificate but  P1,000 cash.

One said he accepted it to buy rice. Another who accepted the money said it is  “leftover from the fertilizer scam.”

Another said it was given to him and that he didn’t ask for it.

Another said, “if I don’t accept it, PIA (Philippine Information Agency) or other agencies will get it.”

Davao reporters were given P1,000 gift certificates each, for use in the NCCC mall.
 
A Davao City reporter said he accepted the gift certificate because it’s “sayang”  (it would be a waste not to accept it).

Another said “it’s Christmas, anyway.”

Invitations sent the day before to the media practitioners said they could bring two family members with them to the party. On Wednesday, there was an announcement that the  party venue would be changed from here to the Dureza-owned Seagull beach resort in Davao City but was later changed back to the venue here.

Due to visibility problems, the President did not take the helicopter to Malaybalay but traveled by land in a 14-car convoy. In Malaybalay, she met with Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr., congressmen, and city and municipal mayors.

A few kilometers from the resort, reporters saw at least seven workers clearing the side of the Bukidnon-Davao highway of grasses.

The workers wore vests with freshly printed labels, "Kalsada Natin, Alagaan Natin" in front and "(…) Proyekto ni Pang. GMA" at the back. 

The convoy also went past curious onlookers from villages along the highway and children who opened their hands to passing vehicles for  “Merry Christmas” coins.

After the two-hour trip to Malaybalay City, the President spent a closed door audience with Bukidnon's local officials, Many of them had streamers displayed at the entrance to Pine Hills Hotel.

A local official said they were just taking an "early dinner" with the President.

The Bukidnon media, pampered at Dureza’s resort and  invited  to join the Presidential convoy, were barred from entering the hotel.

"Kinsa man na naa diha? Nganong daghan kaayong sakyanan?" (Who is there? Why are there so many  vehicles),  Lolong, a driver of a passenger vehicle said..

"Si Arroyo man daw," a passenger replied.

"Aw abi nako si (Manny) Pacquiao na kay mohonong ko" (Oh, I thought it was Many Pacquiao. I’d have stopped). [Walter I. Balane/MindaNews with a report from Carolyn O. Arguillas]

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