Introducing First Grandson ‘Diggy’

The newest bundle of joy for the First Family was born early yesterday morning at the Asian Hospital in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, much to the excitement of his grandparents, President Arroyo and First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo.

Diosdado Miguel Luis "Diggy" Arroyo, the first grandson of the President, weighed seven pounds and measured 21 inches at birth. Persons close to the First Family said both Diggy and his mother, Maria Victoria Celina "Kakai" Manotok-Arroyo, were doing well.

Kakai is the wife of the First Couple’s youngest son, Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria "Dato" Arroyo.

"Everyone was very, very happy with the news," the source said.

The source said the First Gentleman immediately called up his family to share the happiness over the arrival of the new baby. He is in Germany to get confirmation of the certification that the First Family did not have any secret bank accounts there and debunk the allegations of Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

The boy’s name is apparently a mixture of the names of his elders, particularly his father, Diosdado; paternal grandfather Jose Miguel and maternal grandfather Rufino Luis. Diggy has an older sister, Eva Victoria or Evie, and two first cousins Mikaela Gloria and Marie Angelique, the daughters of Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo and Angela Montenegro.

Earlier, the First Gentleman said Dato, Evie and Diggy were all blessed by the Pope when they were still in their mothers’ wombs. Mrs. Arroyo was pregnant with Dato when she had an audience with Pope Paul VI. When she was already president, she took the pregnant Kakai along during her two visits to the Vatican.

Dato is running for congressman in Naga in the coming elections.

Both his children were born on election years. Evie was born before the 2004 elections and was considered a lucky charm for Mrs. Arroyo. — Aurea Calica