Mike A undergoes open heart surgery

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo underwent open heart surgery at the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) in Quezon City last night where he was rushed from Baguio City after complaining of severe abdominal pains. He was admitted to the hospital at noon yesterday.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye confirmed the "very high-risk surgery" of President Arroyo’s husband as it was being performed. The surgery, projected to last eight to 10 hours, was meant to correct a dissecting aortic aneurysm.

When aortic dissections occur, patients typically experience severe pain in the chest or back, which may be described as tearing discomfort.

As of press time last night, Bunye said there were no other details on the prognosis for the outcome of the surgery.

"What I know as of now, the President has postponed some of her official activities tomorrow," Bunye told The STAR.

Bunye reassured the public that the President remains focused on the affairs of state while her husband is recuperating.

"There will be regular medical bulletins about the First Gentleman’s condition that will be made available to the press," he said.

Among the attending physicians are cardiologist Antonio Sibulo Jr. and cardiovascular and thorasic surgeon Rommel Cariño.

Mr. Arroyo was discharged from the St. Louis University’s Hospital of the Sacred Heart at 9:30 a.m. after his confinement there on Easter Sunday. He was diagnosed as suffering from chronic gastritis. President Arroyo stayed with her husband at the St. Louis hospital overnight. The First Family had spent the Holy Week at the Mansion House.

Dr. Rene Manalo of the St. Louis hospital said Mr. Arroyo’s blood pressure remained stable, but advised him to undergo more tests at SLMC.

Yesterday, the First Couple left the Mansion House at 10:30 a.m. and boarded the presidential chopper at the Loakan airport bound for Malacañang. From the Palace, they were brought by car to SLMC.

Wearing a dark blue jacket, Mr. Arroyo arrived at the hospital just past noon in a wheelchair pushed by a nurse. The President, in a red blouse and black pants, walked beside him.

Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza followed shortly.

Mr. Arroyo was brought to the presidential suite.

The First Couple’s daughter, Evangeline "Luli" Arroyo, arrived at 1:30 p.m., followed by the First Gentleman’s brother, Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo at around 4:30 p.m.

The First Couple’s eldest son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, visited his father at 5:15 p.m. As of presstime, Mrs. Arroyo was still by her husband’s bedside.

Sources said several doctors examined Mr. Arroyo, including Dr. Juliet Gopez Cervantes, the President’s personal physician.

"He looked okay but since he is a VIP, doctors must check on him thoroughly," the official said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita sought to quash speculations on Mr. Arroyo’s health, including rumors that he had suffered a stroke.

It was the second time in five months that Mr. Arroyo was confined in the hospital. In December, he underwent angioplasty at SLMC to remove a blockage in his artery.

"It cannot be removed that the First Gentleman will receive much attention, especially by media – but he is not sickly," Ermita told reporters.

He said while they were still in Baguio, Mr. Arroyo invited him to a round of golf when they got back to Manila.

Ermita added that it was understandable that Mrs. Arroyo was worried and stayed close to her husband.

The First Family spent the Chief Executive’s 60^th birthday (April 5) and the Holy Week in Baguio. The President and First Gentleman were hosting a dinner at the Mansion House in Baguio City to end the First Family’s Holy Week retreat when Mr. Arroyo complained of stomach pains. This led to the cancellation of the President’s speaking engagement at Mount Samat in Bataan province yesterday for the 65th anniversary of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor).

Very tight security and a "no media attention" order were reportedly imposed on the SLUH and The Mansion by Malacañang as the First Gentleman was airlifted to Manila.

Even in-house photographers from the President’s Office were unable to take photographs of the First Gentleman after he was discharged from SLUH.

PSG personnel also barred journalists from taking photographs of the First Gentleman as he left the Loakan airport.

Meanwhile, in Balanga City, Bataan, it was all systems go for the Araw ng Kagitingan rites at historic Mt. Samat in Pilar town. Ermita had to pinch-hit for Mrs. Arroyo at the Bataan Day rites.

Bataan is often referred to as the last bastion of democracy, owing to the fact that the last stand made by Philippine and American guerrillas and soldiers was made in Bataan, where the call for surrender to the Imperial Japanese Army was issued. The Bataan Death March began shortly after the surrender and captured Filipino and American guerrillas and soldiers were forced to make a brutal, 80-kilometer march to Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.

For the third consecutive year, Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki expressed deep remorse and apologies to the Filipino people for atrocities committed by Japan in the Philippines during World War II.

However, Yamazaki also spoke of the close partnership of the governments of the Philippines and Japan in development efforts to bring lasting peace to war-torn Mindanao.

Japan is now the Philippines’ largest trade and investment partner.

American Ambassador Kristie Kenney waxed sentimental as she extolled the heroism of Filipino and American soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the last war "so that we could live in a free world." Heroism, she added, "never goes out of style."

In her speech read for her by Ermita, Mrs. Arroyo enumerated a package of benefits for veterans, among them P19.57 billion in pensions given early this year and P9 billion more to be released by the end of the year.

Other government officials who attended the Bataan Day celebration were Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr.; Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino; Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag; Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino; Defense Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina; Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia and Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia Jr.

Some 1,000 guests – mostly surviving World War II veterans and their families, local officials, Boy and Girl Scouts and tourists went to Mt. Samat to commemorate the Day of Valor. – Marichu Villanueva, Paolo Romero, Artemio Dumlao and Raffy Viray