MANILA, Philippines—Because of what her press secretary said was an “upset stomach,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has canceled all her official engagements since Wednesday.

Malacañang kept the President’s health condition from the public until Friday, when welcome ceremonies for the visiting Kuwaiti Prime Minister were moved from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza told reporters Friday: “PGMA [President Arroyo] has an upset stomach today [but] she’s feeling well now. Her doctor checked her out, and she’s OK.”

The office in charge of the President’s appointments informed the Malacañang Press Corps about the abrupt change of schedule at 8:52 a.m. not citing any reason.

Rumors that Ms Arroyo might be sick was confirmed when it was Vice President Noli de Castro who met Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Masser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in the Palace courtyard for the arrival honors.

Protocol dictates that President Arroyo, as head of state, and the visiting leader inspect the honor guards in the Palace.

De Castro also accompanied the Sheikh to sign the presidential guestbook at the reception hall.

The Kuwaiti leader was able to see President Arroyo in person in the Aguinaldo state dining room of the Palace for a closed-door, expanded bilateral meeting.

Personal appearance

At past 7 p.m., Ms Arroyo, dressed in Filipiniana attire, finally made an appearance.

She and the Sheikh emerged from the Aguinaldo state dining room to witness the signing of three agreements for cooperation between Philippine and Kuwaiti officials on health, joint oil and gas exploration and tourism.

The President looked sick, but still managed to flash a smile during the signing ceremony.

One Palace staff member told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Ms Arroyo, apparently nursing a fever, was given ice cubes prior to the ceremony.

Reporters spotted her physician, Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, and Marilen Lagniton, the public relations officer of St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, milling around.

(According to unconfirmed reports, the President went to St. Luke’s on Thursday).

Ms Arroyo later hosted an official banquet in honor of the visiting prime minister who is the nephew of the emir of Kuwait, at the Rizal Hall.

President’s past hospitalizations

In June 2006, President Arroyo was taken to St. Luke’s Medical Center after complaining of abdominal pains after eating in a restaurant on Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City.

She was diagnosed as having acute infectious diarrhea and had to stay in the hospital for two nights. Palace officials blamed her “killer” work schedule that supposedly lowered her resistance.

In the following July, the President caught the flu and was again brought to St. Luke’s. Malacañang attributed the ailment to bad weather and rigorous preparations for her State of the Nation Address to Congress that month.

An official who requested anonymity later said doctors had found the President to have a “fatty liver.” A doctor who refused to be named said depression might have induced Ms Arroyo to drink alcohol at night, causing a buildup of excess fat in the liver cells.

The chief of the Presidential Management Staff at the time, Arthur Yap, denied that the President had a fatty liver.

Ms Arroyo again checked in at St. Luke’s in November 2006, sparking rumors that she was seriously ill. But her physician said the President simply had a routine checkup. with a report from Cyril L. Bonabente, Inquirer Research; edited by INQUIRER.net