Guess who didn’t come to vin d’honneur?

It was one Palace affair where the hosts were probably relieved that not all of the invited guests showed up.

“They were invited, as is the protocol, but I understand why they didn’t attend,” Communications Development Secretary Ricky Carandang said when asked about the absence on Friday at the New Year’s vin d’honneur in Malacañang of Chief Justice Renato Corona and most of the associate justices of the Supreme Court.

“It’s not an issue for us,” Carandang said.

The Palace gathering took place three days before the start of Corona’s impeachment trial at the Senate. President Aquino has supported congressional moves to oust Corona.

In their public utterances in recent weeks, both the President and the Chief Justice have been on each other’s nerves.

A check with Malacañang sources showed only two Supreme Court justices attended. They were Associate Justices Bienvenido Reyes and Estela Perlas-Bernabe, both appointees of Mr. Aquino to the high tribunal.

Another Aquino appointee to the Supreme Court—Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno—also was not around.

A check with Inquirer Archives showed the country’s past Chief Justices generally attended similar gatherings in Malacañang.

The vin d’honneur (French for “wine of honor”) is hosted by Malacañang for the diplomatic corps twice a year: at the start of the year and on Independence Day. Mainly a diplomatic event, it features an exchange of toasts between the President and the Papal Nuncio, who is the dean of the diplomatic corps.

Enough company

Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said he did not know who were invited to the Palace affair.

“I think an invitation was sent although I’m not sure if one was sent to the Chief Justice’s office,” Marquez told reporters. “They (the justices) don’t talk to each other (about going or not going) and besides they do not usually attend.”

Still, Mr. Aquino seemed to have enough company.

Among those present were the members of the diplomatic corps, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle and business leaders.

Also around were members of the Cabinet and top military and national police officers.

‘Warmth of daylight’

Speaking a day after his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, cast doubts on his ability to manage the country, the President told the gathering the country had made “great strides” in fighting corruption and poverty.  He also referred to the confidence the international community had given the Philippines through investments.

Mr. Aquino vowed to sustain the growth of the economy, strengthen the delivery of basic services, upgrade the country’s defense capability, go after criminals and hold accountable officials who had been abusive in the past.

“A little over a year ago, I stood at this very hall and laid down our goal for 2011 to validate the optimism of our countrymen,” Mr. Aquino said in his remarks. “Today, there is no aspect of our national life that has not felt the warmth of daylight over the past year.”

“We have already made great strides in our fight against corruption and poverty, as well as in our thrust to create a progressive economic climate guided by fair and honest practices,” he added.

‘Culture of impunity’

Mr. Aquino vowed to “continue to sustain the growth of our economy and create opportunities for employment.”

“These are not without their challenges but I am confident that so long as we stand together and consistent in our service to the public, our countrymen will be behind us every step of the way as we work towards success.”

Mr. Aquino said that “local and foreign groups have acknowledged our triumphs by investing in our country, by lauding our efforts in open governance and by supporting our programs.”

The President also said: “This year we will strengthen the programs that work for our countrymen, such as those in education, health, housing and others like our conditional cash transfer program. We will not relent in our quest to hold accountable those who seek to perpetuate the culture of impunity in our country.”

Reawakened Filipinos

Mr. Aquino proposed a toast “to a reawakened and reinvigorated Philippines in the coming year, ready to keep its place under the sun.”

The Arroyo camp on Thursday made public a paper prepared by the former President in which she claimed that the gains of past administrations, including hers, were being “squandered” by the supposed obsession of the Aquino administration in blackening what her administration had achieved.

Replying to Arroyo’s criticisms, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the Philippines under the Aquino administration had received several credit ratings upgrades in just 18 months in office. With reports from Jerome Aning and Inquirer Research