The biggest bite in news today, Arroyo and her delegations alleged $20,000 dinner at Le Cirque during the president’s stay at New York City. In case you’re wondering that’s roughly 1 million dollars in Philippine money. Critics are outraged by the lavish spending for one night of sustenance and are relentlessly expressing their disapproval over the luxury.

The president and her entourage spending spree has been first read at an article in New York Times and has since fanned the flames that has been continuously growing under the Philippine president. Questions as to who has spent for the dinner were asked by critics such as the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

In their defense, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde commented that the report was “grossly exaggerated”, calling it an “agitation propaganda” to induce the people into anger. Adding to that, Remonde maintained that the dinner was a “simple, late night dinner” and was hosted by Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez. Remonde added that the source of the $20,000 amount was a blog based on individual calculations of what consists the meal, instead of the “set” that Remonde claims. The list includes caviar and bottles of expensive champagne which the Press Secretary maintains was not part of the “simple” dinner. Others claim that the dinner was a treat to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Arroyo’s wedding anniversary.

Questions as to whether or not it is Romuldez who picked the $20,000 tab arises. To clear the rumors, Senator Francis Escudero suggests that the receipt for the lavish dinner be exposed for the public’s discretion. Transparency would not only help determine who paid for the dinner but also if the amount reached the rumored $20,000 (1 million pesos).

According to Remonde, since the dinner was not ostentatious as critics claim, no apology would come from the Palace.