Beaches with white sands, clear blue waters, dive spots, caves in the middle of the sea and houses built on cliffs much like in the Mediterranean were among the attractions President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was savoring in Sipalay City in southern Negros Occidental yesterday.

The President arrived in Sipalay City late yesterday afternoon and dove in the waters of Campomanes Bay for more than an hour.

Campomanes or Maricalum Bay in Sipalay City is where the first American submarine landed to deliver arms and supplies for the forces commanded by airman-hero Col. Jesus Villamor. The staging of the final fight against the Japanese jumped off from this point when sufficient supplies shipped from Australia arrived.

Arroyo was spending her president’s time Sipalay and at the same time promoting the vast tourism potential of southern Negros Occidental, just as she did when she went to Apo Reef in Occidental Mindoro, Siargao in Surigao, Tubajata Reef in Palawan and only recently Panglao Island in Bohol, a source close to her said.

The president arrived in Sipalay from official functions in Butuan and was set to stay in a vacation house nestled in the cliffs facing the beach front owned by friends, the source said.

Later she would sail on board the Ang Pangulo for Bacolod and arrive at the BREDCO port this morning where she will hold private meetings on board the vessel.

She will then join the  Local Peace and Security Assembly for Western Visayas at Planta Centro Bacolod Hotel at 11:30 a.m. and fly back to Manila after.*CPG

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