MANILA, Philippines -- She's President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's appointments girl.
Undersecretary Marilou Frostrom (nee Dematera) is one of the few ranking officials who holds two key jobs in Malacaņang: she handles the President's daily appointments and heads the advance party in out-of-town sorties.
As the undersecretary for presidential engagements, Frostrom fixes the President's itinerary every day. On top of that, she also heads the Office for Regional Concerns (ORC).
When she wears the second hat, she motors to a town or city in the countryside a day ahead of Ms Arroyo and her official party so she could make the necessary preparations and arrangements.
Frostrom was on a similar mission when presidential chopper Bell 412 transporting her and seven others from Baguio City to Banaue disappeared in the deep forests of Ifugao Tuesday afternoon.
The reason: Ms Arroyo was scheduled to inspect the Halsema Highway in Lagawe, Banaue Wednesday morning.
"As a boss, she's very workaholic and perfectionist,'' Susan Marquez, staff officer IV at the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), said in a phone interview.
"She's very dedicated." Her profile on the PMS website described Frostrom as the "untiring head'' of the ORC.
"Full of zest and with passion for life, there are no dull moments when she is around," it read.
"Since the nature of our job is very tight, she sends us to out-of-town seminars where we can also relax,'' Marquez said by phone. "She's very concerned about the welfare of her staff."
Frostrom joined the PMS in 2004 as head of the ORC. She was later re-designated as head of the advance party of Ms Arroyo, a job which fits her to a T because of her PR and communication skills, according to the profile.
Before joining PMS, Frostrom worked as public relations officer at the Office of the General Manager of the Manila International Airport Authority, and Appointments Secretary to the President.
She specialized in consultancy work in human resources development, and in the training of administrative and executive assistants.
Frostrom graduated cum laude from the University of San Carlos in Cebu with a Bachelor of Arts in English degree.
She was a candidate for Masters in Business Administration at the Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School in Makati City.
Frostrom was a "seasoned traveler." She has toured Asia, Australia, and Europe, and speaks several languages, including Swedish and Spanish.
She is married to Swedish engineer Jan Frostrom.
Her deputy, Assistant Director Perlita Bandayanon, was also among the missing passengers.
"She's a workhorse for the Office of the Regional Concerns," PMS head Secretary Hermogenes Esperon said over government-run Radyo ng Bayan.
one of the dragon lady in the palace
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