By Manish Chand

Cebu (Philippines), Jan 15 (IANS) It's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's spouse Gursharan Kaur, and not her better half, who is hogging the limelight here with her pictures splashed in major Philippine dailies.

Cebu Daily News has a front page picture showing a beaming Kaur, dressed in white salwar kameez, along with other spouses of ASEAN leaders as the bronze bamboo sculpture 'ASEAN Grove' symbolizing the spirit of solidarity was unveiled at the Family Park in the heart of this resort city in central Philippines Sunday.

Another picture in the same daily shows her dressed elegantly in a sari with other leaders of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their spouses. Manmohan Singh, sporting the traditional Filipino shirt barong, is also seen in this picture.

Sun and Star has a picture of Gursharan Kaur posing for a photograph with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Brunei's Prime Minister Sultan Bolkiah at the gala dinner hosted by Arroyo Sunday night.

Luckily, it was one of the blessed bright days in Cebu as the sun shone brightly giving lie to the rumours of the rain that could have played a dampener to the festive spirit pervading the place. Kaur, along with other spouses of East Asian leaders, was taken on a rolling tour of this picturesque island resort, immersed in history and Catholic culture. In a short two-hour tour, Kaur got to see all major landmarks of this city.

Magellan's Cross, that was planted by Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator working for the King of Spain in the 16th century in Cebu city to mark the beginning of Christianity in this Philippines, and the shrine of Saint Nino devoted to the infant Christ, provided spouses of the Asian leaders a rare glimpse into different stages of the evolution of Philippines and Cebu that is hosting the ASEAN and East India summits.

It turned out to be quite a spectacle for her as pretty Filipino girls carrying decorated umbrellas and children dressed in bright colourful clothes greeted her wherever she went. Dancers performing the ritualistic Filipino dance sinulog, including some septuagenarian artistes, enthralled her at the Magellan's Cross.

She also got a taste of Filipino delicacies like dried mangoes, manggorind and peanut kisses that were served to them at the Family Park. Kaur loved every moment of it and thanked the host profusely for this excursion into the heart of Philippine history and culture.