BAGUIO CITY—She had planned to be like any ordinary grandmother who would stroll her granddaughter to one of this city’s tourist attractions, but she is not any other "lola"—she is the President of the Republic.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo surprised many tourists at the Mines View Park when she and First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo brought today their granddaughter Mikaela and some friends to view Baguio City’s old mine sites.

The President did not escape the attention of the Good Friday tourists who came as far as Batangas province in Southern Luzon and the United States that she instead delightfully obliged to picture-taking with the children and the old alike, unmindful of the midday heat.

The President awed the people as she shook hands and had small talk with them.

Dionisio Javier, 60, who hails from Tanauan City, Batangas said he could not believe that the President obliged to a photo shot with him and even spent a few minutes talking to him.

"This is my most memorable vacation here. For 60 years, this is the first time that I got so close to a President," Javier said in Pilipino.

Upon reaching the favorite spot at the Mines View Park—overlooking the old mine sites, the President, the First Gentleman and Mikaela posed for a souvenir picture.

She then proceeded to shake more hands of people eagerly waiting to get close to her and have their picture taken.