Huge success!

PRESIDENT FERDINAND “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said his six-day working visit to the United States was successful and even described his meeting with American President Joe Biden as very significant, noting that they have talked on a wide range of issues in a bid to strengthen longstanding ties between Manila and Washington.

Marcos said Biden and other leaders had expressed expressions of support to step up partnerships. “We laid out the general framework of where we are going to head with the relationship between the Philippines and the United States. I am very happy to be able to report to you that the expressions of support of President Joe Biden and our friends here in the United States have been very positive,” he said.

He also met with various heads of state, including Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and French President Emmanuel Macron, and addressed the United Nations General Assembly where he delivered the “message of unity” before world leaders.

Marcos said he tackled global issues that require united global action, such as climate change, rising food prices, rapid technological change, the peaceful resolution of international disputes, migrant protection, and ending all forms of prejudice. 

The President also shared the Philippines’ experience in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao peace process, agricultural rejuvenation, and the promotion of human rights through the UN Joint Program on Human Rights.

He likewise reiterated the Philippines’ belief in the primacy of the rule of law, as embodied by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Marcos also met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and reaffirmed the partnership between the Philippines and the UN.

“The central purpose was to speak before the United Nations General Assembly at ‘yung mensahe ko sa General Assembly, dinala ko ang mensahe ng pagkakaisa, and I called for unity on a global scale, and the response I think was very good,” said the President, who returned home recently.

“We in the Philippine delegation are one in our assessment that the work done in this trip serves as a good start for opportunities identified to be made into programs and projects to benefit the Philippines and our countrymen. And so, the work continues, but I am happy to report that we have had a very good and strong start to our efforts,” Marcos said.

“Kung ang malaking porsiyento, if the majority of what we had discussed with our potential and present business partners and investors, kung malaking — let’s say if we can get 80 percent of what we talked about palagay ko maganda. So in that sense, I will of course, consider, I consider this trip successful,” he added.

While Marcos was elated with his meeting with Biden and discussed bilateral relationship between the two countries, Vice President Sara Duterte was all praises to China as she greeted the powerful nation for its 73rd founding anniversary on Monday, September 26.

Reading from a teleprompter, Duterte even delivered part of her message in Mandarin.

In her speech, Duterte praised China for being a generous neighbor and for assisting the Filipino economy upon recovering from the health crisis. She lauded the “relentless efforts of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China” that have propelled the country to the forefront of the economy, research and development, technology, and manufacturing.

According to Duterte, because of China’s contribution to the Asian economy, the region has become “the fastest growing economic region in the world.” She also strongly emphasized how the relationship between the two countries grew under her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. “Philippines and China relations have soared and reached new heights under the guidance of former President Duterte and President Xi (Jinping),” she said. (Mindanao Examiner, Newspaper.ph, OPS.)