MANILA, Philippines - It was not all business during the meeting between US President Barack Obama and President Arroyo in Washington Thursday afternoon (early yesterday Manila time).
Aside from the usual pleasantries, Mrs. Arroyo took the occasion to give the US President and First Lady Michelle Obama two gifts.
“We are proud of our country so we brought with us some gifts that show the brilliance and history of our country,” Mrs. Arroyo told reporters after her 45-minute meeting with the American leader.
Mrs. Arroyo said she gave Obama a pair of cufflinks made of pearls and a pearl brooch for Michelle Obama.
Malacañang said the meeting was a success and “a hit,” based on the photos released by the White House showing the jovial mood of the two leaders.
Acting Executive Secretary Gabriel Claudio said the meeting with the US leader somehow boosted Mrs. Arroyo’s political standing amid continued attacks from her detractors.
Claudio said the meeting “was a happy day not only for us in Malacañang but also for the entire country” as it succeeded in “affirming and cementing the close ties between the Philippines and the US.”
He said Mrs. Arroyo “defined the purpose her historic visit to the US very clearly and this is not a matter of embarrassing the opposition or her critics or proving them wrong.”
When asked by a member of the Philippine media about her impressions of Obama after their first meeting, Mrs. Arroyo did not get to answer the question right away as the American president butted in.
“I’m sure she thinks I’m much younger looking than she expected,” Obama remarked.
When Mrs. Arroyo finally got to answer, she described Obama as “very cordial, warm, and welcoming.”
“And I’m really very impressed (with) his deep understanding and knowledge of the Philippines and the Filipino people – the understanding of the close relationship (between) the Filipino people and the American people,” Mrs. Arroyo said.
Asked to give his impression of Arroyo, Obama was all praises for the Philippine leader.
“Well, obviously, President Arroyo has done outstanding work on a whole range of issues. She mentioned the areas where the United States and the Philippines are of one accord, but as evidenced here today, she’s somebody who knows the issues,” Obama said.
“She has experience leading the Philippines through some very difficult times,” he said.
Even as the two leaders were having laughs during and after their meeting, several Filipino-Americans protested outside the White House, criticizing Mrs. Arroyo’s human rights record and corruption.
When the meeting with Obama was first announced, Claudio noted critics had belittled, mocked and criticized Mrs. Arroyo.
“While we do not gloat over the positive development and the success of the meeting, this is something that belied negative speculations. We are happy that we achieved the true objective of the visit,” he said.
“This should serve as a lesson to all concerned that there are far greater issues of national interest than trying to put a political opponent down,” Claudio added.
Claudio said Obama cited Mrs. Arroyo’s leadership especially in the field of reform and stabilizing the country’s economy, pursuing peace in Mindanao and advancing the fight against terrorism in the region.