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MANILA, Philippines – After his longest trip abroad since he assumed power in 2010, President Benigno Aquino III returned to the Philippines on Thursday evening, September 25.
Fresh off a 4-nation tour in Europe, Aquino headed to the United States for 5-day working visit, making stops in Boston, New York, and San Francisco.
It was a packed week as Aquino spoke in various universities, made an appearance at the United Nations Climate Change Summit, met with top business executives, and even squeezed in a shopping trip at a gun store before making his way home.
Here are the 5 highlights of Aquino’s US visit:
Boston homecoming
Perhaps the most memorable tidbit about Aquino’s US trip was his return to Boston for the first time in 31 years, since the assassination of his father, democracy icon and late senator Benigno Aquino Jr in 1983. Aquino spent a number of years with his family in Boston during his father’s forced exile in the US.
In Boston, Aquino delivered an emotional and nostalgic speech in Boston College about the “formative years” he spent in the city, met old family friends, and visited the house on Chestnut Hill he and his family lived in. In his speech, Aquino said Boston gave “my family a sense of normalcy to be here in what can only be described as very abnormal times back home.” (READ: Aquino in Boston: The dog handler is now president)
More investments
Aquino aimed to woo investors during his trips and appeared to be successful. When he came home to Manila, he said he brought with him “pasalubong (gifts)” in the form of increased investments for the Philippines. The President said he was able to secure $2.35 billion worth of investments from Europe.
In the United States, Aquino said he had spoken to executives of a large US company eyeing the Philippines as an investment destination. He said the company is “several billion dollars worth” and an “industry leader” that employs 600,000 people in one of its factories. He also said “close to 20” companies are “gung ho about investing in the Philippines.”
Speaking at the UN
Another appearance worth noting was Aquino at the UN Climate Change Summit where he urged world leaders on the need to work together to mitigate the effect of climate change. Aquino was invited by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to speak at the summit after the Philippines’ experience with Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).
In his speech, Aquino also asked the international community for technology and financing investments to hasten the Philippines’ transition to less tradition sources of energy. He also rallied heads of state and government to do more: “Let the first concrete commitment we make be a change in mindset from one arguing over the division of work to one where we’ll do the maximum we can: always asking what more can we do?”
More protesters
As in Europe, Aquino was confronted by unhappy Filipino Americans. During a forum at Columbia University, Aquino was interrupted during the Q&A portion by youth activist who criticized his alleged inaction on impunity in the Philippines and the supposed corruption of aid for Haiyan victims.
In San Francisco, Aquino was again met by left-leaning Filipino Americans who slammed Aquino for meeting with businessmen but not making time to meet with the Filipino American community.
Malacañang defended the President, saying Aquino had met with them during his last trip there, and that San Francisco was supposed to be just a technical stop en route to Manila. Aquino, however, later agreed to meet with top businessmen there, in a bid to bring home more investments.
Downtime
Before his flight home, Aquino was spotted at a fast food joint in San Francisco. He was also seen perusing jazz albums at a store in Haight St, and at a gun shop in San Bruno. A gun enthusiast, Aquino reportedly bought gun accessories from the store.
Met with mixed reactions, some critics thought his time would have been better spent doing other things, while other netizens praised Aquino for his down-to-earth nature. Malacañang again defended Aquino saying he deserved some time-off after 94 engagements both in Europe and the US. – Rappler.com
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