“May America’s oldest alliance in Asia always be renewed by our friendship and mutual respect.” – Pres. Barack Obama’s message in the Malacañang Palace Guest Book, April 28, 2014
IN a courtesy call at Malacañang Palace on Monday, Pres. Obama was conferred the Order of Sikatuna, with the highest rank of Raja or Grand Collar by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III.
This distinction is the highest recognition of diplomatic merit, awarded to those who have rendered and fostered exceptional bilateral partnership of the Philippines with other nations. The first American president to receive such award was Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1960.
Before arriving to the country, Obama’s agenda was clear: to acknowledge the United States’ shared history with the Philippines, promote strong people-to-people ties, reiterate commitment to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and build prosperity for the people and the global economy.
In his two-day sojourn to Manila, Pres. Obama achieved such goals by emphasizing the $24 billion-a-year US-PH trade relationship, offering assistance to PH’s medium- to long-term recovery efforts (following Typhoon Haiyan) and infrastructure and livelihood development goals.
While Obama applauds the signing of the US-PH Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), he clarified that this is not a strategic move to isolate China.
“The Philippines-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement takes our security cooperation to a higher level of engagement, reaffirms our country’s commitment to mutual defense and security, and promotes regional peace and stability,” Obama said.
The US president acknowledged the existing conflict between China and the Philippines over contested islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). He insisted that the two nations settle territorial and maritime disputes based on international law.
He also clarified that in time of war, he will honor the 60-year-old treaty that binds the US and PH “to defend themselves against external armed attacks, so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that either of them stands alone.”
Obama said this commitment is ironclad. And he promises the the US will keep this commitment “because allies never stand alone.”
He made the commitment as he noted that the the partnership between the two nations “reflects an important Filipino concept” in “bayanihan.”
Obama emphasized this enduring partnership. He said that on behalf of the American people, he is proud to have Filipinos as friends.
Obama described the Philippines as an indispensable partner for upholding vital American interests in the Asian region. This time-tested relationship has brought greater regional stability and security.
According to Obama, the friendship between Filipinos and Americans expresses itself in so many ways.
“There is our mutual obsession with basketball. There is our mutual admiration for Manny Pacquiao – even if sometimes his fight against Americans doesn’t turn out the way we’d like. There is our shared pride in the millions of Filipino-Americans who contribute to our nation every single day,” Obama revealed.
He also made special mention of the executive chef at the White House, Fil-Am Cristeta Comerford, who allows him to enjoy the occasional lumpia and adobo.
300,000 American citizens living in the Philippines and millions of Filipinos in the US, who contribute in so many ways to America’s diverse cultural heritage — this is one of the most enduring aspects of the US-PH partnership, the binding and personal ties between people.
These bring political, economic, and strategic benefits to both Filipinos and Americans.
This relationship is bound by democratic values and moral responsibility to ensure peace and security not just for their own people, but for every citizen of the world. President Obama and Aquino both agree that this bond will only further flourish as both countries continue to commit on the same goals.
To encapsulate this historic visit to the Philippines, Obama proposed a toast: “To the alliance that keeps us strong and free; and to the friendship between our peoples — may it always endure, across the ocean and in our hearts.”
(AJPress)
