Aquino boasts PH’s progress during meeting with Fil-Am community

LOS ANGELES — President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday, Feb. 17, met with the Filipino community at the end of his working visit to the United States.

More than 800 members of Filipino community groups from the southwestern United States gathered inside the Hilton LAX ballroom on Wednesday evening, where Aquino spent more than an hour sharing stories that drew laughter from the audience, and updates on the status of the Philippines.

Among areas of progress Aquino highlighted included how 91 percent of Filipinos in the Philippines are now covered through PhilHealth, the nation’s universal health insurance, compared to 51 percent in 2010; that the Philippines switched over to a 12-year education cycle; that the country is one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia with an average GDP growth of 6.2 percent per year; and that his administration has worked toward ending the cycle of constructing/reconstructing by using sturdier materials when building infrastructure.

“Lahat ng gawain po natin, naka tutok sa kapwa (Everything we do is focused on togetherness),” Aquino said.

The Philippine president also addressed the upcoming election and said the next president should be someone who is ready to sacrifice and put the country first, endorsing Liberal Party presidential and vice presidential candidates Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo.

Prior to Aquino’s address to the community, he conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross to Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. in recognition of his “exemplary accomplishments in working for the advancement of the country’s national interests in its relations with the United States.”

The order is one of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have conducted exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines; diplomats, officials and foreign nationals who have contributed to strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines; or upon Department of Foreign Affairs personnel both stationed in the Philippines and abroad.

“Alam po n’yo, talagang karamihan ho ng mga in-appoint nating mga ambassador ay tinatawag na career diplomat. Illan po ang masasabi nating political appointees. Si Joey Cuisia ay isa sa ating mga in-appoint. Talagang ipinagmamalaki ko na in-appoint natin ang mga katulad ni Joey Cuisia (You know, many of the ambassadors we appoint are called career diplomats. We can only say a few are political appointees. Joey Cuisia is one of those we appointed. I’m very proud that we appoint people like Joey Cuisia),” Aquino said in his opening speech.

Cuisia, in his remarks, commended Filipino communities in America for their resilience and energy.

“Everywhere I go in this country, Americans and other foreigners would tell me their positive views about their Filipino colleagues, neighbors, friends and acquaintances. These testimonials make me proud to be your ambassador and inspire the Philippine Embassy and consulates in the US to ensure that we represent our country effectively,” Cuisia said.

Aquino’s interaction with the Filipino community on Wednesday was largely received positively among attendees.

“I’m very glad about the accomplishment of the president and it is important that whoever would be elected [president] will follow the footstep of the president. He has done a lot [of] outstanding accomplishments,” said Tony Cartagena, current councilmember and former mayor of Walnut, California.

Cartegena also lauded the president’s efforts in reducing corruption and improving the country’s economy.

Lakewood resident Raul Sambitan, 47, who has returned to the Philippines on multiple occasions in the 14 years he has lived in the United States, commended the improvement in the country’s infrastructure since Aquino took office.

“I was really impressed because they’re not just building [roads], they’re widening [them]. I believe [the roads are] not going to be vanished for awhile because [the concrete is] so thick,” said Sambitan, who noted that roads would previously be washed out by heavy rain.

Sambitan added that he has spoken with other Philippine residents in Visayas and Mindanao, who say roads are also being improved in their respective areas.

“This administration was really good. I like it. [I don’t have a] political affiliation but … I would say I’m very pleased with what [the president] has done so far,” Sambitan said.

Wednesday’s event also drew a handful of young Filipino Americans, including Norwalk resident Erika Castro, 24, who was born in the United States but has traveled to the Philippines almost every other year.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity to do so because it’s not every day that you get to be in a place where you get to meet not only the president but also all of these community leaders who have a similar purpose in a sense where who has a great appreciation for the Filipino culture as well as the Filipino American culture,” Castro said.

After Aquino’s remarks, attendees also had a chance to take a photo with Aquino and his delegation.

Cabinet members — Secretary of Finance Cesar V. Purisima; Secretary of Defense Voltaire T. Gazmin; Secretary of the Cabinet Jose Rene D. Almendras; National Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel F. Esguerra; Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office Herminio B. Coloma, Jr.; Secretary Emmanuel M. de Guzman of the Climate Change Commission; and Secretary Julia Abad of the Presidential Management Staff — joined Aquino during his visit to Southern California.