VISIT HEIGHTENS RP PROFILE IN NEW US CONGRESS – ROMULO
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6 February 2009, Washington DC – At the end of a 36-hour visit in the US capital, President Arroyo succeeded
in heightening the profile of the Philippines in the 110th Congress of the United States which started its new
session last January, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo.
“This is a visit that heightens our profile in the US Congress, boosts overall efforts to obtain justice for our
veterans and renews old and historic ties with an important institution that has played a key role in relations
between the Philippines and the United States,” Secretary Romulo said today.
This is a visit that started with a gathering of people of different faiths from the US and around the world
determined to build better understanding and tolerance between religions through dialogue and prayer.
“The National Prayer Breakfast and in particular the speech of President Barack Obama placed heavy
emphasis on the importance of interfaith dialogue,” Secretary Romulo said, adding that interfaith dialogue
has always been at the center of all Philippine efforts to build peace and has been an important global
initiative of President Arroyo. “This is an international initiative supported by the international community, from
the United Nations, to the Non-Aligned Movement, to ASEAN, among others,” the Secretary explained.
The Philippines will in fact host a Non-Aligned Movement ministerial meeting on interfaith dialogue in the
Philippines this year.
“Significantly, the strong support given by President Obama to interfaith dialogue is a clear indication that our
partnership on this will continue,” Secretary Romulo said. He explained that an important aspect of the
development assistance cooperation between the Philippines and the United States, particularly in
Mindanao, are anchored on interfaith dialogue.
The President attended the National Prayer Breakfast upon the invitation of the US Congress which organized
the event. At the event, President Arroyo was at the head of states and governments table which was hosted
by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (each table had a “table host”).
“They had an excellent conversation and Speaker Pelosi reassured President Arroyo of her continued support
for the Philippines in this new Congress,” the Secretary said.
The President then met with key leaders in the Senate who are also strong supporters of the Philippines.
“She met with Senator Daniel Inouye, the Chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee. She met with
Senator Daniel Akaka, the Chairman of the Veterans Committee. They are our champions in the US
Congress and together are fighting for justice for our veterans,” Secretary Romulo pointed out.
“She met with the new Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator John Kerry. She met with the
new Chairman of the East Asia Subcommittee of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator James Webb.
They are old hands in Southeast Asian affairs and are crucial to the continued strengthening of relations
between our two countries,” the Secretary said.
“They are key figures in US policy towards our country and our region. The President succeeded in
reinforcing our existing dialogue and in strengthening our future dialogue. The President, in a clear and
convincing manner, shared her vision of our continuing relationship and the deep foundations on which they
stand: our common values of freedom and democracy, our shared history, the extension of people-to-people
ties that we have,” Secretary Romulo said.
To round off the inroads the President made in Congress during this visit, she met with the Filipino-American
Congressman from Ohio, Steve Austria, the first, first-generation Filipino-American in the US Congress.
“During this trip to raise the profile of the Philippines in the new US Congress, she not only met with our old
champions but also met with our new champions,” the Secretary said. END.
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