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At the State dinner and the next day at Fort Bonifacio, President Barack Obama declared “Our commitment to defend the Philippines is ironclad.” That makes the Obama’s visit a great success from the viewpoint of the Philippines.

Last Monday morning at Camp Aguinaldo, the two countries entered into an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which gives the United States (US) access to Philippine military bases. That makes the visit successful from the viewpoint of the US.

The Obama state visit was also successful from the viewpoint of no incident happened to disrupt the Obama program. Even the so-called nationwide protests of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Gabriela, and other activist groups were controlled by Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) units.

O ice President Jejomar Binay, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del 5osario, Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” 5oxas II, and Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia welcomed President Obama at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Malacaxang employees joined the welcoming group at the Palace grounds and had a chance to shake hands with President Obama.

Three hundred fifty guests attended the State Dinner for President Obama. It is noted that Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Cynthia illar, icente Sotto, and Loren Legarda were in attendance. Former Presidents Joseph Estrada (now Manila mayor) and Fidel . 5amos were seated at the presidential table with ice President Jojo Binay, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senate President Franklin Drilon, and House Speaker Sonny Belmonte Jr. Ex-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo could not make it to the dinner because she’s been under hospital arrest. Completing the group were US deputy chief of staff 5ob Nabors and US Ambassador Philip Goldberg. Also in attendance were the three presidential Aquino sisters Ballsy, Pinky, and Kris. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales shared a photo with the Presidential sisters, uploaded on Instagram by Kris Aquino. It is significant that Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa was seated at the presidential table.

A trio of Cabinet members Energy Secretary Jose 5ene Almendras, Budget Secretary Butch Abad, and Public Works Secretary 5ogelio Singson stole the show with a rendition of Marvin Gaye’s 1971 classic song, “What’s going on?” National Security Adviser Susan 5ice joined the singing.

In his Philippine State Dinner speech, President Obama complemented his Filipino White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao. Congressman Pacquiao was unable to attend since his wife Jinkee just gave birth to their fifth child, a baby boy.

Obama paid tribute to Aquino’s parents, Ninoy and Cory, and their sacrifices that “the nation might be free” of the martial law dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. He also paid tribute to veterans and to the US and Filipino soldiers that assisted Yolanda survivors.

Ninety- four- year- old Carolina Garcia Delfin, a Filipina retired captain and nurse, was singled out by Barack Obama at Fort Bonifacio. He approached and kissed her on both cheeks.

Guests from the business sector were 5amon Ang, Tessie Sy-Coson of the SM Group and Jaime obel de Ayala of Ayala Corp.

Also present were Lily Monteverde, Charo SantosConcio, and Boy Abunda.

From arrival to departure, Barack Obama came out poised and self confident, intelligent and an excellent speaker, and was very presidential. Obama used the same blue tie for two days on a white dress shirt.

President Aquino’s speech was overshadowed by President Obama’s well researched speeches.

For a US president, the presidential party was not large with an estimated 200 persons.

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino joined the send-off party.

President Obama arrived Monday at 1 20 p.m. and departed Tuesday at 11 30 a.m. for the US en route to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, Alaska.

D

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) awarded a P407-million deal to Jo-Chris Trading, a Janet Lim-Napoles’ firm, to supply computers and communication equipment in 2002-2003.

DOTC Asec 5ene Maglanque and Asec Domingo 5eyes Jr. separately signed the purchase orders. Named as recipients of the computers and communication equipment were former Senators Manuel illar, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, 5obert Jaworski, and 5obert Barbers. Also former congressmen Neptali Gonzales II, Carlos Padilla, Felipe Sandoval Jr., and Mikey Arroyo. The list of procurement scams is growing larger.

We still have to see an audit report and the list of persons and amount involved in the Malampaya fund and the 5oad User’s Tax fund.

National Disaster 5isk 5eduction and Management Council ( ND55MC) Executive Director and Civil Defense Administrator Usec Eduardo Del 5osario has resigned “for reasons of health.”

The public is waiting for the third batch of respondents to be charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) before the Ombudsman. People are waiting for additional senators to be charged. This is in addition to those new names listed in Napoles’ “tell-all” affidavit.

There are 15,000 Filipinos in China while there are 150,000 in Hong Kong (HK).

The New People’s Army (NPA) clashed with government troops at Lagonoy, Camarines Sur and Casiguran, Sorsogon. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) clashed with the Abu Sayyaf in Patikul, Sulu. One soldier died and one wounded.

SPO1 Fernan Clemente was accidentally shot dead by an unnamed responding policeman who failed to recognize him while he was responding to a call for help at a Pasig City school.

President Mayor Joseph Estrada has instituted a free Orange Health Card system for indigents. To date, 50,000 cards have been issued.

Sannie Jane Ortiz, a principal, was shot dead by her policeman husband Police Officer 3 Jonathan Ortiz in Sultan Kudarat.

One hundred eleven people have died at the evacuation center in amboanga City. After seven months, the victims have not been resettled.