Raja Obama

The Philippines hosted U.S. President Barak Obama on April 28 and 29.  It was an historic occasion of a sitting American president visiting the Philippines.  I am tempted to say that some might complain that it was a long overdue visit, given the mutual history of the two countries, but I am going to emphasize the positives, and in particular the human-interest positives of Mr. Obama’s visit.  My source, as it often is for news from the Philippines, is The Philippine Star online edition.  Of the many possibilities, I have chosen the following three news stories.

1. Sikatuna.  At a special ceremony on Monday, April 28, President Benigno Aquino conferred the highest diplomatic honor of his country on President Obama, the Order of Sikatuna “with the highest rank of Raja.”  In his speech, Mr. Aquino referred to the assistance from the U.S. in the disastrous Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), to the peace-keeping initiatives of the U.S. in Southeast Asia, and to U.S. aid in “raising the defense capacities of the Philippines.”

President Obama gratefully accepted the award and spoke of “the commitment to continue to deepen the bond between our two great nations.”  Mr. Obama would, of course, have known that President Eisenhower had been the first to receive this award (1960).  The award recognizes the efforts of the recipient to strengthen the relations between the two countries.

The typical Filipino moment of the meeting came when President Aquino made the following wish for President Obama’s visit: “Though your stay here in the country may be short, I hope that it will allow you to see and experience for yourself how indeed it is more fun in the Philippines.”  The “more fun in the Philippines” is the country’s public relations mantra for tourism.  Filipino humor, as with good humor generally, often arises in the midst of solemnity.  Mr. Obama, for his part, recognized another characteristic trait of the host country in thanking it for “the extraordinary hospitality during his first visit.”

To read the other two news stories, please go to the VIA Times link on the blog home page.  Select "columnists," and my picture and the article will come up.