Philippine president affirms links here
By Vicki Viotti and Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writers
Arroyo's stopover thrilled Hawai'i's Filipino community and served as a reminder that the war on terror is a global, cooperative effort.
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| Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo receives a welcoming handshake from Daniel Santa Maria of Waipahu at the Filipino Community Center. Arroyo, who arrived yesterday, leaves today for an economic summit in Mexico.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Arroyo's main public events in Hawai'i were a tour of the gleaming new Filipino Community Center in Waipahu and a banquet at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Last night, more than 1,200 people paid $50 each to welcome Arroyo to Hawai'i at the banquet. Among the well-wishers were many from the local Filipino community, as well as elected and military officials.
Arroyo, 55, dressed in a Maria Clara, the national dress of the Philippines, greeted the crowd in several dialects and brought many to cheers. She then praised Filipino Americans for their success in Hawai'i, rising from the plantations nearly a century ago to holding positions of power in government and society.
"Filipino Americans represent the best in the Filipino. You are the most effective ambassadors of your mother country," Arroyo said. "Your contributions to American life are tremendous, and I am proud of all Filipino Americans, whether well-known or anonymous."
Arroyo singled out Gov. Ben Cayetano, the country's first governor of Filipino ancestry. In a night filled with tributes to her, Arroyo honored Cayetano, the son of an immigrant, with the prestigious Philippines Legion of Honor, Degree of Commander, for his years of public service.
Arroyo also gave a brief update on the state of her government. She said the economy is on the rise and inflation is at a 12-year low.
But Arroyo said that for her country to continue to grow, she needed the support of Filipinos, not only in the Philippines but also in Hawai'i.
"No president can build a strong republic single-handedly," Arroyo said. "My role as president is to serve as chief architect, to see to it that our plans and blueprints are carried out. But I can do this work only if I can count on the support of the more than 2 million Filipino Americans, including the 200,000 or so Filipinos who are living here in Hawai'i.
"As you got together to build the Filipino Community Center, as you got together to support this lovely banquet tonight, let us get together, each contributing to the plan of national greatness and prosperity."
Eddie Agas Sr., a project manager with the city, said he was thrilled to welcome Arroyo to the Islands. Agas moved to Hawai'i from the Philippines in 1971 to seek "a better life."
"We are happy to have her here because she is our president," Agas said. "We are here to give her our aloha."
Earlier in the day, Arroyo was accompanied to Waipahu by Gov. and Mrs. Cayetano on a tour of the $13 million Filipino Community Center. Arroyo planted a narra – the national tree of the Philippines – and shook hundreds of hands there. One belonged to Fely Ugalde, who burrowed through the crowd fronting the Philippine president's car, idling for departure.
"I like get close," the Waipahu resident said. She received the payoff, pressing flesh with the president moments later.
Inside, war veterans, students and elders known as sakadas, the plantation workers who formed the backbone of Hawai'i's Filipino population, packed the ballroom to greet Arroyo.
The sunny reception was in contrast to the recent turmoil in the Philippines. Arroyo's visit came days after the arrest of five alleged members of the Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf who officials say admitted taking part in the recent bombings of two department stores and a Roman Catholic shrine, killing eight and injuring 170 others in the southern city of Zamboanga.
Investigators said the men claimed they were acting on orders by Abu Sulaiman, one of the Abu Sayyaf's leaders. Investigators have said the group is linked with the al-Qaida terrorist network.
"We won't let these incidents gestate for long," Arroyo said at a news conference at the Filipino Community Center. "We are determined to fight terrorism to the end.
"There are terrorist cells in Southeast Asia that are linked to one another. ... We know that terrorism is a global phenomenon today and therefore there must also be a global response to terrorism."
She said last night that she considered canceling her trip to Hawai'i because of the terrorist acts. But Arroyo said she changed her mind after learning of the sold-out banquet.
"Seeing you tonight, oh, I would have never forgiven myself for not being able to be here with you. To pay honor to you, to your leader (Cayetano), the highest-ranking Filipino in the United States, and to pay honor to all the Filipino Americans," Arroyo said.
Yesterday morning, Arroyo met with Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander in chief of U.S. military forces in the Pacific, to discuss mutual training and security strategy.
U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye pledged continued American support for the Philippines.
"We are fortunate because that's the only country in that part of the world that, by its own initiative, has invited our forces there," Inouye said after meeting with Arroyo at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. "My message was to assure her that Americans stand ready to walk with her through this dangerous time."
Her morning visit with Inouye was to thank him for helping to spearhead the push for health benefits to Filipino American veterans of World War II.
On a more local level, Arroyo is seeking U.S. initiatives that would make the tuna-canning industry more competitive among exporters. Tuna is a crucial industry in Mindanao, where a good deal of insurgency originates, she said.
Arroyo also is seeking the passage of legislation in the Philippines that would allow overseas voting and dual citizenship for Filipinos abroad.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.
Associated Press Associated Press Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
President Arroyo bestows the Philippines Legion of Honor, Degree of Commander, to Gov. Ben Cayetano during the banquet at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Hawai'i's first lady Vicky Cayetano is at left.
During a luncheon and reception at Washington Place, Gov. Ben Cayetano, center, presents state Senate President Robert Bunda to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
At the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu, Arroyo fields questions about her country's progress in fighting terrorists.
On the Waipahu grounds, Arroyo plants a narra — the national tree of the Philippines. Other events yesterday included an evening gala, sponsored by the Philippine Consulate, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story included a wrong picture for a caption describing a reception at Washington Place.
