Don’t call us, we’ll call you?

BY REGINA BENGCO

PRESIDENT Arroyo called up US president-elect Sen. Barack Obama and his rival Sen. John McCain to congratulate them but did not get to talk to any of them because of their busy schedule.

"Siempre ang oras 2 a.m., pagod pa sa kampanya yung mga iyon. So we just registered the fact in their operations center in the White House (and) in the State Department that President Arroyo put in a call," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in his weekly briefing.

Ermita said US Ambassador Kristie Kenney went to Malacañang at around 2 p.m. yesterday to officially inform Arroyo of Obama’s victory even though the news was carried live on television.

He said Arroyo would seek a meeting with Obama when she goes to the US on November 12 and13 to join world leaders in a special session of the UN General Assembly to promote global dialogue on religion, cultures and common values. He said a meeting with Obama would be high in Arroyo’s agenda.

Arroyo, in a statement, congratulated Obama for being elected the 44th president and the first African-American president of the US. She noted that many Filipino-Americans contributed to Obama’s victory.

She said with Obama’s election, RP-US relations would "remain strong and stable as ever" and that she looks forward to working with him in strengthening regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and in addressing the concerns of Filipino World War II veterans who have been pushing for the passage of a bill in Congress that seeks to give them benefits.

Ermita said Obama’s victory augurs well for the bill on Filipino World War II veterans because Obama expressed support for the Veterans Bills Benefits and Enhancement Act in a statement during Arroyo’s visit to the US last June.

He said "there will be no drastic changes in the foreign policy of the US" and that he expects that the Philippines would be "getting much more attention" as the "best of relations" continues between the two countries.

Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said the Philippines, as the 2010 presidential elections move closer, could learn from the lessons, models, and example of the US elections, especially in terms of primacy of issues on governance and the efficiency and integrity by which the electorate’s will are safeguarded and upheld.

Senate President Manuel Villar said the election of an African-American to the US presidency showed the changing face of America, which was once gripped with racism and segregation.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile said the Obama victory has once again proven that "in the US, the melting pot of all races, anyone with ability and courage and dedication can aspire to reach the top."

Enrile said the Philippines should brace for its own Obama.

"I think we’re going to have also our Barack Obama in the Philippines. He’s my friend. I have marked him. I will tell you, I will tell you one day. You look around, he is around," he said but declined to give a name.

Sen. Edgardo Angara said the Obama win could be good for Asia. "He grew up and was raised in Jakarta and, therefore, is aware of the Asian tradition. I think he will feel empathy for Asia," he said.

Sen. Loren Legarda, who is in the US, said in a text message Obama’s victory is a triumph both for blacks and the US middle-class.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III said the world is fast waking up to a changed America, wherein a minority could be become president.

Speaker Prospero Nograles expressed hopes for the quick recovery of the US economy with Obama’s victory. – With Dennis Gadil