Marcos back in PH after 3-leg US trip

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday arrived in Manila from his three-leg trip to the United States. 

Flight PR 001 carrying Marcos and the entire Philippine delegation landed at Villamor Air Base past 9 in the evening. 

Marcos participated in the 2023 APEC Summit held in San Francisco, California. From that trip, he secured more than $600 million worth of investment pledges. 

The Presidential Communications Office on Monday (PH time) said these pledges include $400 million for the telecommunications sector; $250 million for semiconductor and electronics; $20 million for pharmaceutical and healthcare; $2 million for artificial intelligence (AI) for weather forecasting; and $0.3 million in renewable energy.

Marcos also secured significant commitments in technological advancements across key priority sectors in the Philippines, which include the deployment of the first two Internet MicroGEO satellites dedicated to the country. 

The president also had working visits in Los Angeles, California and Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Marcos was elated during his trip to Honolulu when he visited friends and members of the Filipino community who he credited for helping him and his family survive during their exile after the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Marcos said that his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, would have wanted to come to his working visit here.

“Oh yes, oh yes she would. She would love to have come just to see all of the people. If she cannot travel, sabi ko nga kay Manong Joe, ikaw na lang pumunta doon pasusundo ka namin,” Marcos said.

[If she cannot travel, I told Manong Joe that he be the one to go (to the Philippines), and we'll have him fetched.]

Joe Lazo is a friend of the Marcoses. The President said Joe is very close to his parents, especially during the time of their exile.

Marcos has said his mother told him to meet and thanked all Filipinos who had helped them survive during their exile in 1986.

The President said when his family arrived in Hawaii back in 1986, they had nothing and it was the Filipino community who provided their needs.—RF, GMA Integrated News