President Arroyo is the first Southeast Asian leader who was received by Obama in the White House, arrived at around 3 p.m. at the executive mansion, where pro and anti-Arroyo groups held protests outside the White House gates.

The meeting lasted at about 45 minutes which Arroyo accompanied by some of her political constituents such as Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, presidential adviser on climate change Heherson Alvarez and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

US President Obama hailed the relationship of the two allies, and mentioned the contributions of Filipinos to America.

“We are proud to have 4 million persons of Filipino ancestry contributing to our country each and every day in all walks of life. The fact that we have Filipino veterans who have walked side by side with American soldiers on behalf of freedom, all those things that have strengthened the relations of our two countries,” he said.

He also said that they primarily discussed the fight against terrorism during their meeting.

“I am very pleased that President Arroyo has made such good progress on dealing with counterterrorism issues. She has initiated a peace process in Mindanao that we think has the potential to bring peace and stability to a part of the Philippines that has been wracked by unrest for too long,” Obama said.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo thanked President Obama for inviting her to the White House, and restated the Philippines’ support to issues America is pursuing in the region.

“The Philippines will stand behind the US in two crucial issues in the region: Burma and North Korea,” she added.

The President also thanked the US’s help in facing climate change, and the granting of benefits for Filipino World War II veterans.

A respected lawmaker and accomplished negotiator, Gregg, 61, is the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee. He could play a key role in selling Obama’s nearly $900 billion stimulus package to skeptical members of his party.

“Judd is a master of reaching across the aisle to get things done,” Obama said at a ceremony at the White House to introduce Judd.

“He will be an outstanding addition to the depth and experience of my economic team, a trusted voice in my cabinet, and an able and persuasive ambassador for industry who makes it known to the world that America is open for business,” he said.

Obama did not respond to a shouted question from a reporter about the decision by Nancy Killefer, his nominee to oversee budget and spending reform, to withdraw her nomination for tax reasons.
In January, Obama’s first pick for commerce secretary, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, withdrew in the face of a legal inquiry.

Richardson denied any wrongdoing in connection with the inquiry of a California-based financial company that had done business with the New Mexico state government.
Gregg had said he would not take the cabinet job if it pushed Obama’s Democrats closer to the 60-seat mark in the Senate, thereby allowing them to pass laws more easily. The governor of New Hampshire has agreed to fill his seat with a Republican.

Gregg will join two other prominent Republicans in Obama’s cabinet — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. While Gates is not formally registered with the party, he has said he considers himself a Republican.

Gregg has a reputation as a fiscal conservative respected on both sides of the political aisle. He helped draw up the Wall Street bailout last year and was one of a handful of Republicans who voted to release the second half of the $700 billion package to Obama.

As head of the Commerce Department, Gregg would help promote U.S. business at home and around the world.

Courtesy of ABS-CBN News and Affairs

The Arroyo administration is very hopeful that Philippine-US relations will strengthen under an Obama administration, especially with respect to the Philippine government’s desire to see the Veterans Equity Bill passed by the US Congress. Meanwhile Obama, a senator from Illinois, has agreed to support the passage of the bill, which would assist Filipino war veterans.

Lorelei Fajardo, a Deputy Presidential spokesperson has also said the Arroyo government is looking forward to “greater cooperation between the USA and the Philippines” especially since “the Democrats have always been good allies”.

“We wish to express our profound congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama for his historical and stellar win as the 44th president of the US,” Fajardo said.
“His call for change opened a new phase in American politics, sparking hope and inspiration not only for the American people but the citizens of the world,” she added.

Fajardo said “America has always been the bastion of democracy and the world has always looked to the USA for direction.”

“Obama has promised change and the American people and the world awaits these changes,” she said.