US President Barack Obama called President-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III Wednesday night to congratulate him on his proclamation by Congress as the winner in the May 10 presidential elections.
Obama likewise congratulated Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay thorough Aquino in a phone call past 9 p.m to the Aquino house on Times St., Quezon City.
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US Embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thomas confirmed the call on GMA News’ late-night Saksi newscast.
“President Obama called President-elect Aquino to congratulate him and Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay on their victories in the May 10 elections,” said Thomas.
“And also he wanted to congratulate the people of the Philippines for carrying out a successful first-ever automated elections,” she added. US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. earlier congratulated Aquino and Binay in a statement. Amb. Thomas affirmed the US’ “deep and long relationship with the Philippines, a treaty ally whose soldiers have fought alongside ours in World War II and subsequent conflicts. “We look forward to working with the new Philippine government to deepen the unwavering friendship and partnership between our two nations, and to advance our common goals for the benefit of the Southeast Asia region and the world,” Thomas stated. The US maintains close economic, political and diplomatic ties with the Philippines, a former US colony. British Prime Minister David Cameron likewise sent his greetings to Aquino in a letter, referring to the strong relations between the Philippines and the United Kingdom. “As we both start our terms in office, I look forward to strengthening our cooperation in tackling the global economic crisis, working for peace and stability in the southern Philippines and advancing respect for human rights in South-East Asia,” said Cameron, who was appointed Prime Minister on May 11.
Other countries, such as China, have also sent their congratulatory messages to Aquino and Binay.
“Today represents an historic moment ushering in a new era for China-Philippine relations,” China’s ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao said.
According to GMA News’ Saksi newscast, Liu also noted that the proclamation fell on the exact date when China and the Philippines established diplomatic relations 35 years ago. —Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV
Posts Tagged ‘Asia’
Mayweather Jr. another excuse?
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s comments hinting at his retirement from boxing has gone largely undetected by Congressman Manny Pacquiao, who is enjoying a vacation with his family in the United States.
“Wala pang reaksyon si Manny. Nagbabakasyon pa siya [Manny is yet to comment on the issue. He's still on vacation.],” said Pacquiao’s chief of staff Jake Joson to Yahoo! Southeast Asia, adding, “Let’s just leave everything to [Bob] Arum.”
Mayweather said in his video interview for the Make-A-Wish Foundation that he’ll be taking couple of years off the ring.
“I want to devote my time in my boxing gym and just give back to the homeless,” said Mayweather in his interview.
In an ABS-CBN report, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is not buying what Mayweather had said and believes that he “was just babbling.”
“You never know with Floyd. Sometimes he just talks for the sake of talking. If Floyd plans to take a year or two off, we should be seeing a formal press release soon,” Arum said as quoted by boxingscene.com.
“Nagpapataas presyo lang si Mayweather [Mayweather just wants to get a higher percentage in his purse],” added Joson in his phone interview with Yahoo! Southeast Asia.
But if ever the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout will not push through, Joson has this to say, “Kilala naman natin si Manny na as a boxer kahit sino lalabanan nya [As a boxer, Manny will fight anyone].”
A possible rematch between Pacquiao and new WBA super-welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, who finished off Yuri Foreman at the Yankee Stadium, is Arum’s Plan B according to a Philstar.com report.
Pacquiao will be back in the Philippines on June 14 to prepare for his legislative duties as representative of the lone-district of Sarangani, said Joson.
