Aquino boasts of $2.7-B investment pledge from US

President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III on Monday boasted of obtaining, with a lean Philippine delegation, a $2.7-billion investment pledge from United States firms. Aquino revealed his delegation's achievement at a Sunday Mass (Monday morning in Manila) attended by members of various Filipino organizations at the Basilica of Mission Dolores in San Francisco, California. “In Church we are taught to be humble, I’m sorry ... but we will be bringing home (up to) $2.7 billion in new investments," he said in his remarks shortly after the Mass. “We have made the most out of this (trip) and without (a) bloated delegation spending lavishly along the way," Aquino said. His predecessor, former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was known for her large entourage in her official trips abroad. She was also highly criticized for the lavish dinners they had during those trips. 45 meetings in six days Aquino said, in the last six days of his US visit, his delegation has had success in 45 meetings, “all for the betterment of our people." He admitted that he was reluctant at first to go to the US because he believed “foreign travels are expensive and we need focus on reforms at home."

“(But) my economic managers assured me that the trip to the US will be extremely beneficial to our country ... And I am happy to share with you the news that we are returning home with very substantial commitments," he said. He also expressed optimism about the business proposals made by prospective American investors, saying employment opportunities will improve the living standards of the Filipinos. “We are now at the stage of revitalizing our nation. Time and again we have proven to the world that if united nothing is impossible for us Filipinos," he said. Aquino asks for prayers The Mass capped Aquino’s weeklong working visit to the US. He asked Filipinos in the US to pray for him and the nation. “May I ask you further ... please pray for me and for the entire nation as we move forward to forge a future worthy of our church. Let us keep working to stay on the straight path where peace and progress await us," he said. After the Mass, Aquino was scheduled to participate in a town-hall meeting style interview, then depart for the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport Hotel at Burlingame, California. The government-run dzRB radio said Aquino is scheduled to take a Philippine Airlines commercial flight (PR-104) at 1:30 p.m. (Manila time) for Manila and be home at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. The Official Gazette website said the Filipinos present at the Mass included members of Filipino communities from Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington State and Wyoming. The website said these Filipino-American communities are active advocates for Philippine development. – VVP, GMANews.TV