For House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the highlight of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s trip to Japan was the latter's meeting with Japanese Emperor Naruhito.
According to Romualdez, the meeting between Marcos and Japan's head monarch placed the Filipino leader on a very special list.
"I'd like to mention of course, the highlight of the trip is the visit of the President with the Emperor. Not every head of state that comes to Japan has the opportunity and privilege to speak with the Emperor," Romualdez told Manila-based reporters during a press briefing Friday night, Feb. 10.
"And I understand from the President’s account, it was a very, very warm and very, very cordial meeting ," added the Leyte 1st district congressman.
"And in fact, the President and Emperor have mutual friends and as you know, they both went to Oxford University so they had exchanges about times at university...they had all these exchanges. And you know, I guess the nostalgic ano, memories on their university days," Romualdez further said.
President Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos met with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako earlier Friday at the Imperial Palace in Japan.
Romualdez--arguably Marcos' top ally in the Philippine legislature--is part of the Philippine delegation to Japan.