Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (left), House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

There's a very simple reason why the United States (US) has no representatives in the ongoing 31st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF31) being hosted in the Philippines. 

Some personalities have raised negative conjectures about the US' absence, but House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri said that Thanksgiving Day was just too important for Americans in general. 

"It’s Thanksgiving now (Thursday, Nov. 23 in the US). They (US delegates) wanted to come, but it’s Thanksgiving. It’s like Christmas," Romualdez said in a chance interview with House reporters Friday, Nov. 24 at the APPF31 held at Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.  

"They’re asking if we can make it [on] January. Puno daw (But the slots were all full)," added the House leader. 

Earlier, presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos said that the parliamentary forum was "blighted" by the non-participation of the US. 

The Senate President, who was with Romualdez at the event, was quick to back up the latter's explanation. 

"Nobody wanted to [go], because it’s Thanksgiving. Nobody could come," Zubiri said. 

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https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/24/parliamentary-forum-delegates-crave-balut-durian-romualdez-obliges

"They wanted us to move [the APPF31]...Kasi parang Easter nila yan e (It's like Easter)," he further said. 

Held every fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving is an annual national holiday in the 

US and Canada that celebrates the blessings of the past year. Roasted turkey is the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. 

Senator Marcos had been quoted as saying, "The APPF is sadly blighted by the absence of the US, surely the major Pacific power. Did we fail to invite the Americans in time? Was there some failure of coordination which ultimately led to their absence? Certainly, the Americans understand the importance of their  participation for any meaningful dialogue for peace and security in this vast region." 

Zubiri and Romualdez are the chairman and co-chairman, respectively, of the APPF31. 

The event will run from Nov. 23 to 25.