Coming in "full force" to Japan was the Philippine delegation's way of honoring its gracious host.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez had this to say in a press briefing with Manila-based reporters Friday night, Feb. 10 as he shared some of the Philippine government officials' activities in Japan.
The delegation is led by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Accompanying him in the five-day trip are Romualdez, Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, and House Senior Deputy Speaker and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, among others.
"We had a very very exhaustive and very comprehensive meeting with the Prime Minister, PM Kishida Fumio. We had of course a dinner at his official residence. And of course we met with all his Cabinet and all his ministers and again, you know, the ties between Philippines and Japan are so so tight and so strong and you know, the presence was very very much felt, it was warm," noted Romualdez.
"We also had, the Senate President was with us and of course the former president, the senior deputy speaker who had also several exchanges because as a former head of state, there were very many legacy projects and initiatives that continue today and that was counted on," he said.
Romualdez went on to say about the Japanese officials: "Nakita nila, binigyan natin ng karangalan, respeto kasi buong-buo tayo dito, gobyerno, kasama mga negosyante (They saw how we honored and gave them respect because we came here complete, the government along with businessmen).
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"So may imbitasyon, full force tayo (So there's an invitation, we were in full force), so they really appreciated the invitation. And we honored and respected their invitation by coming full force and prepared to engage and very open and willing to listen and to actually clarify and to basically explain where we are, where we would like to be," he explained.
"And sa wakas, nakita naming (And at last, we saw that) there was so much commonality, parang common interests (like common interests)," the Leyte 1st district representative further said.