Marcos’ first year in office: Meeting world’s superpowers

Meeting the leaders of the world’s “super powers” kept President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first year in office eventful.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and US President Joe Biden during the bilateral meeting at the Oval Office inside the White House in Washington D.C. on May 01, 2023. (KJ Rosales/PPA POOL)

The President was able to visit Indonesia, Singapore, New York, Cambodia, Thailand, Belgium, China, Switzerland, Japan, Washington, and London in the last 12 months.

This, as Marcos said that he believed it was a must for a head of state to travel, primarily to draw more business and investments to the country.

Even when he said he was “traveling too much”, Marcos was still compelled to acknowledge and accept invitations from fellow foreign leaders as he believed that there was no better way to communicate the country’s agenda and positions on regional and international concerns than to do it in-person.

Meeting two long-time allies and super powers

In January, Marcos met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing despite the Chinese capital’s Covid-19 restrictions.

During the trip, Xi promised to “find compromise” and solution to allow Filipino fishermen to fish in their natural fishing ground.

Marcos disclosed that “President Xi seems to be genuinely interested in all of these issues and finding a way to move forward to again strengthen the relationship between China and the Philippines.

President Marcos and President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting in January 2023 in Beijing, China. (Photo courtesy of PCO)

Several sea incidents in the West Philippine Sea involving Chinese Coast Guard, however, kept happening weeks later.

In May, Marcos went to Washington to meet President Joe Biden, who renewed his commitment to an “ironclad” relationship with the Philippines. ‘

It came at a time of ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.

In that visit, Marcos  made it clear that he will not allow the Philippines to be used as a staging post for any kind of military action.

Meeting the King

From Washington, Marcos immediately flew to London to meet King Charles for the latter’s coronation.

The President said he was compelled to attend the coronation of the king as he was not able to attend the burial of the late Queen Elizabeth last year. This was, aside from the fact that the Marcoses are acquainted with the Royal family, he said.

President Marcos congratulates King Charles III on his coronation at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6. (Bongbong Marcos / Twitter)

As of February this year, Marcos bared that his 10 trips abroad were able to generate P3.48 trillion in investment pledges.

Total foreign investments committed during the President’s official travels included: Indonesia ($8.48 billion), Singapore ($6.54 billion), US ($3.847 billion), Thailand ($4.62 billion), Belgium ($2.20 billion), China, ($24.239 billion), and Japan ($13 billion).

Of the commitments, $4.349 billion or P239 billion have materialized with the companies in various stages of implementation of their projects in the country.

Projects worth $29.712 billion or P1.7 trillion have existing Memoranda of Understanding or Letters of Intent, while confirmed projects worth $28.863 billion or P1.5 trillion are in the planning stage.

READ MORE: Marcos: Investment pledges from foreign trips now bearing fruit

Controversial trip

Despite facing criticisms over his numerous travels abroad since assuming the presidency, Marcos is bent on keeping the communication and relationships with other countries open for the country’s national interest.

While all of his trips were official, he was under fire for his unannounced trip to Singapore in October last year during the Formula 1 championships.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr with other dignitaries during the Singapore Grand Prix 2022. (Photo from Bongbong Marcos Instagram page)

The chief executive claimed that it was an offshoot of his Singapore working trip in September, and a way to “drum up business.”

“They say that playing golf is the best way to drum up business, but I say it’s Formula 1. What a productive weekend!” Marcos then said.

He made clear that he was invited to meet other “business friends” willing to invest in the country.

“It was fulfilling to have been invited alongside several dignitaries and to have met new business friends who showed that they are ready and willing to invest in the Philippines,” he said.