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Source: Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnnews.com

-- The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit before her scheduled trip to Singapore for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

Clinton said in a speech in Washington that her Manila visit later this week aims to show her solidarity with Filipinos, especially those who were affected by the recent typhoons “Ondoy” (Ketsana), “Pepeng” (Parma), “Ramil” (Lupit) and “Santi” (Mirinae).

Asked why the country was singled out among other Southeast Asian nations affected by typhoons, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney told abs-cbnNEWS.com: “The Philippines is our longest friend.”

Other countries battered by the recent typhoons include Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

“There are so many family ties… When something happens in the Philippines, Americans feel it,” added Kenney, noting that there are many Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the US.

“She said she's been following closely all of the storms, the devastation,” revealed Kenney. She added that Clinton said: “I’d like to stop and see my Filipino friends, see how they're doing. Would that be okay?”

Huge compliment

Kenney added that the US Embassy is “starstruck and excited” about Clinton’s visit.

“This really shows how much the Secretary of State and US government care about the Philippines, an important ally for us. And President [Barack] Obama feels so strongly that we need to be reconnecting with our oldest friends,” she stated.

The US ambassador noted that it is part of Obama’s style to have his Cabinet go out to see America’s old friends as well as make new ones.

“That's one of the reasons he saw President Arroyo this summer,” she said in a “Dateline Philippines” interview. “So to take time to specifically come over to Manila is a huge compliment.”

Other Cabinet members who have visited the Philippines this year are Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (October) and Defense Secretary Robert Gates (June).

“It's important to stay in touch with one of our oldest and best friends,” she said, explaining the recent visits of US Cabinet members.

“The Philippines is important… You’ve had a really hard several months. And she wants to be here to say we're still with you. In good times and bad times, we’re good friends. The Philippines matters both as a nation and as friends,” she commented.

Unlikely

Kenney reiterated that Clinton’s primary purpose for coming to the Philippines is her great interest in the “whole flood-typhoon relief effort here. In fact, she says that's really why she wants to come, to show her solidarity with the Filipino people.”

“I suspect they'll talk about several things. Certainly Sec. Clinton would want to hear how things are going on in flood, typhoon relief from President Arroyo and Sec. Romulo,” added Kenney.

Meantime, Kenney said she does not expect Clinton to talk about the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) while in Manila. “It’s unlikely she'd get into these details,” she said.

“But I’m sure she will want to say how pleased she was with our cooperation… that our militaries could be out there immediately, giving medical relief, saving lives, clearing roads. That's the kind of partnership that benefits real people.”

Our two militaries did flood relief together, and, of course, we who live here know that's possible because of our VFA,” said Kenney.

“But I can’t speak for the Philippines’ side,” stressed the US Ambassador.

‘No VFA on agenda’

Malacañang, for its part, denied that the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is included in the Clinton agenda.

The review of the VFA is not an issue that has reached the urgency to be tackled at a bilateral level, according to Press Undersecretary Anthony Golez.

Golez said the Palace wants to maintain its commitment to security cooperation with the US. He said it is up to the VFA Commission to answer queries on whether there is room for compromise on the VFA.

He also emphasized that it was the Senate that proposed a VFA review.

Meanwhile, Golez said Arroyo’s meeting with Clinton will focus on climate change, trading and security cooperation. Arroyo’s meeting with Obama in Singapore, on the other hand, will be held during the APEC Summit with other ASEAN and APEC heads of state.

Suu Kyi’s release

Clinton, who will stay in the Philippines for about 24 hours, will head to Singapore with Arroyo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo. They are expected to tackle “a lot of big Asian issues” during the APEC Summit.

These include security, economics, Myanmar (Burma) and North Korea.

“I feel very sure Sec. Clinton will want to talk to Sec. Romulo and President Arroyo, get their views, see how we can work together as they head then to ASEAN meetings,” mentioned Kenney.

“The US and the Philippines have been very strong on calling for the Burmese to open back get back to democracy to free Aung Sang Suu Kyi,” she continued. “I think we all want the same things for Burma.”

2010 polls

When Clinton’s Manila visit was made known, talks went around saying that the US Secretary of State and Arroyo will discuss the 2010 elections.

“Well, it’s hard to be in the Philippines now and not be interested in the elections… We certainly know a lot about that in the US because we did it a year ago, practically a year ago today,” she noted.

“I imagine Sec. Clinton will be interested in hearing from not only the government but everyday citizens what are they looking forward in elections, how do they see it going.”

“But I think the excitement over the elections is one thing. Certainly, I know Sec. Clinton will view as we all do, this is a Philippine election. It's for Filipinos to decide who should next lead their country,” stated Kenney.

Next generation

The US Ambassador disclosed that the embassy is still fixing the schedule of Clinton’s 24-hour visit to Manila.

Aside from holding meetings with Arroyo and Romulo, Clinton reportedly wants to see the people affected by the floods and typhoons as well as to meet students.

Kenney said Clinton wants to go to a relief site to personally find out how relief and recovery are going and how she can best help the community. She also wants to know the next steps to be undertaken in relief efforts.

Clinton also wants to be informed about how the US aid has helped Filipinos and what more can be donated such as books and desks.

Clinton would also want to have a town hall meeting style or roundtable discussion with students as she wants to hear from “the next generation.”

Well-loved

In terms of security, Kenney said she believes that “the Philippines is excited as well to have her. People will welcome her with open arms. She's well known. She's very loved here.”

“Sec. Clinton is a big fan of the Philippines,” said Kenney. “She loves the Philippines.”

The US ambassador said she hopes Clinton can also drop by the embassy, pass by the American cemetery and swear in new Peace Corps volunteers. “But all of that depends on time,” noted Kenney.

According to Kenney, she knows that Clinton would love to visit Mindanao and Baguio, but such trips cannot be included in her brief Manila visit.

Meanwhile, she also asked viewers on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) to send their questions for Clinton as the former US First Lady “wants to see and hear from many Filipinos as much as possible.”

Kenney, who is known to be a sports fan, said she would like to know if the US Secretary of State is also into sports. “We don’t know. If I got to ask her a question that would be one that I’d ask: ‘Are you a sports fan?’”

She went on: “I know that I’ve seen her going to baseball games wearing a baseball cap. You knew she grew up in Chicago, she’s now from New York. It’s hard to imagine she’s not a basketball fan.”