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PGMA gets warm welcome in Brasilia
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Jun 24, 2009 - 10:58:38 AM

BRASILIA, Brazil, June 25 (PNA) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived at the Brasilia Military Airbase here Wednesday afternoon  as part of her four-day, three-city state visit to Brazil to further strengthen 49 years of diplomatic and bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and Brazil.

The President's chartered Philippine Air Lines flight, which came from Recife City, the jump-off point of her visit to Brazil from June 22 to 26, landed shortly after 4 p.m. (Brasilia time).

Upon deplaning, the President was accorded full military honors, including a 21-gun salute by the Brasilia honor guards.

She was welcomed by Minister for Institutional Security General Jorge Armando Felix and chief of Brasilia protocol from the Itamaraty (Ministry of External Relations) Ambassador George Prata.

The President was joined by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and members of her Cabinet -- Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes.

After being treated to a display of Brasilian military marching precision, the President and her party left for the Salao Presidencial (Presidential Lounge).

From there the presidential delegation proceeded to the Brasilia Alvorada Park Hotel, the President's official residence during her stay here.

She met members of the Filipino community who came out to welcome her at the Brasilia Alvorada Park Hotel.

The Philippine Embassy in Brasilia reported that as of December 31 last year, there were about 379 Filipinos in Brazil, 98 of them missionaries. Some 20 Filipino seafarers have settled permanently in Brazil's port cities.

The rest of the Filipinos in Brazil are businessmen, self-employed entrepreneurs, domestic helpers, students, and overseas workers on contract with telecommunications, oil drilling and other transnational companies.

The President shook hands, posed for souvenir photographs and listened to the OFWs recount their experiences in Brazil. In all, more than 50 Filipinos have made Brazil, particularly Brasilia, their second home.

The President appeared overwhelmed by the warm welcome her fellow countrymen extended to her, and thanked them for their support and for meeting her.