The Obama State Dinner

The Malacañang state dinner hosted by President Aquino for US President Barack Obama turned out to be highly successful considering the massive preparations that had to be made for the guest of honor, who also happens to be the most powerful man in the world.

Whatever critics may say against the American president, no one can question his overwhelming popularity with a large majority of Filipinos as seen in the results of previous surveys both by the SWS and the Pew Research Center.

It was one Malacañang affair that was super special if one wanted to witness at close range a part of history. The occasion marked the first visit to the Philippines of the only African-American US president. While the eight-hour visit of then US President George W. Bush in October 2003 required elaborate security arrangements coming as it was after 9/11, the preparations for the Obama visit turned out to be more stringent because of the massive preparations and the enormous logistical requirement. Among them were two sets of limousines dubbed “The Beast” set to bicycle POTUS from one point to another as he flew on board the presidential helicopter Marine One around the metropolis. It took approximately five to 10 minutes from one destination to another.