US President Barack Obama described the Philippines as a small-sized country but “punches above its weight in the international arena.
Obama also complimented President Arroyo for her “outstanding work on a whole range of issues.
He said Arroyo is somebody who knows the issues (from terrorism to nuclear proliferation)…and has experience leading the Philippines through some very difficult times….”
It was Obama’s acknowledgment that President Arroyo did roll with the punches over the endless tirades and derision by political rivals and critics of her foreign trips and alleged hounding of the White House for a meeting with the world’s most powerful leader.
Despite all this, Obama said “although the Philippines is not the largest of countries, it, punches above its weight in the international arena, borrowing a term from boxing. (PIA)
