Marcos made 'very good impression' in APEC: GMA

• Published date: 20 November 2022
• Publication title: Philippines News agency

Former President now Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo believes President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made a 'good impression' in his first participation at the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

In a press statement on Sunday, Malacañang said Macapagal-Arroyo was satisfied with Marcos' performance speaking before more than half of the world's economies.

'...He certainly made a very good impression on the leaders of the very important economies. And not only the very important economies but also the great economic thinkers of the world," Arroyo was quoted as saying.

Marcos earlier described Macapagal-Arroyo as his "secret weapon" during his meeting with the Filipino community in Thailand at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Bangkok on Saturday.

He personally invited Macapagal-Arroyo to accompany him during the APEC Summit, noting that her experiences and insights were valuable.

'Sinasabi kong secret weapon dahil ako 'yung baguhan dito eh. Ako 'yung bagong naging lider. Kaya't 'pag papasok kami sa meeting, noong nakita si GMA (I say secret weapon because I'm the newbie here. I'm the new leader. That's why when we started the meeting and they'd see GMA, they'd say), 'Ah my good friend! My good friend!; Oh madali na kaagad 'yung usapan (Then it would be easy to start talking to them),' he said.

Highly successful

Meanwhile, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan 'Toots' Ople described Marcos' first APEC as 'highly successful.'

She said he developed a good rapport with other economic leaders he met, particularly Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, describing their exchanges as 'very relaxed, very uplifting.'

'...Makikita mo na both sides excited mag-engage, and lalo na noong nakausap na niya 'yung Crown...