Marcos talks of meeting leaders, trying Cambodian food at ASEAN

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. shared his experience at the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Cambodia, saying that it was a "learning experience" for him.

Speaking to reporters before leaving for Manila on Sunday night, Marcos said that upon meeting and dealing with other heads of states, he realized that other countries also face the same concerns and issues as the Philippines.

"It was for me, of course, first time ko makapunta sa ASEAN. So it’s a learning experience for me but also it was particularly significant because this is the first time they have had the ASEAN meetings face-to-face since the pandemic began," Marcos said.

"What I learned in this, having attended this ASEAN Summit, is that maraming talagang commonalities ang bawat bansa—which...should not really be surprising, considering that we’re all around, we’re all from the same area," he added.

Marcos said the ASEAN was very useful as he had the opportunity to meet other leaders and discuss pertinent issues in the region.

"And for me, it’s very useful, now I know all the members. Kilala ko na ang lahat ng mga leader ng ASEAN. At nakilala ko pa ‘yung foreign minister ng Russia. Siyempre si [US] President Joe Biden, this is our second meeting since New York," Marcos said.

"So maayos naman. It certainly… I’ll put it this way: It was very useful. It was absolutely critical that I had come and I am happy that I did," he added.

He said bilateral meetings were his chance to meet leaders and introduce himself, given that he is the "new kid in town."

"So it’s to meet people and say, magpakilala, you know," Marcos said.

"Nakakapag-convene na tayo ng Amerikano, nung Ruso, nung China, nung— kahit sino na inimbita natin. New Zealand was there today. Australia was there today. Lahat sila pumupunta dahil importanteng importante ang ASEAN. And that just shows you how central really to the economic planning the ASEAN is," Marcos said.

"And that is why—that’s why we are… How do you say my first—I wouldn’t call it a proposal, but my first idea was to say let’s go back to...the status before the pandemic, where the real driver of the global economy was Southeast Asia," he added.

Cambodian cuisine

Meanwhile, Marcos also mentioned that he was able to try Cambodian cuisine, and that he liked it all.

"Yeah, last night... meron sila, iba ‘yung ano eh. Alam mo, kagaya sa Indonesia. Kagaya...sa Singapore not so much," Marcos said.

"I liked it all. I’m afraid medyo ano ko, I’m an enthusiastic experimental when it comes to food. So yes. And then in the lunches, meron silang mga binibigay para ‘yung mga local dishes," he added.

Asked if he got tired during the four-day jampacked event, Marcos said: "Well, you know, because what happens—you’re sitting there for what, eight hours, 10 hours, 12 hours, whatever it is. And then you come home, you have to take care of the things that have happened in back home."

"So you don’t really go straight to sleep. You don’t really eat properly. But you know, it has to be done. It’s okay. I mean, you know. Nobody died from honest hard work."

Marcos said that his participation in the Summits was successful, and that he had pushed for the national interest during his meetings there. — BM, GMA Integrated News