Those of you who are familiar with the Phillipines are aware that it i a very poor country that is mourning the death of hundreds as a result of at typhoon that broadsided the islands over the past few days. Here in San Francisco, local filipinos are riveted to ABS-CBN coverage as they try to reach friends or loved ones that may have been impacted by the storm. My girlfriend's family weathered the storm but a friend had to send money tofay because her family's house has beenn completly flooded. Yet, as President Bush met today with Phillipine Presdeint Arroyo, all he can think about his great White House cook.
President Bush met with Filipino President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today at the White House. Arroyo was in Washington while her country tries to recover from a typhoon that devastated coastal areas and flipped a ferry carrying over 800 passengers last week. Before discussing aide for the Philippines, Bush couldn't resist beginning the sober meeting with a quip about a Filipino member of his kitchen staff. Read part of the transcript from the meeting and click here to read more about one of the "Philippine-Americans" Bush is referring to. See the excerpt below:
PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, it is a pleasure to welcome you back to the Oval Office. We have just had a very constructive dialogue. First, I want to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a nation that -- in which there's a lot of Philippine-Americans. They love America and they love their heritage. And I reminded the President that I am reminded of the great talent of the -- of our Philippine-Americans when I eat dinner at the White House. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes.
PRESIDENT BUSH: And the chef is a great person and a really good cook, by the way, Madam President.
PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you.
Yes, filipinos are great cooks. I am always happy when my girlfriends cooks pancit and my favorite, lumpia, on special occasions. But they are also some of the hardest working people you will ever meet, willing to take 2 or 3 of the least desirable jobs at any given time. They are also some of the greatest success stories in the Bay Area as well. So, Mr. President, I hope you are generous enough to help a people in need, and perhaps once in a while, you think of them when you are not at the table as well.