Arroyo met with expat Filipinos for dinner during her visit to İstanbul. During a speech she delivered at the dinner, Arroyo shared the financial and development saga of the Philippines over the past eight years. Arroyo noted that one of the main sources of financial input for her country was the foreign currency Filipinos working abroad were sending home.The Philippine president spoke about the 60-year history of diplomacy and friendship between Turkey and the Philippines and added that she had discussed improving current relations with President Gül. Arroyo said that Gül had requested that they “make our relations more enduring by encouraging the private sector and nongovernmental organizations.”
Arroyo noted that two private schools have been opened by Turkish entrepreneurs and that she is personally pleased with the success of these Turkish schools. She added that the students graduating from these schools will play a role in strengthening the relations between Turkey and the Philippines.
Arroyo, who met with officials from the Association for Social and Economic Cooperation with Pacific Countries (PASİAD), asked for Turkish businessmen working in her country to expedite their work. Highlighting her belief that an increase in the number of Turkish schools in her country would strengthen mutual relations, Arroyo encouraged businessmen to open more schools. She went on to praise Turkey, noting that it is a modern country with a secular and tolerant religious life, adding, “We want to take advantage of Turkey's experience in helping the people of different faiths in our nation to accept one another.”
