FIL-AM GENERAL CALLS ON G.M.A.President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo welcomes Filipino-American Lt. Gen. Edward Soriano of the US Army, here to visit his mother country, during a courtesy call in Malacañang. Soriano is the highest ranking officer in the US Armed Forces of Filipino parentage. (Bernard Testa)
President Gloria MacapagalArroyo yesterday met the first threestar Filipino general in the US Armed Forces, Army Lt. Gen. Eduardo Soriano, at the Ramos Room of Malacañang and admired his role in the world’s most potent military.
"It’s a great honor that you accepted my invitation to visit our country and we are honored to have a Filipino in the United States Armed Forces," the President told Soriano, who was accompanied by his wife, Michelle, and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya and wife Susan in the courtesy call yesterday afternoon.
Soriano was cited by US President George W. Bush when President Arroyo made a state visit to Washington last year as "one of those who bring pride to both countries in the cause of freedom."
Soriano is in the Philippines for a short vacation, which includes a visit to Alcala, Pangasinan, his hometown.
"Thank you for giving us a special place in your heart and congratulations for bringing honor to our fellow Filipinos," the President said.
Soriano similarly expressed his admiration for the Chief Executive and commended Mrs. Arroyo for her exemplary achievements in the war against terror.
He said the Philippines is not behind other nations in countering terrorism.
The President acknowledged the positive observation of the Filipino general and attributed it to the cooperation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
"So far, and we thank God, we have been spared from what had happened in the recent bombing in Jakarta. We have a very good intelligence network, they were able to catch the perpetrators, and disseminate information on the anti-terror campaign," she said.
Soriano echoed the Chief Executive’s commendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for its quick and good response on the anti-terror call of the United States and the Filipinos’ high regard for defense and rejection of terrorism.
The President noted that five of the US military soldiers who joined the previous RP-US military exercises held in the country were Filipinos.
Soriano and his family had moved to Salinas, California in the United States in the 1960s.
He joined the Army in 1970 after graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in management.
Soriano completed the infantry-officer basic and advanced courses and attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.
He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri.
The general commanded units in Korea and Germany and U.S. Army units in North California, Washington, Georgia, New York and Texas.