In the first phone call between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and incoming United States President Donald Trump, it wasn’t the Indo-Pacific, or China, or regional issues that took precedence in the conversation. Instead, the 47th President of the United States wanted to know: How was Imelda, the former first lady of the Philippines and the current president’s mother?

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to Super Typhoon Pepito-hit Catanduanes, Marcos explained that he was running late for the visit to the province because of a scheduled call with the president-elect of the United States.

“Naalala naman niya ang Pilipinas. Ang kaibigan niya talaga mother ko. Kilalang-kilala niya ‘yung mother ko. Kinukumusta niya si — ‘How is Imelda?’, how is ano… Sabi ko, binabati ka nga,” he told reporters.

(Of course, he remembers the Philippines. It’s my mother whom he’s friends with. He really knows her. He asked about her, “How’s Imelda?” How is she. So, I said, she sends her regards.)

Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025 after winning an election that saw the Republican candidate win all seven key swing states. The Republican Party is also set to be the majority in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives.

His victory, as all movements in US politics and policy, is expected to reverberate beyond their borders. In Manila, for example, the concern is over the United States’ commitment to its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines.

“Tapos ay patuloy naming pinag-usapan ang samahan (We continued the conversation to talk about the relationship) — the alliance between the United States and the Philippines. And I expressed to him our continuing desire to strengthen that relationship between our two countries, which is a relationship that is as deep as can possibly be because it has been for a very long time,” recalled Marcos.

“And I also reminded the President-elect that ang mga Pilipino sa Amerika overwhelmingly naging — binoto nila si Trump (Filipinos in America overwhelmingly voted for Trump). Kaya’t I’m sure maaalala niya ‘yan pagka tayo ay – ‘pag nagkita kami at plano kong makipagkita sa kanya as soon as I can. Sabi niya siguro baka nasa White House na siya bago ako makapunta (I’m sure he’ll remember that when we do meet in person, and I plan to do that as soon as I can. He said, he’ll likely already be back at the White House before I’m able to visit),” added Marcos.

“It was a very good call, it was a very friendly call, very productive. And I am glad that I was able to do it and I think President-elect Trump was also happy to hear from the Philippines.”

The US is the Philippines’ only treaty ally and is, for better or worse, a key component in its defense capabilities, especially in the face of a China that’s growing more aggressive and assertive in the reigon, including in parts of the South China Sea that’s part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

As Marcos finally spoke to Trump, the United States’ outgoing defense chief, Secretary Lloyd Austin, visited the Philippines’ Western Command in Palawan, or the unified command that is responsible for guarding most of the West Philippine Sea. Beside Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Austin reiterated that the US’ commitment to the Mutual Defense Treat was ironclad, and that the Philippines wasn’t just a friend or ally but “family.”

Austin, while refusing to speculate on what the incoming Trump administration would mean for Philippine-US ties and the West Philippine Sea, told a press briefing in Palawan that interest in maintaining the bilateral relationship had bipartisan support in the US — a reassurance, perhaps, that a shift from a Democratic to a Republican president wouldn’t result in a 180-degree turn in ties.

There is one topic Marcos did not touch on during the call with Trump — his plans to tighten US immigration policies.

“No, we didn’t talk about that. We didn’t talk about that. It was just a congratulatory call. But, of course, our ambassador is already working on that,” said Marcos.

The President’s cousin, Jose Manuel Romualdez, is Manila’s top envoy to Washington DC. Romualdez has been ambassador for over seven years — he was first appointed to the post by former president Rodrigo Duterte during Trump’s first term.

Under Marcos and outgoing US President Joe Biden, the bilateral relationship has grown by leaps and bounds. Austin has visited the Philippines four times, while State Secretary Antony Blinken has been to the Philippines thrice. Trump’s 2024 rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, has also been to the Philippines and is the highest-ranking American governent official to have visited Palawan, a province that faces the West Philippine Sea.

But if Trump’s picks in the top security, defense, and diplomatic posts are indications, the 47th President’s term is poised to be one that’ll be hawkish towards China. Will that mean good for PH-US ties and the region? – Rappler.com