Obama arrives in Philippines for state visit

U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in the Philippines on Monday afternoon for a two-day state visit. Obama's plane, the Air Force One, touched down at 1:26 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City in the Philippine capital region of Metro Manila. He was welcomed by Philippine officials led by Vice President Jejomar Binay and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg. Obama boarded a helicopter and headed to Malacanang, the presidential palace, to attend the official arrival ceremony with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III. After the arrival ceremony and the guestbook signing, Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with Aquino. Later in the afternoon, the presidents of the U.S. and the Philippines will hold a joint press conference in Malacanang. In the evening, Obama will meet with the employees and family members of the U.S. embassy to the Philippines at the Sofitel Hotel also in Pasay City. After the "meet and greet" with embassy personnel, he will go back to Malacanang to attend the state dinner hosted by Aquino. The Philippines is the last leg of Obama's four-nation Asia trip which kicked off in Japan. He also visited South Korea and Malaysia.