The best known Filipino at the moment is Manny Pacquiao and he has better popularity numbers than Obama/Soetoro has ever had. The nation loves him. My wife is a fan.
If Obama/Soetoro thinks a boxer is all there is to the Philippines then perhaps it is a gaffe.
My in laws are Filipinos and yes, Pacquiao is the king. Believe it or not, I live 5 minutes away from Freddy Roach’s Hollywood Gym here in Hollywood and whenever I pass by there before one Manny’s fights, the entire intersection is clogged with cars heading to that really small strip just to see pacquiao train. Unreal.