MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – There were only twenty world leaders  who showed up at the welcome rites for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit Meeting Wednesday afternoon. There should have been  twenty one. Missing was U.S. President Barack Obama.

In a statement explaining Obama’s absence, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Manila said that a schedule conflict prevented the president from attending the opening rites.

The statement said Obama didn’t want to miss seeing the world-famous sunset at Manila Bay, so he stayed in his hotel watching from the balcony (see photo).

”He misses his home state of Hawaii and the Manila Bay sunset reminded him of the equally stunning senset of his native islands,” the statement added.

Well, even presidents are entilted to be homesick.