By Joyce Pangco Pa?ares

PRESIDENT Arroyo will go to Washington to attend the 57th National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday (Friday Manila time), where she will meet with US President Barack Obama and other invited world leaders.

Mrs. Arroyo will proceed to Washington from her week-long trip to Europe and the Middle East, a member of the presidential delegation who asked not to be named said in a telephone interview from Milan.

?She is one of the chosen world leaders who were invited to attend the annual event. US President Obama will speak during the event,? the official said.

The President was supposed to return to Manila on Thursday after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, meeting with the Filipino community in Milan, Italy, and holding talks with potential investors in Bahrain.

With her unscheduled trip to Washington, Mrs. Arroyo would be back in the country on Saturday, the source said.

The annual breakfast prayer, which has been attended by all sitting US presidents annually since the Eisenhower administration, is expected to draw about 4,000 guests to the Capital Hilton?s ballroom this week.

In addition to the presidential address, the National Prayer Breakfast features scripture reading, prayers, and a keynote speaker, all selected by a bipartisan congressional committee.

Among those invited to the event are Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolay Tsonev.

The event, held on the first Thursday of February each year, was founded by former US Senator Frank Carlson.

The event is designed as a forum for political, social and business leaders of the world to assemble together and build relationships. Members of the US Congress, US Cabinet, and the diplomatic corps in Washington are typically invited to participate.

Only six other heads of state were invited to last year?s meeting, which was attended by then US President George Bush.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde declined to give details on the Washington trip, but confirmed that the Office of the President received an invitation from members of the US Congress.

?We cannot give details yet. The invitation was received on Jan. 30, the same day the President left for Davos,? he said.

We have to confirm first whether one, the President will actually go to the United States, and two, what the event is.?