(UPDATED — 1:58 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines — Are they the best of buddies?
Even before their bilaterial meeting late Monday morning, U.S. President Donald Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte seemed to have already started the ball rolling.
At the start of the 31st Asean Summit Monday morning, Trump and Duterte were seen engaging in a long talk before they posed together for a picture. Also, Trump conversed with Duterte’s common-law wife Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña.
Although audio was unavailable to hear what the two leaders exactly discussed about, it was apparent that they had a pleasant communication as both were seen always smiling while they were talking.
After meeting with Duterte on the sidelines of the summit, Trump spoke of the “great relationship” he had with his counterpart.
From the gala dinner on Sunday to the Asean opening ceremony Monday morning, Duterte and Trump were always seating beside each other.
Last night, during the Asean gala dinner at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Duterte was even egged on by Trump to sing, to which the Philippine leader gladly obliged by performing the Tagalog song “Ikaw” with OPM legend Pilita Corrales.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I sang uninvited, a duet with Miss Pilita Corrales upon the orders of the commander in chief of the United States,” Duterte said after his performance. –with reports from Reuters
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