Duterte drops by...

Duterte drops by Jollibee in HK, grants OFW’s wish

HONG KONG – President Duterte gave a round-trip ticket to an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) here whose ardent wish was to return to the Philippines to visit and check on her children.

The President met 44-yearold household worker Alma

Pardillo when he made a meal stop at a Jollibee branch in Whampoa, Hung Hom before proceeding to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in the Kow Loon District to meet with around 2,000 Filipinos Thursday evening.

According to Malacañang, Pardillo shed tears upon meeting the President and his family.

“During her conversation with the President, Pardillo shared that she badly wants to visit her family in the Philippines to personally check the condition of her son who is suffering from a serious lung ailment,” the Palace said in a statement.

She also hoped to celebrate the graduation of her two children — one finished a business administration degree last month and another one will complete an accounting technology degree by the end of April.

“President Duterte immediately granted Pardillo’s wish for round-trip tickets. The OFW said she was allowed by her employer to have a two-week vacation,” the Palace said.

Malacañang said President Duterte and his family were warmly greeted by the people inside and outside the popular Filipino fast food chain.

“The President personally placed their orders at the counter. While waiting for their meals, he granted selfie requests and chatted with Filipinos who were exultant to see him,” the Palace said.

“Before leaving, the President greeted the Filipinos waiting outside and told them, ‘Okay na tayo. Okay na ang bayan (We’re now okay. The country is okay now),’” it added.

The President dropped by the said branch with his partner Honeylet Avanceña, daughters Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Kitty, and his grandson, Stingray.

The President was also joined by Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his wife Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano.

Duterte was in Hong Kong following his participation in the Boao Forum for Asia 2018 in Hainan, China, earlier this week.

This was the second time the President visited Filipinos living and/or working in Hong Kong in less than a year. The first time was in May last year after his participation in the World Economic Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.