Duterte, Russian leaders to chart future direction of bilateral relations
DAVAO CITY/ MOSCOW – President Duterte on Monday said Russia will no longer be at “margins of the Philippine” diplomacy as he and Russian leaders are set to chart the future direction of the Philippines-Russia bilateral relations, most especially in regional and international cooperation.
He stressed this as he pointed out that overdependence on traditional partnerships limits the Philippines’ “room to maneuver in a very dynamic international arena.”
“This is a strategic oversight that has led to many missed opportunities for our country. I am determined to correct this,” he said in his departure message at the F. Bangoy International Airport Monday.
President Duterte and his entourage were expected to receive a red carpet welcome from senior Russian Federation officials at 10:30 p.m. today
President Duterte is set to flaunt Filipino made products that he will be wearing during his official visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia this week.
“I’m wearing a truly Filipino product. It’s called Ibarra, it’s assembled in the Philippines. It’s an elegant one,” he said, referring to the black-leather watch he was wearing.
“[It is] very nice and I am going to wear it proudly as a Philippine product,” he said during his departure speech in Davao City Monday afternoon.
According to Duterte, a designer of the watch asked him to demonstrate the watch and only told him to return it or pay for it if he likes it.
“He sent me and said, ‘I will not give it to you because it will be graft and corruption. Just use it and if it is worth your while and durable, just pay for it’,” he shared.
An Ibarra, named after the iconic protagonist from Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel “Noli me Tangere,” ranges from 18,495 to 116,495 based on the brand’s website.
“It’s very elegant. Of course it’s not solid gold nothing of the sort, it’s goldplated, but very elegant,” he said.
Duterte also urged every government official to wear Filipino products, including their footwear.
“So everybody in government should be wearing Filipino [products], including the shoes. I’m wearing mine –Marikina,” he said.
“If we do not promote our products, who will? Eh, ’di tayo na mismo (We should do it ourselves),” he added.
According to Duterte, he’d also like to see members of the government forces to be wearing footwear made in the country’s shoe capital.
“I’d like to see the generals wearing the boots of Marikina. They’re good ones, ah. Totoo (Really),” he expressed.
“Someday, we will order all our requirements na sapatos dito sa (of shoes from) Marikina. All we have to do is to fund them, buy them the machines and they can make good shoes,” he said.
Duterte had previously received a shoe from a 68-year-old Marikina shoemaker as a gift. This is also the same shoe he wore during his working lunch with US Secretary of State John Kerry in July, 2016.
Duterte, a confessed shoe addict, praised the shoemaker, saying nothing beats the skills of the Filipino.
“Ang Filipino-made sa craftsmanship, number one, even sa furniture. Walang makatalo sa Filipino (Filipino made is number one inn craftsmanship, even in furniture. Nothing beats the Filipino),” he said.