Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday, Sept. 21, received seven ambassadors as they made their courtesy calls to her at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in Mandaluyong City.
Duterte is the government caretaker while President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is in the United States for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko was the first to arrive, with some photos released by the OVP showing him and Duterte discussing matters.
New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell also met with Duterte. He was seen gifting her with New Zealand’s national rugby team All Blacks jersey, which was signed by all players.
VP Sara Duterte receives a New Zealand national rugby team All Blacks jersey from Ambassador Peter Kell. (OVP)
Ambassadors Tull Traisorat of Thailand and Luc Veron of the European Union also paid visits to Duterte.
In a Twitter post, Veron said Duterte spoke about her plans for the vice presidency and “elevating the quality of (Philippine) education” during their meeting.
“(New Zealand) is ready to share experience & cooperate, also on climate change, green economy and support to Mindanao,” he said.
The Vice President gave a commemorative coin with her’s and Marcos’ image to all envoys, who also signed the OVP’s guestbook.
Traisorat was photographed signing the guestbook.
“Thank you very much, Your Honorable, for your time and support. We will work closely to enhance cooperation and relations of Thailand and the Philippines to a higher level in the context of 75th anniversary of bilateral (relations),” he wrote.
In a Facebook post, Duterte shared she and Traisorat discussed Thailand’s tourism program, among which is the planned expansion of the Dusit Thani Hotels and Resorts in the Philippines.
“He also expressed his gratitude for the active participation of the Philippines in the ASEAN. According to him, he wholeheartedly supports the digitalization of education in the Philippines,” she said in Filipino.
Three more ambassadors from the United States, Qatar, and India also paid a courtesy call on Duterte on Wednesday afternoon at her Mandaluyong office.
These envoys were US Amb. MaryKay Carlson, India Amb. Shambhu Kumaran, and Qatar Amb. Ali Ibrahim Al-Malki.