The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Friday said that Filipinos in South Korea were “honored” to see Vice President Sara Duterte as the latter said it was the first time for them to be visited by the second highest Philippine government official.
“The OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), whom Duterte met, felt ‘honored’ since it is the first time that a Vice President made time to visit them,” Duterte’s office said in a statement.

The OVP also quoted an OFW’s remark: “Sobrang happy namin kasi every event namin, kami lang talaga. Kaya nung nag sabi na bibisitahin kami ni VP, feeling namin na worth it lahat ng efforts namin noong last election dito sa South Korea (We were very happy because in our events, we were all alone. So when we were told that Duterte would visit us, we felt that all our efforts here in South Korea during the last election were worthy).”
Duterte’s office also quoted another OFW, 39-year-old “Jackie,” who expressed her support for the Marcos administration and the Duterte vice presidency.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay Ma’am Sara dahil sa kabila ng busy schedule niya, binigyan niya kami ng oras para ma-meet (We thank Ma'am Sara because despite her busy schedule, she made time to meet us),” she said.
Duterte was in South Korea to serve as a keynote speaker at the Global Education and Innovation Summit (GEIS).
She concluded her trip to Seoul with a meeting with the Filipino community whose members she acknowledged for sacrifices for their families.
Duterte said she salutes them for their “sacrifices and hard work.”
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa inyo dahil naitataas niyo ang bandera ng Pilipinas sa ibang bansa. And it makes us proud na naririnig namin sa mga dayuhan ang appreciation nila sa mga trabaho ninyo (I thank your for raising the Philippine flag abroad. And it makes us proud that we hear from foreigners their appreciation of your job),” Duterte said.
She said that Filipinos working in South Korea strengthen the relationship, cooperation and good relations between the Philippines and the East Asian nation.
During her stay, Duterte also met with Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister His Excellency Ju-ho Lee and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo where they discussed bilateral ties between the Philippines and South Korea.