VP Duterte thanks Pinoys' presence in Malaysia
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte expressed her gratitude to the Filipino community in Malaysia for their warm welcome and the opportunity to hear their stories.
Vice President Sara Duterte meets the members of the Filipino community during her official visit in Malaysia. (Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Feb. 17, the official shared about her experience of meeting Filipinos living and working in Malaysia.
“Ikinagagalak kong sila ay ating nakahalubilo, nakamusta, at nakakwentuhan (I am happy to spend time with them, greet them, and exchange stories with them),” she wrote as she posted some photos of the meeting where she was seen taking a selfie with the Filipinos.
“Nakakatuwa pong malaman ang mga kwento ng kanilang mga tagumpay at kaligayahan. Nakakataba rin po ng puso na marinig ang ganitong kwento at malaman na masaya sila kahit malayo man sila sa bayang sinilangan (I’m happy to hear about their stories of success and happiness. It’s also heartening to hear these kinds of stories and know they are happy despite being far from their motherland),” she added.
Duterte was in Malaysia recently in her capacity as Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) president.
However, the Vice President also recognized the longing in them to be with their families and friends in the Philippines.
“Gayunpaman, masaya po akong malaman na ang aking presensya sa pakikipagkita sa kanila ay nakatulong upang maibsan ang kanilang kasabikan sa ating bansa (Despite that, I am happy to know that my presence helped relieve their longing for our country),” she said.
“Iba nga ang pakiramdam na makita at makasama ang kapwa Pilipino sa bansang dayuhan (It’s really a different feeling to see and be with your fellow Filipino in a foreign land),” the official wrote.