MANILA, Philippines – McDonald’s or Jollibee?
Neither. Give him bibingka (rice cake) and maruya (banana fritter) instead.
President Duterte said he rarely eats fast food as he bared yesterday that he prefers native dishes.
“Frankly, I do not eat… Really, truly, seldom,” Duterte said in a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 when asked by a female Japanese journalist to choose between the two fast-food chains.
“But I stick to bibingka and maruya,” he added.
Japanese media outlets have been anticipating the visit of Duterte to Japan and many of them have tried to secure exclusive interviews with the Chief Executive.
During their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Laos last month, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Duterte that he was popular in Japan.
“Mr. President is quite a famous figure also in Japan and I’m very excited to see you in person,” Abe said through an interpreter after shaking hands with Duterte.
But Duterte’s antics and charisma are not the only things being monitored by the Japanese media. They are also interested in his foreign policy, which seems to be veering towards China.
Asked by the same Japanese journalist whether he loves Japan or China more, Duterte gave a solomonic answer: “Between China and Japan, I think I love the Philippines more.”
Duterte went on to compliment the journalist, who seemed nervous while she was asking her questions.
“Even as I take off today, this afternoon, just seeing you in my country asking question is the beginning of great expectations and joy,” he said.
“I go to Japan with full trust that we can understand each other and Japan will understand my position vis-à-vis the foreign policy that I want to implement. It’s just a question of a policy that is really, truly Filipino,” he added.