From the Business Forum, we were ushered straight to the Beijing International Convention Center behind the Beijing Hotel. It was raining so my smart idea of bringing my flat walking shoes turned out to be a great idea. I was too scared to slip and fall because of wet floor, wet pavements, slippery bus steps.
Security check
Presidential Table. Actually, Duterte and his cabinet members, VIPS were having dinner at the state banquet. We’re not included there. Ordinary mortals like us rarely get to be invited to state banquets.
I’ve seen people taking photos in front of the stage.
Honorary Consul of Gambia, Agnes Huibonhoa (far right)
Sige ako rin.
Come closer.
This plate was for Sec. Pantaleon Alvarez.
And this was for me.
No lunch, no snacks, I was raring to binge.
Chinese food menu looks better if written in Chinese characters para more authentic.
Basta gutom, lahat masarap. Abalone soup
Only a pro can pick up a peanut with chopsticks.
Antok na
When the president and his entourage arrived, he went straight to the podium.
Duterte is a super star. Everyone wanted to have a photo of him and with him. Of course.
Ang sabi umupo ang lahat. Take your seats. Eto either mga pasaway or mga bingi.
Pres. Duterte’s speech in front of the Filipino community and his speech at the business forum were similar in style and substance to his speech here at the PCCI sponsored dinner. Mukhang ganado pa sya. Bitin pa sa lagay na yun, pagdating na pagdating, binanatan na naman ang mga kano. Malalim ang hugot! My seatmate is a family friend of Duterte and he is from Davao. I told him, mahilig pa lang magkwento si Presidente. Ikinuwento na naman ang mga inis nya sa mga puti. Pangatlong beses ko ng narinig, Kung babae si presidente, iisipin ko napaglilihian ang mga Americano.
I asked Rey Oben bakit ganun ang mga salita ni Duterte, parang na-trauma ako. He said sya daw sanay na, matagal na daw syang sanay. Ako gutom na gutom, walang laman ang sikmura kaya siguro nabalis ako. Tila hinahangin ang tyan ko.
After hearing several putang-ina, I stopped listening and instead I focused on my eating. Ay busog na busog ako. Inulit-ulit rin nya yung favorite nya na pang Clint Eastwood na “I WILL KILL YOU”.
Parang na kornihan na ako sa mga naririnig ko kaya I just looked at the food in front of me.
Aba fried duck, this must be good.
“I WILL EAT YOU!”
