WARM WELCOME. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is warmly welcomed by overseas Filipino workers at Fairmont Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sunday (Sept. 4, 2022). On his first state visit, Marcos is expected to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to discuss the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Indonesia and the changing global geopolitical environment. (Photo courtesy of BBM Facebook page)
MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was “warmly” received by Filipinos in Indonesia, a Palace official said Monday.
In a Facebook live, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles shared how much fun the President had on Sunday during his meeting with around 500 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at Fairmont Hotel in Jakarta.
Marcos was greeted with cheers and applause by the Filipino community in Indonesia, many of them wanting to approach him to shake his hand or take photos.
Some supporters even screamed, “We love you, BBM!”, while he was delivering his speech, which elicited laughter on the President’s part.
“Grabe ang init ng pagtanggap nila sa amin… Parang nakaka-miss talaga ang makipagkita at makipag-usap sa mga kapwa Pilipino na matagal nang 'di nakauwi. So ang saya-saya kagabi (Their warm welcome was great… I really missed meeting and talking with fellow Filipinos who have not had a chance to come home for a long time. It was so much fun yesterday),” Cruz-Angeles said.
She also assured Filipinos of the Marcos administration’s commitment to make the Philippines more conducive for tourism and investment and create more jobs for the economy.
“Lahat ng ginagawa ng ating Pangulo ay tungo sa kanyang vision para buksan at muling maging masigla ang ating ekonomiya (Everything our President is doing is towards his vision to open and reenergize our economy),” she added.
Meanwhile, Cruz-Angeles reminded the public to continue adhering to minimum public health standards and complete their primary Covid-19 vaccine doses and booster shots.
“I hope everybody is well, mag-iingat po ang lahat. Huwag kakalimutan may Covid pa rin po. Huwag pong kakalimutan ang social distancing at kung maaari tapusin po natin ang buong cycle natin ng pagbabakuna at saka pag booster (Please be careful. Don’t forget Covid is still here. Don’t forget to observe social distancing and complete the cycle of vaccines and boosters),” she said.
Cruz-Angeles is among the members of the Marcos delegation currently in Indonesia for a three-day state visit upon the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Marcos is expected to meet with Widodo for the first time to discuss the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Indonesia and the changing global geopolitical environment.
He will also be witnessing the signing of several agreements between the two countries covering important areas of cooperation such as defense and security, the creative economy and culture. (PNA)
