Duterte watches concert of Sergio Mendes

CAMPAIGN BREAK President Duterte shakes hands with Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes after the latter’s concert at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City on Feb. 14.—MALACAÑANG PHOTO

President Duterte and some of his Cabinet members took time off to unwind on Valentine’s Day by watching the concert of Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes on Thursday night at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City.

The President himself told reporters that his partner, Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña, was there waiting for him and that they would go to the concert together.

“I’m greeting my first wife, Elizabeth, Happy Valentine’s. Honeylet, Happy Valentine’s. To my daughter Sara, Veronica, Happy Valentine’s. To all the women involved in my life…” he said in an interview.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte arrived late for the concert, having come straight from the PDP-Laban proclamation rally in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.

Almost over

“He arrived very late. I think he only spent more than 20 minutes remaining since the concert was almost over. But I think he enjoyed it, I looked at him and saw him smiling,” Panelo told a press briefing.

He added: “Apparently, Sergio didn’t know that he had a President [in the audience].”

Panelo said that when Mr. Duterte arrived, Mendes had his back to the audience and was talking to the musicians, and was unable to see the President walk in.

“So when the President arrived with his aides and the media, he (Mendes) didn’t see that. And he was just surprised that when the President stood up to say goodbye, the cameras and everyone were looking at him. Nobody told him (Mendes),” Panelo said.

Also in the concert were Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana; Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno; Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles;

Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino; Public Works Secretary Mark Villar; Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar; and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, with their respective spouses.

Mendes is known for his piano hits such as “One Night Samba,” “Bridges,” “Never Gonna Let You Go,” “Goin’ Out of My Head,” “Fool on the Hill,” “Mas Que Nada,” “Like a Lover,” and “The Look of Love.”