Illustration by Rene Elevera
From the time he stepped off his plane at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark Field last Sunday, the Canadian prime minister drew crowds like a rock star.
In a master stroke at PR, he stopped by a popular fast food chain while on the road to Manila for the Asean gala dinner and ordered Chickenjoy with rice and Strawberry Tea Float, endearing himself more to his Filipino fans.
To top it all, Mr. Trudeau did what other leaders failed to do at their bilateral meeting with President Duterte: He aired Canada’s concerns over human rights and extrajudicial killings, and called for respect for the rule of law.
The Philippine leader didn’t take too kindly to Mr. Trudeau’s comments, saying it’s a “personal and official insult.”
The two also discussed the long festering garbage shipment issue.