Kee Hua Chee Live!: PRESIDENT OF PHILIPPINES HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT BENIGNO SIMEON AQUINO III PAYS MALAYSIA A STATE VISIT FROM YESTERDAY THURSDAY 27 TILL 28 FEBRUARY FRIDAY NIGHT AS HE DEPARTS KUALA LUMPUR AROUND MIDNIGHT AFTER THE STATE BANQUET AT ISTANA NEGARA HOSTED BY THE KING OF MALAYSIA

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HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT BENIGNO SIMEON AQUINO III ARRIVED AT KLIA AROUND 3.15 PM AND REACHED HIS HOME IN MALAYSIA THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL KUALA LUMPUR AROUND 4.45 PM.

Princess Dr Becky Leogardo and I arrived at Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur around 3 pm to have tea at Mandarin Lounge. Princess Dr Becky Leogardo also invited Lillian and Errol Tan, Zeny and Albert Ladores and Richard Latsch Philips to join her since she is the most generous host. Tan Sri Othman Marican and Puan Sri Sylvia Othman also came to join her table since they had booked a room in Mandarin Oriental, so high class! This meant Puan Sri Sylvia Othman could change her outfit several times over the evening.

For some reason, all wore pearls. Princess Dr Becky Leogardo wore pearls from Elegance Club, Puan Sri Sylvia's pearls were from Schoefel Pearls and Datuk Tracy Ong while Lillian Tan's pearls were from Manila's Jewelmer. Only Zeny Ladores failed to wear a necklace for which we must blame her daughter Racquel who advised her against it for reasons unknown to everyone except Racquel, proving once again women's brains are beyond logic. It was a miracle she did not advise her mother to come meet the President of Philippines in faded, torn jeans and T-shirt.

There were lines of Filipinos and pinoys lining the street leading to Mandarin Oriental's porch and all the way inside along the red carpet till the lift.

The President of the Philippines arrived with an entourage of 57 including his Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Del Rosario, Minister of Finance Cesar Purisima, Minister of Trade Gregory Domingo, Minister of Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras, Presidential Adviser Teresita Deres, Mindanao Development Authority chairman Luwalhati Antonino as well as powerful business tycoons.

The 2-day State Visit will cost the Philippines Government some RM 700,000.

In Philippines like in USA, they call their Ministers 'Secretary' which sounds weird as my lowly secretary takes my orders, massages my neck, makes my tea and clears my dustbin! I always assumed as a kid a Trade Secretary means he is the secretary to the Minister of Trade whereas he is already the minister! But I am an Anglophile and prefer 'Minister'!

Malaysia is very important to the Philippines as our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak helped broker a deal involving the Bangsa Moro (Moro race) and there are some 700,000 Filipinos in Malaysia, mostly maids with half in Sabah alone.

President Aquino III was all smiles and spoke for nearly an hour in Mandarin Ballroom before 600 Filipinos but alas, he spoke in Tagalog! This meant he did not wish Malaysians to know what he was saying as maybe 1 Malaysian in the ballroom could speak Tagalog! Anyway I guess what he said when he mentioned "Malaysia Truly Asia" and "It's More Fun in the Philippines" as I bet the President must have commented on the slogans of Malaysia and Philippines!

However there was a boo-boo.

The signage on stage read "President of the Philipines" when it should be "President of the Philippines" as there are 3 Ps and not 2 Ps! I wonder if others saw this blunder but of course nothing escaped my eagle eyes! I suppose the one who made the backdrop will now be jailed for life for such an embarrassing mistake! But how come none from the Philippines Embassy saw this spelling mistake of their country when it was as plain as your nose on your face?

Michael Mantz flew in from The Hague, Holland to meet the President of the Philippines

The President of the Philippines arrived with an entourage of 57 and will cost RM 700,000

The bachelor President of the Philippines HE President Benigno S Aquino III

His Excellency Eduardo Malaya is Philippines ambassador to Malaysia and yes, his name is Malaya!

Philippines ambassador to Malaysia HE Eduardo Malaya received a rousing welcome too

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Del Rosario

Michael Mantz greeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Del Rosario

The President's entourage

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Michael Mantz

The Philippines Minister of Foreign Affairs chats with Michael Mantz

Albert del Rosario and Michael Mantz

The Foreign Affairs Minister looks so distinguished and aristocratic

Filipinos in barong Tagalog looking cool and spiffy

Princess Dr Becky Leogardo's guests

All men in Barong Tagalog though the best is worn by Kee Hua Chee

Marilyn and Kee Hua Chee

Kee Hua Chee holding the Philippines flag

Friends of the Philippines

Puan Seri Sylvia Marican and Princess Dr Becky Leogardo were asked to sit in front as they wrote big cheques

Elegant

Malaysian musicians

Elegant in traditional costumes

Nice

Check the spelling mistake!

Maria Theresa and Michael Mantz

The arrival of the President of the Philippines!

Mrs Malaya's brilliant yellow Maria Clara is so stunning and gorgeous!

Mrs Malaya certainly stood out on stage

All stood to face the Philippines flag as the national anthem was played

National anthem 'Lupang Hinirang'

All paying homage to the Philippines flag

Two heads?

His Excellency the Philippines ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya making his speech

Mrs Malaya, Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario and the President of the Philippines

Robert Baylocon, president of Federation of Filipino Associations of Malaysia

Justin Bersales Junior, president of FILCOM in Sarawak

Dr Jamil Cayamodin, president of Union of Muslim Filipinos in Malaysia

Puan Seri Sylvia Othman and Princess Dr Becky Leogardo presenting the mock cheque to the President of the Philuppines HE President Benigno Aquino III

Puan Seri Sylvia Othman donated RM 10,000 and Princess Dr Becky Leogardo gave RM 6,000

These 2 generous ladies contributed more than half the amount for victims of Typhoon Yolanda

The Filipino community raised RM 14,000 for victims of Typhoon Yolanda

Thanks all round

Taking leave

Maria Jazsmine and her singers sang 'Anak' by Freddie Aguilar

Listening intently

Claps for Maria Jaszmine

Well done!

The President and his ambassador

The highlight of the evening---the speech by the President of the Philippines in Mandarin Oriental! The President is an inspiring speaker and even made jokes since the audience laughed as he spoke entirely in Tagalog and not English!