"You are the light of my world — a half of this heart is mine” were just some of the lyrics to the classic Filipino love song.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte sang a popular Filipino love song “on the orders of Donald Trump” at a Manila gala attended by leaders across Asia over the weekend.
Titled “Ikaw,” meaning “You” in Tagalog, Duterte got on stage at the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to sing the words “You are the light of my world — a half of this heart is mine,” in a duet with local pop star Pilita Corrales.
Duterte later said he serenaded the audience of 19 world leaders “upon the orders of the commander-in-chief of the United States.”
Trump appears to have a much warmer relationship with Duterte than the United States has had with the president in the past.
Human Rights Watch has previously criticized Duterte for authorizing thousands of extrajudicial killings of drug users and dealers in his war on drugs in the Philippines. He is also criticized for his stance on indigenous peoples, HIV/AIDS and child labor.
Duterte famously responded to criticism by President Barack Obama last year by telling Trump's predecessor to “go to hell” and vowing to “break up” with the United States.
During the summit, Trump reportedly avoided questions about human rights abuses and spoke to the “great relationship” he has with Duterte.
