Pres. Duterte grants grade-schooler’s greeting request

President Rodrigo Duterte saying hello to Andre (Screenshot from Christian Bong Go’s video)

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday took time to oblige to a Filipino 6th grader’s request for a greeting, as he shot a short video message saying a simple “hello” to the boy’s teacher and classmates.

In a handwritten letter dated Oct. 25, 11-year-old Andre Gabriel Custodio Esteban, who resides in Fresno, California, USA and student of the Fresno Adventist Academy, asked the Philippine leader for a video clip for a school report.

On Oct. 28, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go posted a 48-second clip showing the President saying “Hello,” to Mrs. Ricchiuti, Andre’s teacher, and giving the Pinoy child a heartwarming advice.

“Good day, I would like to say hello to Mrs. Ricchiuti, and the students in Fresno Adventist Academy, in California, USA, especially to you Andre,” Duterte said in the video.

“Andre, I received your letter request and I am most happy to oblige. I am sure that you will do a great report about our beloved country, the Philippines,” he added. “Continue being a good son and study well, and may God bless you and your family and all of us in this planet Earth.”

Andre, in his letter, explained that he will be presenting a Nationality Report on the Philippines on November 15.

“I am a proud Filipino and I really like you as our president and I wish to meet you someday,” he wrote. “I know that you are very busy because you are a very hard-working president… but can I ask you a special favor? Can you please send me a short video clip of you saying hello to my teacher, Mrs. Ricchiuti, my classmates, and I? Maraming maraming salamat po! (Many thanks to you, sir.)”