PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s common-law wife Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña will be welcoming and hosting the spouses of the Asean leaders who will be in Manila for the 30th Asean Summit, Asean National Organizing Committee and Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. said Monday.
Avanceña is expected to tour the spouses around the Metropolitan Museum on Saturday and then host the group for lunch.
“There will be a spouses’ program. I understand that they will be shown the Metropolitan Museum and will be hosted lunch by Madam Honeylet. She’s the official hostess,” Paynor said, adding that it was Duterte’s decision to have Avanceña assume the hosting job.
“She’s being ably assisted by other agencies including the NCCA [National Commission for Culture and the Arts], the Metropolitan Museum, the Internal House Affairs of Malacañang and the Social Secretary.”
This is not the first time that Avanceña will host a spouse of a head of government, having hosted the wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Akie Abe, during their visit to Davao in January.
“She can hold her own definitely,” Paynor added.
So far, at least six spouses of Asean leaders, including the wives of Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, have confirmed their attendance in the event.