"Definitely no selfies" with President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam said in a briefing with Filipino community leaders before his two-day state visit to Brunei starts on Sunday.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will also meet members of the Filipino community at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas on Sunday afternoon during his visit, added the embassy yesterday.

The president will call on His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam to convey the Philippines' deepest appreciation to the Brunei Government for the benevolent treatment it has accorded 23,000 Filipino guest workers in the country, it was reported.

Gates will open at 2.30pm for the president's hour-long meetand-greet gathering with overseas Filipino workers.

The meeting will start at 5.30pm on Sunday when he arrives at the stadium.

Attendees are refrained from bringing cameras, backpacks and big handbags, headgears, liquids (water, etc), children below 12 years old, pointed objects, banners and tarpaulin, according to the embassy.

Attendees have to bring their passport and valid identification, and to wear the organisation's shirts, or casual and decent attire, and no short pants, sandals and slippers, it added.

Filipinos attending thegathering with President Duterte were advised to inform the Philippine Overseas Labour Office at the embassy to fill out a general information sheet with a recent picture.

"The submission of forms confirms attendance to the event and will assist the embassy, Presidential Security Command and Brunei authorities in finalising and evaluating the plan, as well as related events," said the Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Meynardo LB Montealegre.

"The measure is in line with Brunei's Safety Order of 2016, which poses the requirement to venues that will be held for a gathering of 200 persons or more," he explained.

The Indoor Stadium venue can accommodate 4,000 to 5,000 people and was considered due to the number of attendees who have registered with the embassy, said Edel Bartholomew, President of the Filipino Association in Brunei.

Although cameras are discouraged, "photo opportunities (with President Détente) will be made fair to everybody", said Bartholomew, "like during the time of President Aquino (state visit to Brunei)".

She added that the Filipino community has "huge expectations" on President Duterte's first visit to the Sultanate.

"It is only in Brunei, where we can meet our presidents up close and personal," said Naima R Basher, President of the Muslims Overseas Workers in Brunei under the umbrella of the Filipino Association in Brunei.

"I have attended President Arroyo's, President Ramos' and President Aquino's official visits" to Brunei, she added.

The Indoor Stadium will be the biggest venue for a Filipino gathering with a Philippine president so far.

Prior to this, President Benigno C Aquino III met Filipino guest workers at The Rizqun International Hotel ballroom, Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Joseph Estrada and Corazon C Aquino met their countrymen at the International Convention Centre.

President Fidel V Ramos met Filipinos at Pusat Belia (Youth Centre) in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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