Marcos surprised, impressed with caliber of Pinoy community in Lao PDR

VIENTIANE - President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was surprised to see many Filipinos in Lao PDR. 

During his meet and greet with the Filipino community here, the President recalled that he was told that a number of Filipinos are working in Lao PDR. 

“Ang katotohanan noong unang sinasabi, tinitingnan namin ‘yung schedule para sa pagpunta rito para sa ASEAN Summit… Lagi naman kami basta’t may biyahe, lagi namin nilalagyan ng FilCom,” Marcos said. 

“Pero sabi ko, siguro sa Laos, sa Vientiane wala namang Pilipino roon. Sabi nila… Nagulat ako sinabi, “Hindi, ang dami nating mga kababayan doon at ganito ang kanilang trabaho, ganito ang kanilang mga ginagawa,’” he added. 

Marcos said he was impressed with the profile and the caliber of the Filipino community in Lao PDR as he asked them to continue being ambassadors of goodwill. 

“By exercising your professions in the professional and expert way that you do, through your daily interactions with the locals, you have become valuable members of society. You make us all very, very proud,” Marcos said. 

According to the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, around 2,000 Filipinos are living and working here in Lao PDR.

Marcos also told Filipinos here that he is meeting with potential investors and businessmen to encourage them to invest in the Philippines so that the citizens will no longer leave the country.

“You can be assured that my administration will continue to work hard to sustain this upward trajectory,” he said.

“Ginagawa po namin ang lahat ng ito upang patuloy namin mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang bawat Pilipino. Nang sa gayon, ay hindi na kinakailangan ng sinuman na lumisan pa sa Pilipinas at makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa,'' he added.—LDF, GMA Integrated News