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Breakfast at Duterte's as Abe samples Philippine leader's simple style

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Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/01/13/bomb-1-011317.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go strikes a pose as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talks to President Rodrigo Duterte inside the latter&#x27;s home. <cite>Photo courtesy of Bong Go</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe feasted on bean soup and rice cakes at the humble home of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, and sampled the down-to-earth living of a volatile new friend who is shaking up the status quo in Asia.</p><p>With the backdrop of family photos, cups hanging from kitchen cabinets and clusters of used beer and wine bottles, Abe ate Duterte&#x27;s favourite breakfast in Davao City and was given a tour of his creaky, two-storey house, including a bedroom featuring the mosquito net he sleeps under on most weekends.</p><p>Duterte&#x27;s simple living is part of the man-of-the-people style that endeared him to the millions of Filipino voters who in May favored an abrasive city mayor over wealthy politicians on a largely Manila-centric ballot.</p><p>Abe&#x27;s visit comes as the Philippines edges closer to becoming a geostrategic battleground, with China offering billions in loans and investments, as Duterte opts to befriend Beijing and avoid challenging its maritime claims while ramping up hostility towards historic ally Washington.</p><p>While Japan&#x27;s allies in the West ponder how to deal with the hot-headed new leader, Abe has formed a close bond with Duterte during the four times they have met.</p><p>He is the first head of state to visit Duterte and arrived on Thursday offering a 1 trillion yen ($8.77 billion) aid and investment package aimed at boosting the flagging infrastructure of one of the world&#x27;s fastest growing economies, in which Japan is a top investor, donor and trade partner.</p><p>The two leaders, both dressed in short-sleeve shirts, did not discuss business on Friday and were photographed mostly eating local delicacies.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/01/13/bomb-2-011317.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">President Rodrigo Duterte tours Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe around his house, located on the outskirts of this southern city where he served as mayor for two decades. <cite>Photo courtesy of Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Duterte&#x27;s top aide, Christopher &quot;Bong&quot; Go posted images of their private breakfast meeting on his Facebook page.</p><p>&quot;We also showed him how the President enjoys the comfort of his own bed, including his old and favorite mosquito net,&quot; Go posted.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/01/13/bomb-3-011317.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">President Rodrigo Duterte shows Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe his bed in Davao City. <cite>Photo courtesy of Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Abe also became the owner of a Philippine eagle, named &quot;Sakura&quot;, which is being treated at a local rehabilitation centre after being shot and wounded by hunters.</p><p>He didn&#x27;t get to meet Sakura personally, but was given a stuffed eagle toy instead, bearing a medallion engraved with &quot;Sakura is adopted by Mr. Shinzo Abe&quot;.</p>

<p>MANILA - Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe feasted on bean soup and rice cakes at the humble home of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, and sampled the down-to-earth living of a volatile new friend who is shaking up the status quo in Asia.</p>

MANILA - Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe feasted on bean soup and rice cakes at the humble home of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, and sampled the down-to-earth living of a volatile new friend who is shaking up the status quo in Asia.