Philippine President Duterte serenades Trump at ASEAN gala

Duterte joins renowned Filipino pop singer Pilita Corrales to welcome the US President to the ASEAN summit in a highly unusual fashion.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte performs the hit Philippine song "Ikaw" with pop singer Pilita Corrales.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte performs the hit Philippine song "Ikaw" with pop singer Pilita Corrales. Source: Facebook

Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte has serenaded US President Donald Trump with a song at the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit dinner.

Mr Duterte said he performed the hit Philippine song "Ikaw" with pop singer Pilita Corrales on the US president's request.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I sang an invited duet with Ms Pilita Corrales upon the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the United States," Duterte said after performing the duet.

Ms Corrales, dubbed "Asia's Queen of Songs", is a singer, actress and television presenter and is known for her signature song, "A Million Thanks To You."
Mr Duterte was hosting leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region during an extravagant gala dinner in the Philippines' capital of Manila.

Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations - China, Russia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand - arrived one by one for a glitzy gala dinner where they were entertained by singers and dancers.

Speaking at the beginning of the dinner, Duterte set the tone ahead of the two-day summit.

"We have to be friends, the other hotheads would like us to confront China and the rest of the world on so many issues," he said.

"The South China Sea is better left untouched, nobody can afford to go to war. It can ill-afford a violent confrontation."
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during the gala dinner marking ASEAN's 50th anniversary in Manila, Philippines.
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, talks with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during the gala dinner marking ASEAN's 50th anniversary in the Philippines. Source: AAP
- With AAP

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By Riley Morgan

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Philippine President Duterte serenades Trump at ASEAN gala | SBS News