Duterte says Honeylet is his 'true love'

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday referred to his common-law partner, Honeylet Avanceña, as his true love.

"Pero siya na man gyuy akong true love, Honeylet (But she is really my true love, Honeylet)," Duterte said in a speech given in Davao City during the inauguration of the Gaisano Grand Citygate Mall.

Duterte went on to praise Honeylet's attributes: bright, simple but good in business.

"Out of everyone else that I know, she's the one that I will really believe in. Just like Gokongwei and the Gaisanos. They're bright. This woman is simply—she was just an OFW [overseas Filipino worker]. But she is good at... Because she's a valedictorian. That's true. Her daughter takes after her," he said in Bisaya.

Duterte said Honeylet did well in business. She started with one Mr. Donut store at the back of University of Mindanao before she went to the US to work as a nurse and save money.

"When she came home, she had saved up for capital. She franchised another one [donut shop] and then ventured into the meat business. The meat being sold here is hers. Besides, who would try to compete against the wife of the mayor or President? Ah now she's really rich," he said.

Duterte then advised "beautiful women" to start with a small capital if they want to make it in business.

"Now for the beautiful women there, if you want to... Just start with a small capital. But you will really find a way even if you're not valedictorian," he said.

Then he went on to kid Honeylet, and said, "Don't be jealous, Honeylet. We're already old."

"The beautiful women can come to me and they will see... 'O let's give this one a business because she seems to make Duterte happy.' But I'm already old. It's just big talk. 70 — 73 years. You can ask anyone who's 73, wala na 'yan. Wala if the wife is watching," he said. —KG, GMA News