Pinoy boy Andre thanks Duterte for making video message for him

The 11-year-old Andre Esteban thanked Rodrigo Duterte on after the President granted his handwritten letter request asking the nation's leader to "say hello" to him, to his classmates and to his teacher in a school in California, USA.

A GMA News report on Sunday said that Esteban, a 6th Grade student of Fresno Adventist Academy, did not expect that the President would fulfill his "special favor," for his "nationality report," about the Philippines.

Esteban said that he "idolizes" the President and admires his campaign against illegal drugs. He also said that he wishes to meet Duterte once he comes home to the Philippines.

"I will show it (video) to my class in my nationality report...I like his drug campaign and I want my country to be drug free," Esteban said.

The boy's mother, Almyra Grace Custodio, who had posted her son's letter on a Facebook page, said that Esteban was overwhelmed by the turn of events as the President "went above and beyond" for a supposed "very simple social study project."

"Mahal na mahal niya ang Presidente kaya nakakatuwa po. Napaka-pinoy talaga ng anak ko na 'yan, sa puso at sa isip. Updated siya sa mga pangyayari sa Pilipinas," Custodio said in a phone patch interview.

In a 48-second video clip posted by Special Assistant to the President Secretary Christopher "Bong" Go, Duterte said he had received Esteban's handwritten letter of request.

"Good day. I would like to say hello to Mrs. Richiutti and his students in Fresno Adventist Academy in California, USA, especially to you, Andre Esteban. Andre, I received your letter request, and I am most happy to oblige," he said.

Duterte also expressed confidence that Esteban would do great in his "nationality report," a school project.

"I am sure that you will do [a] great report about our beloved country, the Philippines. Continue being a good son and study well and may God bless you and your family and all of us in this planet earth," the president said. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/LBG, GMA News