Duterte on leading Rizal Day: I never expected I’d be here

In his first Rizal Day commemoration as the country's chief executive, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he did not expect he would be part of such event.

While in a huddle with his former Professor Jose David Lapuz and Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. following the wreath laying ceremony for the 120th death anniversary of National Hero Jose Rizal on Friday, Duterte shared a bit of how he felt.

"I've never expected that one day—" Duterte said. 

"—we'll be here," Yasay finished his statement.

"When occasions like these would come about, we were just dreaming that we could be part of the event," he added.

"Yeah," the President said.

"Now, he's here," Yasay continued.

Duterte greets the members of the diplomatic corps pic.twitter.com/MkYx38R0In

— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) December 29, 2016

When he moved on to greet the members of the diplomatic corps including United States Ambassador Sung Kim and Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev, Duterte shook their hands and thanked them for their presence.

"Thank you sharing this moment with us," he said.

In an earlier conversation with the descendants of Rizal, Duterte told them that he wished he was also like them. 

Duterte tells Rizal descendants: I wish I could be one of you.
Rizal descendants reply: You are. pic.twitter.com/U640oBz00J

— Trisha Macas (@trishamacas) December 29, 2016

On December 13, Duterte told federalism advocates that Rizal himself believed in that form of government.

"It’s about time that we take a deep look at federalism. Iyan nga ang gusto ni Rizal eh. Akala ko ba naniniwala tayo kay Rizal?" he said. —KG, GMA News