With so much of the Russian column already written, I therefore opted to go with my piece on the Russian enigma today – and set aside more urgent concerns about the emergency in Mindanao. The Filipino habit of calculating in dollars and pesos the fruits of a presidential state visit reflects badly on our national culture and our diplomacy. For the Russia visit, every Cabinet member who can invent an excuse for going to Moscow has been accredited to go. The emergency curtailment of the Russia visit provides a rare opportunity to redesign the state visit to Russia with due consideration of economy and good sense. President Duterte is seeking close ties with two major powers that have contrasting approaches to modernization and development.

Source: Manila Times May 24, 2017 16:18 UTC