President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has gifted his Malaysian counterpart Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim a copy of the country's national hero Dr. Jose Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere" as a way of thanking him for visiting the country.
According to the Palace, Marcos and Anwar held a tete-a-tete as well as the exchange of gifts after their bilateral meeting on Wednesday.
"Yesterday's meeting with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was a noteworthy occasion for sharing ideas and perspectives on areas of mutual interest. It was further solidified by our exchange of gifts that showcased the depth of our friendship," Marcos said in a Facebook post.
In the said post, the President, accompanied by his wife First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, is seen handing over one of Dr. Jose Rizal’s greatest literary works, Noli Me Tangere (Tercera Edition, 1909), to the Prime Minister.
The Malaysian Prime Minister said he considers Dr. Jose Rizal as a “precursor to Asian renaissance”, and deeply appreciates the President’s gesture in giving a very invaluable gift.
Meanwhile, Dr. Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail, the Prime Minister’s spouse, received a Waling-Waling brass card holder, a decorative ornament “that combines the beauty of the Waling-Waling with the durability and attractiveness of brass crafted by Cebuano artisans."
The Palace did not mention what the Malaysian PM gave to Marcos.
Anwar visited the country last March 1 and 2 for the first time since he was sworn in as Malaysia's 10th prime minister in November 2022.
