Marcos at Formula 1 race presents opportunities for Philippines, says envoy

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President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s attendance at the Formula 1 race in Singapore offers opportunities for the Philippines that absent leaders will miss, the Philippine ambassador to Singapore said on Wednesday.

Ambassador Medardo Macaraig said Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Won had invited Marcos, and the latter won't have to pay for a ticket.

"Halos wala tayo gatsos diyan. Wala siyang babayaran na ticket or kung ano man yung sinasabi… ako rin imbitado ako pero wala rin akong babayaran,” Macaraig said in a press conference in Singapore.

(We spent nearly nothing there. He did not buy a ticket or whatever was being said… I was also invited, and I do not have to pay for anything.)

“Just simply being there already always presents opportunities. Mahirap na mawala tayo doon kasi matatalo tayo sa ibang nandoon," he added.

(It is hard not to be there; we will miss out on opportunities.)

The president is currently in Singapore for a working visit where he is also expected to discuss ASEAN chairship with Wong. Singapore is set to be the 2027 ASEAN Chair.

The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix events start on Oct. 9 and the main race is scheduled on Oct. 11.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that it was not Marcos’ attendance at the race that should garner attention, but the kind of work he will do in Singapore, especially since he will also attend the Forbes Global CEO Conference.

While Castro did not definitively confirm that Marcos would attend the Formula 1 race, she said that such events would still be important.

“Alam natin na minsan ang mga negosyante, nakakabuo ng magandang rapport, nakakabuo ng magandang pagkakaibigan sa paglalaro ng golf at doon minsan nabubuo ang magagandang kontrata so hindi ibig sabihin kung pupunta man at manonood ang pangulo sa imbitasyon ng gobyerno ng pamahalaan sa F1 Grand Prix, hindi nangahuhulugan na talikuran ang kanyang trabaho sa paghihikayat sa mga investor na mamumuhunan sa bansa,” Castro said.

(We know that sometimes, entrepreneurs make good rapport, good friendships during a game of golf and sometimes, that is there a good contract is formed, so if Marcos does go and attend and watch on behalf of the government’s invitation to the F1 Grand Prix, that does not mean that he is turning his back on his work of encouraging investors to come and invest in the country.)

Marcos has already attended at least two other Formula 1 Singapore races during his presidency. –NB, GMA News