Four years ago, I had the rare privilege and good fortune of meeting and shaking hands with one of the world’s most powerful leaders, Vladimir Putin of Russia.
It was during a side meeting between President Putin and President Rodrigo Duterte during the Asia Pacific Economic Conference in Danang, Vietnam that I saw him up close.
Walang ere si President Putin at ready na nakipagkamay sa mga Philippine Cabinet Secretaries na kasama ni Pangulong Duterte.
Each one of us approached him and asked if we could have a picture with him, requests which he readily granted.
Iba ang aura ng mamang ito. He exuded confidence and was sure of himself.
At sa pananalita ng mga Batangueño, “barakong-barako”.
As a poor boy who grew up in the farm, meeting a man who, by merely pushing the nuclear button, could melt the world was a memorable moment for me.
Talagang nagtaka ako kung bakit parang napaka-simpleng tao in spite of his immense power and popularity.
Later on, I read an article which revealed that President Putin, who was an officer of the KGB, actually worked as taxi driver during the difficult times of Russia.
Dumanas din sya ng hirap noong bumagsak at nagkawatak-watak ang Soviet Union.
Nagmaneho ng taxi para may extrang kita para sa pamilya.
Kaya pala napaka-humble at deretsong kausap.
Galing din pala sya sa baba kaya alam nya magpakumbaba.
#MeetingLeadersOfTheWorld!
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