SINGAPORE: The Philippines will incur “almost no expense” from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s attendance at the Singapore Grand Prix, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo Macaraig said Wednesday (Oct 7).
Macaraig said Marcos was invited to the Formula One event by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and would not have to pay for a ticket if he attends.
“That was an invitation from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. So, of course, we will incur almost no expense from that,” Macaraig told reporters at the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.
Macaraig said Marcos would not have to pay for a ticket but stressed that the President had yet to confirm whether he would attend the race.
The ambassador said he would attend the F1 event on a separate invitation and would likewise not have to pay for a ticket.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, meanwhile, said she could not say whether other expenses would be incurred should Marcos attend.
Castro defended Marcos’ possible attendance amid criticism, saying the President’s Singapore trip was focused on attracting investments for the Philippines.
“Don’t focus on whether the President will attend the F1 Grand Prix. Focus on what the President will do here for our country and our fellow Filipinos,” Castro said.
Castro said engagements outside formal meetings could also help build relationships with foreign leaders and businesspeople and lead to investment opportunities.
Marcos is in Singapore from Oct. 7 to 11 for a working visit, during which he is scheduled to attend the 24th Forbes Global CEO Conference and visit the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute.
At the Forbes conference, Marcos is expected to promote investment opportunities in digital technology and artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, energy and healthcare.
Ahead of the trip, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wong had personally invited Marcos to the Singapore Grand Prix. The DFA confirmed that Wong would host Marcos for dinner during the F1 event but did not confirm whether the President would watch the race.
Marcos has attended the Singapore Grand Prix during previous visits to the city-state.
In September 2022, months after assuming office, Marcos traveled to Singapore on what Malacañang later described as a “partly official, partly personal” trip and attended the F1 race upon the invitation of then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
He returned to Singapore in September 2023 for the Milken Institute’s Asia Summit and also watched the F1 finals during the trip.
The Palace has yet to confirm whether Marcos will attend this year’s race. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
