WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) – While Donald Trump’s transition team is busy vetting the potential members of the new administration’s Cabinet, the president-elect has announced that his first state visit as president would be to the Philippines.  It is scheduled on January 28-30, 2017, right after his inauguration.

He is scheduled to visit with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte who has often been referred to by the media as the Donald Trump of the Philippines.

Trump said, “I can’t wait to personally meet Duterte.  I will be seeking his advice on how best to deal with critics and non-supporters while  getting away with controversial rhetoric and cuss phrases aimed at powerful individuals like Pope Francis and Barack Obama.”

Included in the agenda of the Trump-Duterte meeting is the issue of China.  During his campaign, Trump has consistently criticized China on unfair trade and other issues  (despite the fact that his “Make America Great Again” hats were made in China.) Duterte, on the other hand, has announced to the world that the Philippines was aligning itself with China, a sore point that the United States is not happy about.”

While in Manila, Trump will be a special guest of the Miss Universe Pageant which will be held on January 29 (January 30 in the Philippines.) Trump used to own the pageant, and he says he misses it a lot.