MANILA, Philippines - Netizens praised the efforts of Japan's First Lady Akie Abe to hold a low-key visit to the Payatas dumpsite in Quezon City on November 18.
It's heartwarming to see how the First Lady of Japan finds time to visit Payatas I hope we can do the same as fellow Filipinos... Hmm
— Sophia (@sowpia) November 18, 2015
admirable first lady of japan went to payatas, quezon city a poor section in the metropolis to visit the japan project in that area
— koko ningning (@pacutegirl) November 18, 2015
Hake Abe visits Payatas "Buti pa po yung taga Japan nabisita kami. Sana naman po yung presidente ng Pilipinas mabisita din kami." Kalungkot
— ENFJ (@nakakaVIVI) November 18, 2015
'Yung pinuntahan ng First Lady ng Japan sa Payatas, dapat 'yung mga ganung lugar din 'yung pinuntahan ng ibang delegates. #APEC2015
— Daryl Gaviola (@DarylG7) November 19, 2015
Akie Abe, who accompanied her husband, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the summit in Manila, took a break from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) spotlight, as she visited the Likha Pangkabuhayan Inc. shop with Yuko Ishikawa, wife of Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawato.
During her three to four-hour visit, Akie Abe spent time with the beneficiaries of the Salt Payatas Philippines Inc. (SPPI), a non-government organization that has been helping the livelihood of the women in the area through stitching under Likha Pangkabuhayan Inc.
The first lady also laid a bouquet of white flowers in memory of the scavengers who died in an avalanche of trash in the area on 2000.
The NGO, through their Facebook page, shared some photos of Abe's visit:
Posted by ???????????? on Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Posted by ???????????? on Wednesday, November 18, 2015