According to the Facebook account of Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, he was given the highest national order of diplomatic merit by President Rodrigo Duterte of The Philippines. In return, he will be giving Duterte the honorific title of Datuk.
https://www.facebook.com/officialsultanibrahim/posts/1258662624300428
During a ceremony entitled “The Order of Sikatuna” at the Malacañang Palace, the Sultan was given the honor, as part of his visit to the archipelago, at the personal behest of the President.
In return, the Johor ruler gave Duterte the Darjah Sultan Ibrahim Johor Yang Amat Disanjungi Pangkat Pertama Dato’ Sri Mulia Sultan Ibrahim Johor”, or SMIJ award. Which makes Duterte a Datuk, y’all.
Datuk, is an honorific title that can be bestowed upon both locals and foreigners by state Sultans. It can be loosely translated as being the equivalent of “Sir” among Commonwealth nations.
Both the Sultan and Duterte had a one-hour meeting behind closed doors, with the Sultan signing the official visitor’s book upon arrival.
Sultan Ibrahim was also gifted a hand-painted portrait of himself, which appears to be oil on canvas, and somewhat influenced by the British school of portraiture, adorned with specialized regal clothing, on a austere backdrop.
In addition to being men of considerable power, both leaders share a mutual love of motorcycle riding, with Duterte often captured riding a boss hog, and the Sultan being recently gifted a life-sized wooden replica of one of his favorite rides.
Vroom, vroom, gentlemen.
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