It’s More Fun in the Philippines: World’s richest man Bill Gates and family visited the Philippines; goes to Palawan and Laguna
by Leony Garcia
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was reportedly sighted in Los Baños, Laguna on Wednesday in a rare visit to the headquarters of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a major grantee of the American billionaire’s foundation.
GMA News was able to obtain an exclusive photo of a helicopter owned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the IRRI, located inside the compound of the University of the Philippines Los Baños as reported over GMA’s “24 Oras.”
A source at the institute said Gates’ visit was kept “confidential” since it was not announced through an office memorandum to Irri employees, unlike those of other “special visitors.”
Gates has been in the country since Black Saturday, apparently escaping detection until he was sighted on Wednesday morning at IRRI.
According to Bureau of Immigration records, a certain William Henry Gates arrived at the NAIA on April 4 aboard a private US jet. The BOI added that their records show Gates flying onboard a chartered plane en route to Puerto Princesa in Palawan on April 5.
Gates and his family reportedly spent a brief vacation in Palawan’s posh Amanpulo island resort. The family then “immediately boarded” a private helicopter assisted by retired police Superintendent Edgar Iglesia.
The chopper flew to secluded, luxurious Aman Resorts in Pamalican, part of the Quiniluban group islands north of the province where the Gates family spent three days, according to govertment-run Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The resort faces the Sulu Sea and has accommodated Hollywood stars, foreign officials and other high-profile personalities.
The PNA also cited sources who spotted the magnate visiting picturesque El Nido municipality where he is reportedly looking to invest with Filipino partners.
Last month, Gate’s Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen was in the news when he announced on Twitter that he had found Musashi, one of Japan’s biggest and most famous battleships, in the Philippines.
Allen posted photos and a video online of parts of what he said was the battleship Musashi, found by his MY Octopus exploration vessel 1 kilometer deep on the floor of the Sibuyan Sea.
Musashi was found some 70 years after American forces sank it during World War II.
Born William Henry Gates III on October 28, 1955, Gates is an American business magnate, philanthropist, investor, computer programmer and inventor. He stepped down as chief executive officer of Microsoft in January 2000 and as chairman in February 2014.
In the later stages of his career, Gates has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavors, donating large amounts of money to various charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000.
He was named world’s richest man with a net worth of $79.2 billion last month by Forbes magazine.
