By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Social media personality and entrepreneur Deo ‘Diwata’ Balbuena finally met Nicolas Torre III, General Manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, following weeks of online chatter over their striking facial resemblance.
The lighthearted encounter took place Monday at the MMDA headquarters after Diwata accepted the challenge of thousands of social media users who had been urging him to personally meet Torre to settle the amusing comparison.
In a video uploaded on his Facebook page, Diwata documented his visit to the MMDA office, where Torre warmly welcomed the internet celebrity with good humor.
Addressing the growing online debate, Torre jokingly told viewers, “For those saying we look alike, you be the judge.”
After seeing the MMDA official face-to-face, Diwata laughed and admitted that netizens may have a point.
“It seems you’re right,” he told his followers.
The exchange became even more entertaining when Torre quipped that they might have to ask their fathers what really happened, drawing laughter from those present.
The friendly meeting quickly gained traction online, with netizens flooding social media with side-by-side photos of the two men and reacting to what many described as an uncanny resemblance.
Diwata rose to nationwide popularity through his affordable pares business, which later became a viral social media sensation. Torre, meanwhile, previously served as chief of the Philippine National Police> before assuming leadership of the MMDA.
While the meeting settled nothing about their supposed resemblance, it gave Filipinos another lighthearted viral moment, proving that social media can sometimes bring together two unlikely personalities for a good laugh.
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