Malacañang execs take Lenten break: Where are they headed?

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte chats with some of the members of his Cabinet prior to the 34th Cabinet Meeting at the Malacañan Palace on February 6, 2019. RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines  —  Malacañang officials are taking a holiday from their hectic work schedules this Holy Week while President Rodrigo Duterte spends his Lenten break in his hometown Davao  City. 

READ: Duterte to spend Holy Week in Davao City

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea will go up north, to Baguio City, on Maundy Thursday “to meditate” but not without first being stuck in traffic at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

READ: Traffic flow starts to slow along NLEX on Maundy Thursday

“Trying to go up to Baguio to meditate in a cool weather but traffic here in NLEX is so bad we are considering to return home,” Medialdea told INQUIRER.net

Like the President, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles would spend his Holy Week break in Davao City.

“I will be in Davao City, spending the Holy Week with my family: doing Holy Week traditions like Visita Iglesia, Way of the Cross and Easter Sunday get together with family,” Nograles said in a text message.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, meanwhile, will visit one of the country’s finest beaches. 

“I will just have a quiet time with my wife and son in our hometown in Sta. Monica, Siargao. All of us will catch surfing waves,” Andanar said.

For his part, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he would “sleep, sleep, sleep… to be rejuvenated.”

“The place where I spend the four-day break is unimportant. What is paramount is I will sleep, sleep, sleep and sleep zzzz some more to recover lost sleep resulting from all year round of official work and official events, to be rejuvenated,” he said.

“I will also visit seven churches and do some meditations to have a spiritually fulfilling week,” he added.

Malacañang has declared April 18 (Maundy Thursday) and April 19 (Good Friday) as regular holidays and April 20 (Black Saturday) as a special non-working day. 

After Holy Week, Duterte is anticipated to fly to China to attend the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. /kga