MANILA, Philippines — As President Rodrigo Duterte turns 76 on Sunday, March 28, his birthday wish is for the country to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and return to normal, Malacañang said.
“Well, I’m sure the President wishes an end to this pandemic at nais po niyang lahat tayo ay makabalik po sa buhay nating mga normal. Ibig sabihin, babalik tayo doon sa napakataas na ating growth rate taun-taon because ang kaniyang pangako ay mas komportableng buhay sa lahat,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday in an online briefing.
(I’m sure the President wishes an end to this pandemic and he wishes that all of us return to our normal lives. This means that we return to the high annual growth rate because his promise was to give a comfortable life for all.)
“Despite COVID, I’m sure ang kaniyang birthday wish ay matupad pa rin iyong mas komportableng buhay, iyong makabangon ang lahat mula dito sa pandemyang ito,” he added.
(Despite COVID, I’m sure his birthday wish is for Filipinos to have a comfortable life and overcome this pandemic.)
Last year, Duterte spent his birthday while on self-quarantine in Malacañang.