Enrile’s 99th birthday: Marcos family celebrates a moment in his long life
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his family on Tuesday joined in the 99th birthday celebration of chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, who remarked on the rapid passage of time in a reflective Facebook post on the eve of his special day.
Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, former first lady Imelda, and sister Irene were seen at the birthday celebration of Enrile on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, as shown in photos posted on social media by other attendees.
In a Facebook live stream, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. said Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte were among the attendees at the birthday celebration.
“Kasama sina Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, Vice President Inday Sara Duterte at ilan pa nating malalapit na kaibigan, tayo po ay dumalo sa selebrasyon ng ika-99 na kaarawan ni Former Senate President at ngayon Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Manong JPE Juan Ponce Enrile,” Revilla wrote.
Article continues after this advertisement(We are with President Marcos, Vice President Sara Duterte, and other close friends in celebrating the 99th birthday of former Senate President and now chief presidential legal counsel Enrile.)
Article continues after this advertisementHouse Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senators Francis Tolentino, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, and Robin Padilla can also be seen in the video.
Former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was also seen to have attended the celebration.
Malacañang had no official statement on the President’s attendance at the party; however, Marcos greeted Enrile in a Twitter post on Tuesday night.
“To our Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, naragsak a panagkasangay mo, Manong Johnny!” he wrote.
“May you continue to be blessed with the gifts of joy and good health,” Marcos added.
To our Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, naragsak a panagkasangay mo Manong Johnny!
May you continue to be blessed with the gifts of joy and good health. pic.twitter.com/rQEyzimMWA
— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) February 14, 2023
In a Facebook post, Enrile, a former Senate president, thanked those who greeted him on his birthday, saying 99 years is a “flickering moment in terms of eternity.”
“I wish all the girls Happy Valentine’s. Thank you all who thought of me or who greeted me on my birthday. 99 years is a long time in terms of years, but a flickering moment in terms of eternity. C’est la vie! That is where we are all going. It is a race no one wishes to win!,” he wrote.
“In terms of eternity, those seemingly long years are but a fleeting moment. Nonetheless, thank you Lord for the years you gifted me; for the protection you blessed me; and for all the blessings you have generously given to me and to my family; and the friends you, Lord, allowed me to have during my lifetime,” he added.
Enrile served as a Justice Secretary and Defense Minister under the administration of late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Bongbong’s father.
He played a key role in the planning and documentary legwork for the imposition of martial law on September 21, 1972.
Enrile was also in charge of the Philippine Military during its implementation.
However, Enrile later turned against the late strongman Marcos and helped topple his regime in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
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