Paolo’s 43rd birthday serves as reunion for Duterte family

Paolo Duterte posted in Facebook account this photo of a birthday cake given to him by his father, President Rodrigo Duterte, and half-sister Kitty. That’s Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in the background. (Photo from Paolo Duterte’s Facebook account)

DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday evening gave a blue three-layered cake to his son, resigned Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, who celebrated his 43rd birthday.

In a Facebook post, Paolo showed the cake that his father and his daughter with Honeylet Avanceña, Kitty, had sent earlier in the day.

Paolo’s birthday also served as some sort of reunion for his original family.

The President and his former wife, Elizabeth Zimmermann, their daughter Mayor Sara with her husband Manases Carpio and their children, came to Paolo’s house for the birthday celebration.

Other Duterte family members were also present as well as Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go.

“Pa and Kitty, thanks for the cake. Pa, somebody ate ahead of everyone,” Paolo wrote on Facebook two hours before the President came, referring to Sara, who was already nibbling in the background.

On the menu were Kilawin kambing (raw minced goat hide in vinegar), Kalderetang kambing (stewed goat meat), Bopis (spicy minced meat) and paklay (soured and spicy innards stew) from a popular local restaurant.

The elder Duterte would also be celebrating his 73rd birthday on March 28.

Go had earlier said the President would be celebrating his birthday in private.

In previous years, the President celebrated his birthday by visiting senior citizens at the Co Su Gian Home for Aged and cancer patients at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) here.

He was also known to have spent his birthday in the company of close friends at his favorite watering hole here.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President would be spending his birthday here on March 28. /atm