President Rodrigo Duterte blows the candles on a birthday cake presented to him by members of the Philippine Military Academy Class if 2018. It was not clear when the photo was taken but it was shared by his special assistant, Christopher Go, on his Facebook page on Tuesday evening.
DAVAO CITY – Well-wishers flocked to President Rodrigo Duterte’s house here on Wednesday as the chief executive celebrated his 73rd birthday.
The President’s visitors started coming in as early as 4 a.m. and they included members of the People’s RevGov for Real Democracy Alliance.
The group’s members serenaded Duterte at around 4 a.m. at his house here, where he and partner Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña and daughter, Veronica, nickanmed Kitty, live.
Duterte’s children by his former wife, Elizabeth Zimmerman, were also expected to visit the President.
As early as Tuesday, resigned Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte were among those who came early to greet his father.
Resigned Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte posted this photo of himself and his father on Facebook as he greeted the chief executive on his 73rd birthday.
Paolo wrote on his Facebook account that “I’ll remain your son” even with “the anger and happiness between us.”
“I listen to all your rants against me, I accepted, I understood them,” Paolo said.
He said it was not easy for the President to be “father to your most behaved child.”
Paolo then apologized to the President.
“Please forgive me for the times that I contributed to the growth of your white hairs,” Paolo wrote. “I hope that time will come you’d be proud of me. I know that I would never attain what you have achieved in your lifetime, but I can assure you that I will do my best to make you proud. Me and my siblings would strive hard so you won’t lose face because of us.”
“Thank you very much for all the help you’ve extended to me and my family. Thank you very much for the so much patience. It’s really you,” he said, adding “Happy Birthday Pa. I love you!!!”
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio‘s message to the President was very short.
“Happy Birthday Digong,” she wrote on Facebook, adding that she wished her father “good health.”
“(P)aaarrteeey!” she added. /atm
President Rodrigo Duterte in his casual housewear with his grandchildren (from left): Stingray (Sara’s son), Yair (Sebastian’s son), Sharky (Sara’s daughter), Stonefish (Sara’s youngest son), and Paolo’s children, Uno and Sabina. (Photo courtesy of SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO)