Guess who did not come to Alvarez’s final birthday bash

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez

TAGUM CITY – President Duterte and other ranking national and local officials – including some Cabinet members and lawmakers – graced the final day of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s week-long birthday celebration here.

Among those who confirmed attendance were Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco.

But members of the Floirendo and del Rosario clans, whom Alvarez had a bossom relationship with in the past, were not among the invited guest.

Davao del Norte Anthony Rafael del Rosario confirmed to the Inquirer that they did not get an invite to the “by invitation only” birthday celebration.

Alvarez and Floirendo had a falling out over the alleged catfight between their girlfriends. The del Rosarios were dragged into the Alvarez-Floirendo tiff because of family ties with the latter.

Alvarez had since filed cases against Floirendo – his close ally and campaign financier in 2015 – for the dealing of the latter’s family-owned banana firm with the Bureau of Corrections.

Edwin Jubahib, the Speaker’s chief of staff, told the Inquirer that allies in Congress and local politicians were among the early well-wishers on Alvarez’s 60th birthday that started Monday.

He said some of the early birds included Ilocos Representative Rodolfo Fariñas, and Davao del Norte Vice Gov. Alan Dujali, and Compostela Valley 2nd district Rep. Ruwell Peter Gonzaga, who was also Southern Mindanao chair of the ruling PDP-Laban.

Jubahib said starting Monday, several activities had already been conducted in connection with the Speaker’s birthday.

The House leader’s office, he said, also sponsored free concerts at the Tagum City Hall grounds last Monday.

On Tuesday, Alvarez hosted political supporters at the New Tagum City Hall, and even used the opportunity to rally them into the federalism campaign.

“This year, 2018, we will revise our Constitution. Let us unite and support this initiative of the President,” he said.

Alvarez also thanked them for continuously supporting and trusting him.

Jubahib said Friday’s schedule was added to accommodate the President, who was not unable to attend last Jan. 10 due to more pressing concerns. With a report from Allan Nawal