MANILA — As President Rodrigo R. Duterte turns 73 on Wednesday (March 28), two of his Cabinet men shared birthday wishes for him a day before he turns a year older.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go composed a short three-paragraph greeting for Duterte wishing his “adviser, mentor, and boss” a “long and healthy life”.
“Ang wish ko po para kay boss ay long and healthy life para patuloy siyang makapagsilbi sa bayan (My wish for my boss is to have a long and healthy life so that he could continue serving the people),” Go said in a statement.
Go also expressed high hopes that Duterte would have more time to spend with his family and other loved ones.
“At sana mabigyan pa siya ng mas mahabang panahon upang makasama ang kanyang pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay (And I hope he would be given more time to spend with his family and loved ones),” he added.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, for his part, had a longer, five-paragraph message for Duterte, praising him for being “the man for people”.
He said that “major progress” has been done under the Duterte administration including improvements in economic, education, and health sectors and that enumerating them all “could go on like a litany of deeds”.
“We pause for this one day, to render to the President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the honor and the gratitude deserving of a leader, whose vision is revealed as each day unfolds,” Andanar said in a statement.
“Together with you, members of the press corps that cover him daily, we pray that our president be blessed with more years, strong health and the wisdom of fine age,” he added.
Go, meanwhile, said Duterte will be celebrating his birthday in his hometown in Davao City, with his family.
He said the Chief Executive was never the one who throws lavish birthday parties, saying prayers from his well-wishers during his birthday were enough to make him happy.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said Duterte will also spend the Holy Week in Davao City. (Azer Parrocha/PNA)
