PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is set to be the second president to choose Bahay Pangarap inside the Malacañang grounds as his official residence, Secretary Christopher Go, special assistant to the president, said Wednesday.
During his first night in Manila, Duterte stayed inside Bahay Pangarap, as he said he would not want to live inside the Palace, since it was haunted.
Former President Benigno Aquino III, Duterte’s predecessor, also lived in Bahay Pangarap.
Go said Duterte would move into Bahay Pangarap next week.
The house is located in Malacañang Park within the Presidential Security Group compound in Manila. It is on the other side of the Pasig River facing Malacañang Palace, making it only five minutes away from Duterte’s office.
The house initially served as venue for informal activities and social functions of the President and First Family.
In the early 1960s, the rest house was renovated through the efforts of then First Lady Evangeline Macapagal and was renamed as Bahay Pangarap, or “house of dreams.”
President Aquino moved into the house in 2010, which by then had three more bedrooms in addition to the master’s bedroom, a swimming pool and a Balinese-style garden.
Duterte took a break from his busy work schedule to watch the much-awaited game between Gilas Pilipinas and France in the ongoing 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the MOA Arena in Pasay City late Tuesday night.
Accompanied by Go and other members of the sports community, Duterte made the ceremonial toss of the ball to signal the start of the game at 9 p.m. where cheering fans chanted “Duterte, Duterte, go go Gilas Pilipinas!”
The President stayed for the entire match between the Philippine team and France, which is ranked fifth in the world according to FIBA statistics. Despite a close fight, France won 94-83.
The national squad was leading in the first quarter and most of the second quarter. But the French team led by NBA stars Tony Parker and Boris Diaw caught up and eventually won.
The Philippines’ men’s basketball team’s best finish was the bronze medal in the 1954 FIBA World Championship in Brazil.
