THE members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet on Monday urged him to stay healthy and happy as he turns 72 years old today.
“The President has everything, and I can only wish for his birthday that he stays healthy and happy so he and all Filipinos can experience his vision for a peaceful, safer, drug-free and corruption-free Philippines,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
He said his department believes in Duterte’s dream “to empower the bottom of the pyramid to empower the nation.”
“We in DTI would like to give him as our gift our 110 percent commitment and passion to make this dream a reality. Magbigay ng oportunidad at abilidad para lahat ay umunlad,” Lopez said.
Aside from wishing Duterte a long life, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo asked God to protect him as he hurdles the challenges of his job.
“I wish him good health, happiness and a long life. May the Lord continues to bless and protect him and his family. May the Lord guides and inspires him as he serve our people,” Lorenzana said.
Said Panelo: “Happy birthday to the President and we pray that the God Almighty sends his angels and spread their wings to spare him from any injury, any disease, any accident, and his wish to prolong his term in good health.”
Duterte’s communications men also wished Duterte well.
“With all the responsibilities that [President Duterte] has right now, I wish him more time for himself and the small things in life that make him happy,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.
Duterte’s spokesman, Ernesto Abella, wished that the President’s “dreams for a great Filipino nation all come true.”
On Monday, the Palace said there won’t be any fanfare even if Duterte will celebrate his first birthday as the most powerful man in the Philippines.
“He spends some quality time with family and close friends. While certain offices may hold parallel celebration, the President usually veers away public attention on his private and personal affairs,” Abella said.
In an earlier press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Duterte said it had been a tradition in his family to keep things simple in such occasions.
He added that his birthday wish was to have the time and strength to surmount the problems of the country.
Duterte, who was born on March 28, 1945, in Maasin, Leyte, is the oldest candidate to be elected President.
