As the world celebrated Mother’s Day Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte wished all mothers joy and contentment in their lives.
“To all the mothers in the Philippines and in the world, happy Mother’s Day. I wish you a very happy and contented life,” the President said in a short video greeting posted on the Facebook page of his former top aide Christopher “Bong” Go.
President Duterte said he knows how hard it is to become a mother as he saw how his own mother, Soledad, sacrificed to provide comfort to their family.
“I saw all the pain she went through to give her family comfort. So, long live all the mothers,” he added.
The Palace also paid tribute to all mothers around the world on Mother’s Day celebration.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said mothers hold the highest accolade there is to bestow.
For the Palace official, nobody, not even the fathers, “can equal the tender, love, and care that mothers shower their children from the time of their birth until their growing years.”
“The sacrifice the mothers make to provide their sons and daughters sustenance, growth and development of their potentials is immeasurable and incomparable,” Panelo said.
“The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother,” he said quoting St. Therese of Lisieux.
In a bid to support the needs and welfare of mothers, President Duterte recently signed Republic Act 11210, or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, which will provide additional leave benefits for employed mothers.
Under the new law, all working mothers in the government and the private sector will be granted 105 days of paid maternity leave credits, providing them an option to extend their leaves for another 30 days without pay.
The maternity benefits shall apply to every instance of pregnancy, miscarriage, or emergency termination of pregnancy regardless of frequency.