Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte turned a year older, celebrating the special occasion with greetings from his former colleagues, friends, and family.
Duterte, who served as Davao City mayor and congressman before becoming the 16th president of the Philippines, was born on March 28, 1945. He is now 78 years old.
File photo from Malacañang
Duterte's 78th birthday: Ex-Cabinet execs, kin, friends share memories with former president
Mar 28, 2023 04:17 AM
At a glance
Former Cabinet officials, relatives, and friends of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte sent him greetings on Tuesday, March 28, his 78th birthday.
Duterte, who is a lawyer, served as Davao City mayor and congressman before becoming the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022.
Known as Tatay Digong, Rody, and by the initials Du30 and PRRD, he is the country’s first president from Mindanao, and the oldest to assume office at the age of 71.
Former Transportation secretary Art Tugade posted a greeting on Facebook and recalled his working experience with the former president.
(Photo from ex-DOTr chief Art Tugade via Facebook)
“Working with you has always been such a worthwhile experience, Mr. President, sir. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to work with you,” he said.
Tugade described Duterte a “friend, classmate and boss,” who is a “flamboyant leader and a great source of inspiration” to their fellow Filipinos and the nation.
Senator Bong Go, a longtime aide and closest ally of Duterte in his six-year presidency, marked the former president’s birthday by waxing sentimental and posting their throwback and present photos.
In a post, Go featured an old photo of them taken in 2016 when he gifted Duterte a polo shirt printed with Du30.
Seven years later, the senator said he also gave a polo shirt bearing the same initials to Duterte.
(Photo from Senator Bong Go/Facebook)
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder and Duterte’s spiritual adviser, penned a heartfelt message for the former chief executive.
“His heroic deeds for the country are one for the books. He is the blueprint of leadership when it comes to politics,” he said in a Facebook post.
“And even though his term as commander-in-chief of our country is over, he still guides us—the Filipinos—by giving us information and explanations on what is happening in our country,” he added.
In Davao City, Duterte’s neighbors and fellow Davaoeños sang a birthday song in front of his home to mark his special day.
Tereso Pedario Bestudio Jr. posted a short video clip of the former president taking a glimpse of them while his common-law wife, Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña, held up a birthday cake for him.