VP Duterte's birthday wish for Marcos: Successful presidency
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
Vice President Sara Duterte has a special wish for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s 66th birthday: success as president because it would also mean the success of the Philippines and Filipinos.
(From left) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte at the launch of Pier 88 in Liloan, Cebu on May 27, 2023. (Yummie Dingding/PPA Pool)
In a video message posted on her Facebook page, the official greeted the Chief Executive on his 66th birthday on Wednesday, Sept. 13.
Likewise, supporters extended their “warm greetings” to Marcos through the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) 10 satellite offices.
“Happy birthday Apo BBM. My constant wish for all celebrators is prosperity, good health, and happiness,” Duterte said in the video.
“But I will add success to my wishes for you. I want you to succeed as President because it would mean the strength, stability, and security of our beloved homeland,” she added.
And because the two won under the UniTeam ticket by millions of votes, the Vice President reminded Marcos that “it was not a Marcos-only or Duterte die-hard vote.”
“It was a vote for Bongbong and Sara,” she said.
Both families have strong and loyal supporters owing to the two officials’ fathers—former presidents Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Rodrigo Duterte.
The Vice President doubted that a vote for a president and vice president in the same ticket will happen again.
“And it will never happen again in history. It was a UniTeam vote by all peace-loving Filipinos,” she added.
“That's why we are solidly behind you, supporting your vision of a new Philippines.”
Marcos will not be in the country to celebrate his birthday as he is set to speak at the 10th Asian Summit in Singapore and watch the F1 Singapore Grand Prix, which he also attended last year.
Meanwhile, Marcos supporters also extended their greetings to the Chief Executive via the video.
Those from the OVP’s satellite offices in Bacolod, Isabela City, and Surigao City thanked the President for the “Lechong Manok,” while supporters from Davao City, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Dagupan City, Legazpi City, and Mandaluyong thanked him for the popular fastfood chain’s “Chickenjoy.”
Also, residents of Cebu City, Zamboanga City, and Tacloban City sent their gratitude for receiving sacks of rice.