Malacañang has set the record straight about a video of President Marcos singing during First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’ birthday celebration on Aug. 26, saying the event took place before heavy rains hit Luzon, causing severe flooding.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro clarified that the event, which surfaced over the weekend, did not occur during the peak of flooding in Metro Manila and Central Luzon provinces.

Castro said there is no truth to the narrative detractors allegedly want to spread. 

"Naganap po ang pagharana ng Pangulo, kay First Lady, hindi po ito iyong kasagsagan noong malakas na ulan, hindi po ito kasagsagan ng pagbaha (The President’s serenade for the First Lady did not take place at the height of the heavy rains. It was not during the height of the flooding)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The Palace spokesperson alleged that it was the message circulated by those who spread the video, whom she called "detractors and obstructionists."

"So, kumalat at ang dumating na mensahe sa iba nating mga kababayan ay nangharana ang Pangulo kay First Lady noong gabing malakas ang ulan at noong gabing bumabaha ng todo-todo dito sa Central Luzon at sa Metro Manila. Hindi po iyan ang katotohanan (The message that reached some of our fellow Filipinos was that the President serenaded the First Lady on the night when heavy rains were falling and when severe flooding was occurring here in Central Luzon and Metro Manila. That is not the truth," Castro stressed. 

Castro said she cannot blame the public for calling the video insensitive as they only reacted to what the detractors wanted them to see. 

"So, naiintintihan po namin kayo, kasi iba po iyong kwentong naipalabas ( We understand you because a different story was being portrayed)," she said.

"Pero, sana makita rin po natin na sa buong linggo, hanggang kahapon kahit walang pasok at holiday, ang Pangulo po ay tutok hindi po nagpapabaya ang Pangulo para maibigay lahat ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan, lalong-lalo na iyong mga naapektuhan (But I hope we can also see that throughout the entire week, up until yesterday, even though there were no classes and it was a holiday, the President remained focused and did not neglect his duties to provide everything our fellow Filipinos needed, especially those who were affected)," she added. 

Castro also clarified that the President serenaded the First Lady after finishing his work. 

She pointed out that the President dedicated only a small portion of his time to the celebration.

"Kung nagharana man ang Pangulo, para sa kanyang asawa at mga kasama ang ilang malalapit na kamag-anak, kaunting oras lang po ang ibinigay ng Pangulo, para sa kanyang pamilya, para sa kanyang asawa para i-celebrate ang buhay (If the President did serenade his wife, in the presence of a few close relatives and companions, the President gave only a little of his time to his family and to his wife to celebrate her life)," Castro said.

"At hindi po nagpabaya ang Pangulo sa kaunting oras na ito na ibinigay para sa kanyang asawa (During that brief time he set aside for his wife, the President did not neglect his responsibilities)," Castro added. 

The Palace mouthpiece further clarified that even though the President attended the event, "he continued to monitor the situation and what the weather conditions might be."

"Pero at that time, wala pong masamang panahon, iyon po ang dapat nating linawin (At that time, however, there was no bad weather. That is what we need to clarify)," Castro said.