No party, fanfare for Duterte’s 73rd birthday

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — No party or fanfare will be given to President Duterte when he turns 73 on Wednesday.

The President is spending the day here in his hometown, where he will also stay for the entire Holy Week.

No appointment, meeting or any official function has been scheduled for the President on his birthday, which also happens to be Holy Wednesday. 

Duterte has been here since last Wednesday night and is expected to return to Malacañang after the Holy Week.

The President has not been known for throwing big parties on his birthday even when he was mayor of Davao City for more than 23 years and one term each as vice mayor and first district representative. 

He usually makes himself scarce on his birthday and as much as possible avoids people even those who only want to greet him. 

Duterte, who makes it a point to come home to Davao City every weekend, is expected to instead spend time with family – his children Paolo, Sara, Sebastian and Veronica, and grandchildren on his birthday. 

The President has been a doting grandfather to his 10 grandchildren, whom he always wants to be with whenever he is home.

The most that he has done that was at least open to the public although discretely carried out was when he visited children afflicted with cancer at the House of Hope at the Southern Philippines Medical Center compound. 

Duterte has been a supporter of the House of Hope, making sure that children undergoing treatment for cancer receive proper care.

The President was born on March 28, 1945, in Maasin, Southern Leyte, to Vicente Duterte, who was governor of the undivided Davao in the late 1950s, and Soledad Roa, a teacher.