PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte, who is celebrating his 74th birthday today, March 28, may continue to have a "sound mind and healthy body."
This is the birthday wish of Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo for the President, who shunned a grand celebration as he turns 74.
"The country’s number one man of the masses celebrates his birthday (March 28) today. As in the previous years, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had always spent the day quietly with his family and loved ones in Davao City," Panelo said in a statement.
"As Mayor Duterte celebrates his 74th birthday, we pray the Almighty to continue giving him a sound mind and a healthy body, that he may finish the goals he had set for the betterment of the country and people that he loved so well towards a future of progress and prosperity," he added.
On Tuesday, March 26, Duterte said he would not be throwing a lavish birthday bash, as he merely wanted to stay at home to take the opportunity to have enough sleep.
Duterte has been used to celebrating occasions in a simple way even when he was still the mayor of Davao City.
Panelo was elated that Duterte has maintained a "simple lifestyle, no frills but certainly plenty of thrills" even now that he holds the highest position in the country.
"From a local public servant, he (Duterte) had evolved to be a force with national constituency catapulting him to the zenith of political power as the Chief Executive and Head of State," the Palace official said.
"His sense of duty and fidelity to the country not only inspires and motivates workers in the government to serve the people well but moves the rest of society to march in cadence with him as he breathes life to the winds of change he has spurred," he added.
Panelo said the nation was "blessed and privileged" to have a "dedicated" president who serves as "the captain of our ship steering our flag carrier safely to a land he vowed to be free from drugs and crimes where each Filipino will enjoy a comfortable life."
In Duterte's remaining years in office, he continues in fulfilling his mandate to serve and protect the people, as well as his promises to improve the Filipinos' lives, Panelo stressed.
Panelo also praised Duterte's dedication to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs and get rid the government of corrupt officials.
"As we approach the midpoint of his term, we have witnessed the daily toil of this tough but compassionate man in making good his campaign promises, and now as Chief Executive, relentlessly and tirelessly performing his constitutional duty to serve and protect the people," he said.
"Maligayang kaarawan mahal na Pangulo! Basbasan kayo ng Dakilang Lumikha upang maipagpatuloy ninyo ang sinimulan ninyo ng pagbabago sa ating bansa (Happy Birthday to our dear President. May our Creator bless you you can continue what you have started to bring change in the country)," Panelo added.
In a separate statement, former special assistant to the president Christopher Lawrence Go, who has been with the President during the latter's mayoral stint, wished that Duterte will have "50 more years to live to serve our fellow Filipinos." (SunStar Philippines)