Like any other family-oriented Filipino, President Duterte will celebrate Christmas with his loved ones in his hometown Davao City, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed Friday.
“Sa Davao, every Christmas naman ganoon siya. Or birthdays, he spends it with his family always. No frills,” Panelo said.
Panelo also said that Duterte will unlikely stop his tradition of visiting cancer-stricken kids in hospitals.
“Palagi namang ganun ang style ni Presidente, handicapped. Dun siya mababaw ang puso ni Presidente sa mga handicapped, sa mga special children, may sakit ng cancer, dun mo makita ang kanyang compassion. He sheds tears every time,” he said.
Last year, Duterte, minus the prying eyes of the media, visited several public hospitals and hospices in Manila where he extended financial assistance to institutions that primarily serve abandoned or indigent children.
The institutions Duterte visited last year were the Mary Johnston Hospital in Tondo, Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Sta. Cruz, and Hospicio de San Jose near Malacañang.
According to Malacañang, the unannounced activities were part of the Duterte’s annual Christmas tradition that dates back when he was still mayor of Davao City. (Argyll Geducos)