President Duterte has revealed his life’s biggest sorrow: His mother Soledad did not see him become the country’s 16th Chief Executive.
The President reiterated his love for his mother, fondly known as “Nanay Soling,” in his speech during the Digong’s Day for Women in Malacañang Friday.
“My sorrow really is that makita lang naman niya sana ako naging Presidente,” Duterte said. “But, of course, alam ko na hindi rin siya maniwala. Eh pati nga ako eh kung manalo ako,” he added in jest.
Duterte recalled how his mother single-handedly raised six children after his father died at the age of 56.
“All of us children were still schooling. And ang masama pa noon, ang nanay ko nagkaroon ng nervous breakdown. She was sleeping always for one year and nagkautang-utang kami,” he said. “But when she finally recovered, she had to look for the money to send us to schools,” Duterte said.
Duterte, recalling the hardships of his mother, said that was reason enough for him to reject a heroes’ burial. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)