President serenades crowd at DOLE 84th anniversary
Known for deviating from the normal flow of the program, President Duterte once again surprised his audience when he spontaneously serenaded them with his favorite song "Ikaw" during the the 84th anniversary celebration of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Malolos, Bulacan Friday.
The number came while singer Jonalyn Viray was singing the song of undying love, and Duterte just
stood up, looked for a microphone, and joined her.
The President had just led the distribution of checks from DOLE for livelihood grants and had promised in his speech that “during my term, I want everybody, every Filipino comfortable in this country.”
Duterte has sung ‘Ikaw’ many times – when he gives speeches before the Filipino communities abroad, during an interview with GMA-7 news icon Jessica Soho when he won the Presidency, and during a media night in Davao.
He also sang it during the special gala dinner for the 50th anniversary celebration of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last month.
According to Peace Process Adviser Jess Dureza, Duterte sang the song with Filipino singer and actress Pilita Corrales upon the request of United States President Donald Trump.
The next day, during the bilateral meeting, Trump complimented his 'good friend' Duterte on his singing. "The Filipino performers were great. But the greatest performer was him," Trump reportedly said, referring to Duterte. ‘Every Filipino comfortable
in his county’ In his message to thousands of Bulakenyos who joined DOLE’s 84th annniversary at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, the President said that during his term, he wants “every Filipino to be comfortable in his own country.”
The President said that he understands the sentiments of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) because he himself was from a not well-off family.
Touching on his campaign to rid the country of illegal drugs, he said that sons and daughters of OFWs are the frequent targets of the lawbreakers like illegal drug dealers because they receive regular remittances from their parents abroad and they are vulnerable due to lack of parental guidance.
He said those are the reasons why he has been persistent in pushing for a better Philippines for the youth.
The President observed that when one member of the family, like the father, leaves to work abroad, the family becomes slightly dysfunctional. “Kapag ang isang pamilya, umalis ang tatay, umalis ang nanay, both are working sa ibang bansa, that family becomes dysfunctional,” the President added.
DOLE’s milestones
Meanwhile, DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III marked the agency’s milestones, citing the campaign against contractualization and other illegal labor practices, gains in the intensified implementation of labor laws and standards, and occupational health and safety in the workplace.
“We celebrate the hard work of our people in the department in the attainment of our goals of uplifting the lives of every Filipino worker,” the labor secretary said.
Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado saluted the bravery of the OFWs coined as the “makabagong bayani”.
After the program, the DOLE officials lighted the 56-feet giant Christmas tree that signifies the start of Paskong Bulakenyo. (Argyll B. Geducos with a report from Freddie C. Velez)