Rody jests: Pinoys should follow ‘Santo Rodrigo’
DAVAO CITY – President Duterte went straight to the tomb of his parents at the Davao City Wireless Public Cemetery immediately upon arrival from Cauayan, Isabela where he held a briefing on the situation in Northern Luzon following Typhoon Rosita (international name Yutu) Thursday night.
“We all have our obligations to the dead. It’s practically part of the culture but more than that, it’s something that is very important for us to commune with our ancestors,” Duterte said before adjourning the meeting in Isabela.
Meanwhile, the President urged the Filipino people to honor their dead and emulate the saints in observance of Undas.
Duterte made light of the briefing at Andrea Hotel in Isabela, wondering why Roman Catholics observe All Saints’ Day when they do not know who the saints are.
“Who are they? They’re drunkards,” Duterte said.
Duterte joked about making it to sainthood.
“Come to me. I’ll give you one patron saint so you won’t have to go far… Get hold of a picture of mine, put it up in your altar – Santo Rodrigo,” he quipped.
Duterte arrived at his parents’ tombs at around 9:45 p.m. and stayed at the cemetery for about 30 minutes.
Duterte also distributed meals to those who had gathered around the tomb of his parents, former Davao governor Vicente Duterte and his mother Soledad.
The President has not missed visiting the tomb of his parents during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Duterte also visited the tombs when he won the May 2016 presidential polls.