BIRTHDAY GIRL:

President Duterte, his partner Cielito ‘Honeylet’ Avanceña and their daughter Veronica pose for a photo during Avanceña’s 48th birthday party at their home in Davao City Friday. Image taken from the Facebook page of special assistant to the President Christopher Go.

DAVAO CITY – Tough-talking Rodrigo Duterte showed his romantic side as he greeted his partner Cielito “Honeylet” Avanceña on her 48th birthday the other day with roses, songs and a kiss.

It was a scene that delighted the few family members and friends who were invited to the intimate dinner at their home in the Matina Enclaves Residences here.

A photo of the President and Avanceña locked in a kiss found its way to the internet yesterday, along with the other scenes from the party, which was also attended by their 13-year old daughter Veronica, nicknamed Kitty.

Duterte, who has been with Avanceña since the early 90’s, serenaded her with the songs “Ikaw” and “The Rose.”

According to Ponsing Fernandez, the President’s long-time pianist, the couple, along with Kitty, capped the night with a rendition of Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up.”

Avanceña has stood beside Duterte at official functions, including the country’’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit last year.

Dubbed as his “secret weapon,” Avanceña is a former beauty queen and businesswoman who owns 11 Mister Donut franchises and a meat shop. In an earlier interview, she said she would rather be called the

tagapag-alaga ng Presidente (caretaker of the President) instead of first lady.

The President went home to Davao City last Tuesday to spend Valentine’s Day with his family. He was last seen in public Tuesday night when he met with distressed overseas Filipino workers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque.