Duterte urges Filipinos to be kind, compassionate

MANILA, Philippines — Kindness and compassion should reign in the hearts of every Filipino as the nation celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ yesterday, President Duterte declared in his Christmas message.

“As we take part in the festivities during this joyous occasion, may we also contemplate on the wealth of lessons we can learn from the narrative of the Savior’s birth to the calls of compassion, kindness and reconciliation being echoed throughout the globe,” Duterte said.

“Let these ideals and aspirations guide us as we embrace our fellowmen in the spirit of our shared humanity and welcome the coming year with much hope and optimism,” he added.

He lamented that the Philippines has long been divided by “poisonous” and “murderous” politics that “festered decades of indifference, neglect and corruption.”

“Aside from commemorating the solemnity of Christ’s birth, Christmas is a wonderful time when we Filipinos gather with our acquaintances, friends and loved ones. We celebrate this tradition by exchanging gifts, enjoying feasts and holding auspicious events to partake of and share life’s many blessings,” Duterte, who spent Christmas with his family in Davao City, said.

“Truly, it is a season of joy and happiness that is enjoyed by everyone, whether they are Christians, non-Christians or non-believers alike,” the President added.

Duterte’s spokesman Salvador Panelo expressed hope that Filipinos would set aside their differences to work for the good of the country.

“As the New Year ushers in, it is high time that we set aside practices that destroy the dignity of the country and collectively act as one people and one nation towards peace and progress,” Panelo said in a statement.

“Together, let us think and care for our fellowmen and usher in a new era of hope, peace and development. Let us remember that we are all parts of one whole, the injury to one limb affects the entire body. ‘Ang sakit ng kalingkingan ay dama ng buong katawan (Pain in the pinky finger is felt in the entire body),’” he added. 

In Davao City on Saturday, the President spent more than three hours with young patients of the pediatric section of the Cancer Institute of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

SPMC executive director Leopoldo Vega told The STAR the President arrived at around 8 p.m. and left past 11 p.m. after entertaining and giving comfort to some 30 cancer-afflicted children. He shared dinner with the children and distributed gifts to their parents and guardians.

“He wanted the time to be private and personal. I was instructed to keep the number of people down because he wanted the time only for the children,” said Dr. Mae Dolendo, the lead pediatric oncologist at the SPMC.

“The President talked to each of the children. He listened to their every story that they eagerly told him. And the President was a gracious listener as he communicated with them by also showing them, doing something about their problems,” Vega said.

“Each child has a story to tell and the President listened to them with his ears full only to them,” Vega said.

During his visit, Duterte facilitated the extension of the leave of absence of the father of one of the children by calling the father’s immediate superior officer in the armed forces.

The father of another child who is working in Bukidnon was offered a job at the Department of Public Works and Highways here in Davao City so he could be near his cancer-stricken child.

At one point one of the child patients asked how the President was doing. “I should be the one asking you that question,” the President said in response.