Duterte's wish for upcoming birthday: Little bit of time, strength to serve country

President Rodrigo Duterte said he has one wish for his upcoming birthday — strength to serve the country and longer time to do it.

Duterte held a press conference at NAIA early Thursday morning coming off a flight from Thailand, where he was there for two days on an official visit. He had been in Myanmar prior to his trip to Thailand.

"Nakuha ko na lahat. I’ve reached the apex of my career. Material things which I cannot be of use to me. I am 72 years old," said Duterte, whose birthday is on March 28.

"My prayer to God is that bigyan Niya ako ng kaunting lakas na lang to do . . . or time. Twenty-four hours is not really enough time for the presidency.

"I only asked God to give me a little bit of time, strength to surmount the problems of the country and I'd be able not really to solve but really mitigate some of the rigors of governance.

Duterte said it has been a tradition in his family to keep things simple in such occasions.

"Kasi nagtitipid yung pamilya, everyone of us, but most of us my siblings ko, we follow the same rule. We just sleep it off the day. I would be very glad to spend the day with my grandson, Stone (Stonefish), and the rest of my children and grandchildren. That would have been the greatest gift.

"If you have something for me . . . something expensive, I do not need it anymore. Maski bigyan niyo ako ng dyamante on every finger, I cannot wait wear it. Otherwise, I’d look stupid."