MANILA - Former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. lauded President Rodrigo Duterte's "effective" way of communicating in his birthday greeting for the head of the state who is turning 73 on Wednesday.

In a Facebook video, Marcos said it seems like President Duterte's tough-talking style, which includes a lot of curses, is more effective in reaching out to the public in contrast to his supposed "diplomatic" way of communicating.

"Magpapasalamat ako dahil alam niyo, Mr. President, marami akong natutunan sa inyo, lalong-lalo na sa communication," he said, before cueing in clips of Duterte's speeches against the media and the European Union.

Marcos also thanked the President for his continuing service to the country. In the end of his birthday greeting video, the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. let out a stream of bleeped curses, in the fashion of Duterte.

"Happy birthday, Mr. President. Happy birthday, my friend. Huwag niyo nang intindihin 'yang mga pu..." Marcos ended his greeting, as the rest of his words were bleeped.

More than lessons in communication, the former senator and his family have a lot to thank Duterte, who allowed the burial of the late president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (heroes' cemetery) despite protests.

Duterte has also openly admired the late dictator Marcos, who was blamed for the numerous killings and torture incidents during Martial Law. Marcos is also accused of stealing billions of pesos from government coffers.

• Duterte: Marcos martial law a time of 'human rights violations, corruption'

• Controversies that hounded Ferdinand E. Marcos
• Life under Marcos: A fact-check

Victims of human rights violations in the Martial Law era have criticized Duterte for enabling a Marcos-friendly environment that risks revisions in history in favor of the Marcoses.