MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday paid tribute to his mother Soledad “Soling” Roa Duterte in his speech on the culmination of Women's Month.

Speaking in Malacañang, Duterte recalled his Nanay Soling's struggles to raise their family.

The President became sentimental saying he is pained that his mother never got to see him become president.

"My sorrow really is makita man lang sana niya ko na maging president. Sabi ko 'sayang 'di umabot ang nanay ko'," Duterte said.

(My sorrow really is her not seeing me as president. I say it's unfortunate my mother didn't live long enough to see me become president.)

"It was my mother who had faith in me. Hindi siya nagkamali. (She didn't err.)," he added.

Duterte recalled how he once offered to study in Davao instead because of financial concerns but his mother insisted that he continue his law studies in San Beda College in Manila.

"Siya lang yung she stood by me," he said.

(She's the only one who stood by me.)

The President also reiterated that he does not want to be buried at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani and prefers to be buried beside his mother in Davao City.

Duterte has repeatedly said that he is close to his mother who passed away in 2012.