Members of the Duterte family paid tribute to their departed relatives during the Undas observance, blending family remembrance with community outreach in Davao City.
Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte II visited the Roman Catholic Cemetery on Monday, November 2, to pray and light a candle for his late grandmother, Soledad “Nanay Soleng” Duterte, keeping a long-standing family tradition alive. Vice President Sara Duterte and Representative Paolo Duterte also visited the graves of their grandparents, Vicente and Soledad, earlier in the week on October 27 and October 29, respectively, according to cemetery officer-in-charge Ruby Wapanyo.
Vice President Duterte shared highlights of her visit online, accompanying her post with a Bible verse from Revelation 21:4 focusing on comfort and the end of sorrow. Meanwhile, former President Rodrigo Duterte—currently in The Hague, Netherlands—sent floral tributes to his parents’ graves, remaining unable to visit in person.
Following the cemetery visits, Vice Mayor Duterte, joined by the staff of Representative Paolo Duterte and Barangay 8-A Captain James Abadilla, distributed 1,000 food packs to residents in Madapo.
“I am continuing my grandfather’s tradition of sharing blessings with the people of Davao City,” Vice Mayor Duterte said.
This community outreach mirrors a practice started by the former President in the late 1980s, which combined traditional cemetery visits with gift-giving for local residents. Captain Abadilla expressed gratitude to the family for sustaining the decades-old tradition of community support.