Palace Defends Marcoses' Birthday Dinner Amid Flood Criticism

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is facing public backlash after videos circulated showing him singing at his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos’ birthday celebration during a weekend marked by widespread flooding across the country. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto defended the President on Tuesday, stating that it was not raining at the time of the First Lady's birthday dinner. "What I knew was it was the First Lady’s birthday. They just had dinner. And at that time, it was not raining," Recto said in an ambush interview. He reiterated that it was a "small party" and that the weather was clear over the weekend when the First Lady, who turned 67 on August 21, celebrated her birthday. The First Lady had earlier drawn criticism for posting about taking a "birthday sabbatical" amidst the ongoing flooding. Despite the criticism, Recto maintained that there was nothing insensitive about the event. "Like I said, at that time, it was the First Lady’s birthday. They had a small party and it wasn’t raining that weekend." Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro stated that the President continued to monitor the flooding situation and had ordered concerned agencies to respond accordingly to the impacts of the inclement weather. Continuous heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon, locally known as Habagat, caused flooding in Metro Manila and several areas in Luzon over the recent weekend. The incident highlights concerns about the government's response and public perception during times of natural disaster. The Philippines is frequently hit by extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, placing continuous scrutiny on the administration's crisis management capabilities.