Pres. Duterte Mulls Renaming of Malacañang Palace

Plans to rename “Malacañang Palace” to “People’s Palace” is being mulled by President Rodrigo Duterte to bring it closer to the people.

The 200-year-old Malacañang Palace is the official residence and workplace of the President of the Philippines located in Manila.

“That’s why I always say it, I know the palace of the people called Malacañang. You have heard me say that. I never say diretso ‘Malacañang Palace’.”

He said, “call it Malacañang Palace, I only call it ‘The People’s Palace,” he said.

He said he wanted the poor to set foot in the palace.

“Yun ang dapat mga tao magkain doon kasi kanila ‘yung bayan. And one day, I’ll invite also everybody. Dahan-dahan lang. Itong mahirap. Itong mahirap kasi dito nag-aano ng– kung hindi ‘yan malakas sa isa, hindi nakakita ‘yan. So I’ll invite mga taga-Tondo, Pandacan muna, para makita nila anong palasyo ng tao [The ordinary citizens may eat there because the palace is theirs. One day, I’ll invite everybody, slowly but surely… I’ll invite those from Tondo and Pandacan first so that they will see the people’s palace],” he said.

The President said he wanted to be close to the marginalized. “So I protect people who have helped me. If they have helped us, hindi naman pulitika eh, hindi naman talaga ako makatakbo uli, ang pulitika ko is ‘yung nakakatulong sa bayan na dinadala ko sa balikat ko, ‘yun ang mga tao [This is not politics. I won’t run again. My politics is helping the people who I carry on my shoulders],” he said.(PNA) JMC/PND/EDS