Manila: The profile of Sebastian Duterte, the 28-year old son of incoming Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, has been rising on social media.
Described as “everybody’s crush,” the third child of Duterte by his first wife Elizabeth Zimmerman is ruggedly handsome, shy, with tattoos adorning his arms, thighs, and nape; and a small ring dangling on his upper lip.
“Hello Dubai,” the young Duterte waved his hands, as he said a thousand other hellos, and blew kisses (in close-up) to many overseas supporters of his father who won in the May 9 polls.
The live “thanksgiving” video, which also showed him eating grilled chicken on the sidewalk — entitled “Finding Sebastian” — attracted a million views on Facebook.
“He’s simple, handsome, and receiving many marriage proposals,” someone narrated in the video which came from Joblack Nkemalokam.
The young Duterte drew raves when he sang two rock songs at Cebu Coliseum after the second presidential debate at Cebu’s University of the Philippines (central Philippines) on March 20.
His photos began to circulate on social media during his father’s initial rally in Manila’s Tondo on February 9. He was adored when he and actor Robin Padilla campaigned for Duterte in Hong Kong on February 21.
Speaking about life as his father’s campaigner, the young Duterte revealed his former professors at the Ateneo de Davao University and his father’s campaign team helped him respond to issues and current events that might be asked of him.
He refused to speak ill of his father’s rivals in the presidential race, saying, “I do not know them.”
Looking forward on his life as a president’s son, Duterte said, “I hope it is not restrictive. I’d rather stay in Davao City,” adding, “There will be more security guards, more picture-taking. This did not happen before.”
When asked about the future, he said, “I am saving up for my wedding,” adding he has had a live-in partner for three years, the mother of his second child. He also has another five-year child.
A day in his life before his father won the elections, included, “waking up, going to work, visiting my junk shop, then surfing,” Duterte said, adding, “I spend most of my time surfing.” His passion for the sea is something he could not give up soon.
Describing his father as a grandfather, Duterte said, “He plays with his grandchildren, he looks after them, he carries them around. He’s a typical grandfather.”
On his father as a disciplinarian, Duterte revealed “being whipped with a leather belt” and being told by his father, “‘Don’t [expletive] with me’ [when he did something wrong],” and being hugged after being punished.
The young Duterte admitted his father was right in advising him not to pursue law despite passing an entrance examination at Manila’s San Beda College in 2012, because of his lifestyle.
He could not help but praise his father, mayor of Davao City for more than 20 years, adding, “I admire him. I look up to him. He is my model.” His father’s campaign promise to end crime in three to six months is “a promise that he will fulfil,” predicted the young Duterte.
His elder sister Sara Duterte-Carpio served as Davao City’s mayor (she takes care of their cancer-stricken mother Elizabeth). His brother Paolo is Davao City’s vice mayor.
