The post drew over 100,000 likes and well wishes from thousands of commenters.
Days before her birthday, the First Lady announced in a photo taken in a sunny Malacañang garden that she would be taking a sabbatical. The announcement drew criticism, however, as Metro Manila and neighboring provinces were then being inundated by floodwaters.
No offense intended
The Palace quickly apologized to those offended by the Facebook post.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the First Lady understood the netizens’ sentiments and they had a right to express their opinions.
She noted, however, that days before the heavy rains fell, the First Lady had done socio-civic work, including distributing rice to senior citizens in Negros Occidental as part of her “Lab For All” program and meeting with sugar industry stakeholders in a bid to revitalize the sugar industry.