Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Host Dinner for Senators
BONGBONG MARCOS – President Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos hosted a dinner for senators, fostering camaraderie and unity at the Bahay ng Pangulo.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos hosted a private dinner for several senators and their spouses at the Bahay ng Pangulo, the official residence within the Malacañang complex, on Monday. The event coincided with the Iglesia ni Cristo’s (INC) “National Rally for Peace” at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, which drew over a million attendees, according to police estimates.
The First Lady shared a photo of the gathering on Facebook, showing the attendance of nearly all senators. Among those present were Senate President Francis Escudero and his wife, actress Heart Evangelista, along with Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Lito Lapid, Francis Tolentino, Sherwin Gatchalian, Raffy Tulfo, Joel Villanueva, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Cynthia Villar, Pia Cayetano, Alan Peter Cayetano, Aquilino Pimentel III, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Nancy Binay, and Robin Padilla.
Based on a report from Philstar, Senator Grace Poe was reportedly present but arrived late for the group photo. Notable absentees included Senator Imee Marcos, the President’s sister, as well as Senators Risa Hontiveros, Ronald dela Rosa, and Bong Go. Senator Marcos’ office stated they did not receive an invitation, while Hontiveros mentioned she would have declined even if invited.
The Palace has not released specific details about the dinner, nor has it clarified whether all senators were invited. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, speaking in an interview at the Department of Budget and Management, noted that he did not attend, describing the dinner as “a very social and private affair.”
Meanwhile, the INC’s rally was organized in support of President Marcos’ stance against impeachment moves targeting Vice President Sara Duterte. Despite the political undertones of the rally, senators emphasized that the dinner was purely social, with no political discussions taking place.
The timing of the dinner alongside the INC’s massive gathering has drawn curiosity, but attendees maintained that the evening was focused on camaraderie and fostering relationships rather than political agendas.
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