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LOOK: Speaker Alvarez celebrates 60th birthday in Davao party

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<p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> - House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Friday celebrated his 60th birthday in a party that gathered a power crowd at the Tagum City Hall in his native Davao del Norte. </p><p>Some of the country&#x27;s top officials graced the event, including President Rodrigo Duterte and Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Alvarez&#x27;s fellow stalwarts in the ruling Partido Demokratiko - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). </p><p>Also present at the celebration were Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua and Russian Ambassador to Manila Igor Khovaev. Television host Boy Abunda and singer Jed Madela also lent their star power to make the Speaker&#x27;s birthday more special.</p><p>Part of the Tagum City Hall was transformed into a grand entertainment stage with strobe lights, LED screens, and blasting speakers to celebrate Alvarez&#x27;s 60th birthday.</p><p>Here are some photos from the Speaker&#x27;s birthday bash</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/01/13/alvarez-1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/01/13/alvarez-2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/01/13/alvarez-3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/01/13/alvarez-4.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/01/13/alvarez-5.jpg"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez welcomes President Rodrigo Duterte to his birthday party. <cite>Handout</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III shakes the hand of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. <cite>Handout</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua (left) and Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev (right) were among guests invited to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez&#x27;s birthday party. <cite>Handout</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez thanks guests who attended his birthday party. <cite>Handout</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez thanks guests who attended his birthday party. <cite>Handout</cite></p></div></div></div><p>In a press briefing Saturday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque downplayed criticism that Alvarez&#x27;s birthday party was &quot;lavish&quot; amid the President&#x27;s call for modest living among government officials.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t think it can be described as &#x27;magarbo&#x27; (lavish) because he only availed of the physical facilities of Tagum (city hall). I can tell you, it was a very simple menu,&quot; Roque, who attended the event with Duterte, told reporters in Cebu.</p><p>&quot;There was quite a number of personalities invited given his stature. He had to invite his colleagues in Congress, people in government, but more importantly, he had to invite his constituents. But it was very simple in terms of program and menu,&quot; he added.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/13/18/duterte-sings-for-alvarez-in-birthday-party">Duterte sings for Alvarez in birthday party</a></li></ul>

<p>MANILA - House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Friday celebrated his 60th birthday in a party that gathered a power crowd at the Tagum City Hall in his native Davao del Norte. </p>

MANILA - House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Friday celebrated his 60th birthday in a party that gathered a power crowd at the Tagum City Hall in his native Davao del Norte.