On March 28, the southern city of Davao in the Philippines witnessed an unprecedented event as over one hundred thousand people took to the streets to celebrate the 80th birthday of former President Rodrigo Duterte. This event, named "World Peace Celebration," not only became the largest political rally in recent years in the Philippines but also triggered a chain reaction across five continents.
Citywide Celebration Preparations
The Davao City government initiated the "Phoenix Plan" 72 hours in advance:
Educational System Adjustment: 12 schools in the city center switched to online teaching, affecting 23,000 students and teachers
Traffic Control Upgrade: The eight-lane CM Recto Avenue in the core area was closed for 12 hours
Security Deployment: 1,800 police officers formed a three-layer security circle, equipped with facial recognition systems
Live Celebration Scene
Around 8 AM, supporters began gathering with banners saying "Thank you for the iron-fisted drug ban." According to police drone monitoring, by noon, the crowd around San Pedro Square had exceeded 80,000. Special features at the site included:
Duterte's political career photo gallery (from his term as mayor of Davao in 1998 to the present)
Traditional "Kadayawan" dance performances by folk art groups
A giant birthday cake installation (8 meters in diameter, symbolizing 8 years in presidency)
Global Synchronization of the Event
This political carnival has evolved into an international event:
Asia Region: A flash mob of hundreds appeared on the Bund in Shanghai
North America Region: Times Square in New York continuously displayed birthday celebration videos
Middle East Region: The Burj Khalifa in Dubai lit up with the colors of the Philippine flag
The organizers revealed that 79 major cities and 14 countries around the world held simultaneous celebrations, with an estimated total participation exceeding 500,000 people.
Political Analyst Interpretation
Carlos Chen, a political science professor at the University of Manila, analyzed: "This is actually a precursor to the 2025 midterm elections. The Duterte family is showcasing their grassroots mobilization capability to pave the way for his daughter Sara to claim the presidency." It is noteworthy that the current President Marcos Jr.'s camp has not yet issued an official congratulatory message.
Traffic Impact Assessment
Data from the Davao City Traffic Command Center shows:
The congestion index soared by 287% during the peak period on the 28th
20 additional shuttle bus services were added to the airport express line
Ride-hailing platforms implemented a 3x surge pricing control
The celebration is expected to continue into the late night, and the police are prepared to handle any emergencies that may arise. This time-zone-spanning birthday extravaganza is redefining the political expression in the Philippines.
