Duterte admits consulting a dermatologist for skin discoloration

THE NATION

President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo by AARON FAVILA / AP)

President Rodrigo Duterte in a speech at the Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel on Thursday admitted that he consulted a dermatologist to check the skin discoloration on his face. This was after speculations surfaced that his skin discoloration is caused by a serious illness.

He then blamed a facial cream he was using, for the discoloration on his face. “Kasi yang ginamit ko kasi, ‘yang sa asawa ko, ah cream lang ‘yan. Yung asawa ko Shisheido, may 1, 2, 3, 4,” he added.

Shisheido, is a Japanese skincare brand that includes make-up and anti-aging treatments.

“One, sabunan mo sige. Two, mahapdi na. Three, four, five tapos meron pa ‘yung maliit,” describing his skin regimen. ‘Yun sa asawa mo okay na ‘yan. Pagtingin ko, ‘Pu*t*n*i**, bakit nangitim ako lalo?’,” he added.

He was bothered about the discoloration on his face that prompted him to seek medical treatment for it. “A dermatologist visited me. She is a lady but she is very good,”

“Maitim man talaga ako. Lolo ko Aprikano eh. Sabi ko, ano ginagamit mo? Sinulat ko, pinapicturan ko dun sa Davao ng kasama sa bahay, tapos pinadala dito pinatingnan,” he said.

“Sabi niya, ito lang ang gamitin mo. Itong dalawa. Pati ito lang, ‘yan lang, ‘yung iba huwag mo na gamitin, mas lalo ka iitim. Totoo. I do not have the permission but she’s very good,” he added.

He said that the character of a man should not be based on skin color and should be judged right away as someone with illness. And it is normal for people his age to have ailments.

“Tinitingnan ko lang. Eh ano, para sa akin lalaki is not really the color of your skin on the face, it’s the character. Hindi ako bilib diyan sa… Guwapo-guwapo tapos ano pa pala,” he said.

“Ako 73 years old. Huwag kayong magtanong kung may sakit ako o wala. Lahat ng 73 years old dito sa pu*t*n*i** mundong ito may sakit. Pareho kayo dala-dala na ‘yang mga maintenance nila,” he said.