DAVAO CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte expressed admiration and respect to a centenarian who celebrated his birthday Monday.

The 100-year-old Teofilo Gamutan, Davao City’s oldest war veteran, was honored for the patriotism, bravery, and leadership that he has shown during World War II.

Gamutan’s family threw a birthday party for the former commanding officer of the Headquarters Company of the 84th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army Reserve in Bohol during World War II.

In her birthday message, the Vice President said Gamutan’s “service during World War II will never be forgotten.”

“I am here to honor a patriot. To celebrate the life of a man whose sacrifices, selflessness, and love of our country brought us our freedom as a country and sharpened our values as a nation that cradled noble heroes,” she said before the families, friends, and co-veterans.

“We look at you today, and we can sense the bravery of your soul and the pride in your heart as someone who fought for the Philippines,” Duterte added.

Gamutan, fondly called Lolo Filo, is also the oldest of the four remaining war veterans of Davao City.

The Vice President said that through Lolo Filo, she learned a lot about her late grandfather, Governor Vicente Duterte, who died 10 years before she was born.

“Through the stories of Sir Teofilo, nakilala ko ang Lolo Vicente ko,” she told the audience.

Last year, Duterte also visited Gamutan during his 99th birthday and asked him about his secret to a long life.

“Gipangutana nako siya unsa may sekreto para sa taas nga kinabuhi? Then he said its patience. To let go of anger or even dili na i-acknowledge ang imong kasuko. Always be happy,” she said.

In celebration of Gamutan’s birthday, his family also organized an outreach activity benefiting residents of the Co Su Gian Home For the Aged, an art exhibition, a film screening, and the launching of the coffee table book “Symphony of Sights” which depicts his life and roots.