President Marcos on Sunday greeted Wilfredo ‘Tata Willy’ Avila, a longtime photographer of the Marcos family who celebrated his 89th birthday.
In his latest vlog on Sunday, Marcos made a special mention of Avila, describing him as a family member who had been with them through decades of political highs and lows.
The President said Avila was also a September birthday celebrant, along with him (Sept. 13), his sister Irene (Sept. 16) and their father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. (Sept. 11).
President Marcos’ birthday wish for him: ‘Another 100 years to live, Tata Willy.’
Avila had been featured in Marcos’ previous vlog episodes, including in 2021, when Marcos visited him in his home in San Pedro, Laguna, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic after he got vaccinated.
Avila served as Marcos father’s photographer and later became the chief presidential photographer of the first family when Marcos became the president.
‘He is always with us wherever we go. He has been there through everything our Marcos family has gone through,’ Marcos said.
According to the president, Avila remained with the Marcos family even after his father’s presidency ended and the family left Malacañang.
‘When I returned to the Palace, there he was again. So, through everything we have gone through, Tata Willie has always been there,’ Marcos said.