First Lady Liza Marcos draws criticism over ‘birthday sabbatical’ post amid habagat floods

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 18, 2026

Photo courtesy: Liza Marcos Facebook Page

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos faced backlash online after announcing a break from official duties just as heavy rains and flooding hit Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

In a social media post Monday, August 17, the First Lady shared a photo of herself in a garden setting, announcing the start of her weeklong “birthday sabbatical” ahead of her 67th birthday on August 21.

“Happy Monday, everyone! Excited to start my birthday sabbatical. No makeup. No hairspray. No terno. No heels. No speeches. No official photos. No meetings. No schedule. No stress. Just me & Mother Nature. Time to slow down, recharge and enjoy the quiet. Stay safe & dry, everyone! See you next Monday!” she wrote.

The post drew mixed reactions online, with some criticizing the timing given that Metro Manila and several parts of Luzon and the Visayas were experiencing flooding and disruptions caused by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, which has brought persistent rains since the start of August.

This is not the first time Araneta-Marcos has taken a birthday break from her duties. 

She has marked her birthday with a similar sabbatical in previous years, describing it in past posts as a chance to step back from her public role as First Lady.