PH’s 15th Vice President takes her oath

DAVAO CITY – OUTGOING Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on late Sunday afternoon took her oath as the Philippines’ 15th vice president as she called on the Filipino people to stand united in winning the battle against all the problems besetting the nation.

“The days ahead of us may be full of challenges that call for us to be more united as a nation. But let me reiterate this we can never go wrong if we are a people dedicated to honoring the will of God, to serving our country and our fellowmen, and protecting the integrity of our families and the future of our children,” Duterte said in her inaugural speech at San Pedro Square here.

“One of the most important lessons I have learned as I navigate life and the same thing that I believe we should ponder upon as one country united in our determination to overcome our difficulties and achieve our aspirations is that we should commit to heart the priorities of God, country, and family. My life is a testament to the power of a God, whom we know by many names. My younger self was consumed by a dream to become a doctor. I pursued a pathway that I thought could help me realize that dream, but I was directed toward another way. And now I am a lawyer,” Duterte added.

President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr., Atty. Liza Araneta-Marcos, Ilocos Norte Representative-elect Sandro Marcos, House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, and incoming Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez attended the inauguration.

Marcos told reporters he is confident that Duterte will perform her job as vice president excellently.

“I’m so proud of her, so proud of her. She’s gonna be great, she’ll do a great job. I know it,” Marcos said.

Duterte expressed strong belief ”the country will be heading toward a future of hope, security, strength, stability, and progress” if all Filipinos “listen to the call to serve and decide to heed the call in the same way that many are already devoting their lives as hardworking farmers and fisherfolk that ensure there is food on our tables, dedicated health workers who help the sick, brave soldiers who fight for our country, honest and fair entrepreneurs who support our economy, patient school teachers that guide our children.”

At 3 p.m., Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles officiated a thanksgiving mass at San Pedro Cathedral here before Duterte was sworn into office by Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando.

In the presence of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on stage, Elizabeth Zimmerman, Sara Duterte’s mother, held the Bible during her inauguration.

“When I committed myself to governance and public service, I was also determined to finish three consecutive terms as Mayor. That will not happen anymore. I am now the Vice President-Elect,” Sara Duterte, also the incoming secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), said.

Sara Duterte said “the voice of 32.2 million Filipinos was loud and clear with the message to serve our motherland. And this message has been reiterated in my oath: to consecrate myself to the service of the nation.”

“There is a God. A God whose will transcends the desires of our hearts, one whose will directs us to the way that we might not have imagined but a way that consecrates ourselves every day to help our fellowmen overcome the difficulties they face in their lives, to change lives, to save lives,” Sara Duterte stressed.

Sara Duterte honored the sacrifices of Dr. Jose Rizal on the commemoration of the latter’s birthday Sunday by asking Filipinos to follow all his sacrifices for the country.

“May his memory light up the fire within us to become patriots. Rizal taught us that selflessness and sacrifice could change our country’s fate and shape our children’s future. The bravery of Rizal completes the fabric of our identity as Filipinos. Magkasama sana tayong bumangon bawat araw kasabay ang nag-aalab na pangako sa ating mga puso na mahal natin at patuloy nating mamahalin
ang Pilipinas hangga’t tayo ay nabubuhay. Let us show our love for our country by taking care of our families and communities despite the unending challenges that come our way,” she said.

On the celebration of Father’s Day, Sara Duterte underscored the importance of “a strong, loving, happy family” in nation-building as “it sets down all the basic foundations essential in the development and growth of a child.”

“At home, parents have the duty to teach children the values of integrity, discipline, respect, and compassion for others. And we should never forget that it is the duty of each Filipino family to emphasize that education begins at home,” Sara Duterte said. “We should not as we could not afford to squander the future of our children.”

“Today is Father’s Day. This is a time for families to celebrate but you are here with me. Daghang salamat sa inyong pagtambong ug pagkuyog kanako niining adlawa. Happy Father’s day to all the fathers who make sure that another person is given the best of everything,” she said.

“Today, our children are facing a very complex future, one that is rife with conflict and uncertainties. Some of these challenges include the winding cycle of poverty, the trauma of broken families, the life-long baggage because of irresponsible and bad parenting, the abandonment issues due to an absentee parent, the anguish of gender confusion and discrimination, the destruction brought about by drugs, the lure of easy money in criminality, cases of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, the failure to identify and speak up against different kinds of abuses, the life altering effects of teenage pregnancy, the detrimental effects of illiteracy, the emotional injury of bullying, unstable mental wellness, recruitment to support terrorism, misinformation in the internet and the list could be endless,” Sara Duterte said.

“Ako po si Inday Sara. A proud Dabawenya. A proud Mindanawon. Hindi ako ang pinakamagaling, o pinakamatalinong tao sa Pilipinas at sa mundo ngunit walang makakatalo sa tibay ng puso ko bilang isang Filipino. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Daghang Salamat,” she ended.