VICE President Sara Duterte seemed to be the focus of attention during the inauguration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week for sporting a native outfit.
Definitely, she wore a Bagobo Tagabawa traditional dress, a “homage” to her Mindanaoan roots as the pomp came back in the red carpet of the annual speech at the Batasang Pambansa.
“Donning dresses made by acclaimed Filipino designers, politicians and their spouses, including other guests invited, dressed up for the newly-elected President’s first SONA,” Yahoo reported.
In her latest official fb post that has gone viral, she said, “I wore that traditional Bagobo Tagabawa dress to the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr in honor of one of the tribes that form the 11 groups of people of Davao City, apart from the Christians.”
She said that she wore it “in solidarity with the lumads of Mindanao and the many other Indigenous Peoples groups all over the country who have been uprising against the terrorist New People’s Army’s chronic exploitation of their children, arming them as new recruits — never mind if they are still minors and unable to understand the madness of the terrorism espoused by the NPAs.”
By wearing the said traditional costume of the lumads is “to raise awareness of the victimization of the IPs by the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.”
“And I will not waver. In fact, you will see me even more relentless because I have a responsibility to the Filipino people, especially to the Filipino children,” she said.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Sara Duterte was the guest of honor during the 168th Bohol Day celebration July 22, 2022. The celebration was led by Governor Aris Aumentado.
Sara, who is also the Education Secretary, saw for herself the extent of devastation of Clarin National School of Fisheries buildings hit by super typhoon ‘Odette’ during her visit in Clarin town on same day prior to her being guest of the historical event the Boholanos cherished.
The site visit of the Vice-President in Clarin town was part of her official trip to attend to the 168th year Bohol Day celebration on July 22, 2022 based on Republic Act No. 7683, declaring Bohol Day.
Some 360 plus public schools in Bohol were damaged by ‘Odette,’ DepEd reportedly said.
Inday Sara Duterte said in her facebook post, “Bumisita po tayo ngayong araw sa Bohol upang personal na makita ang mga paaralan na sinalanta ng Bagyong Odette noong nakaraang taon.”
Duterte thanked the school teachers and workers of the school. “Maraming salamat sa mga guro at empleyado ng Clarin National School of Fisheries sa oras na inilaan niyo para makausap kayo tungkol sa mga pangangailangan ng bawat paaralan at mga guro.”
Clarin Mayor Eugene Ibarra, who, together with DepEd officials, welcomed Duterte, said he is optimistic of the said meeting with the DepEd secretary to help renovate the said school. The mayor was accompanied by Vice-Mayor Frenz Camacho and other local officials.
Mayor Ibarra, in his fb post, said “Mismong si Department of Education Secretary ug Vice President Inday Sara Duterte ang midawat sa mga papeles o dokumento alang sa mga nadamyos nga mga tunghaan o impastraktura gumikan sa bagyong Odette niadtong nakalabay’ng tuig.”
(Vice-President Duterte personally received the documents that detailed the damages inflicted to the said school caused by the typhoon Odette).
The DepEd Bohol division office led by superintendent Bianito Dagatan with regional director Salustiano Jimenez, Clarin district supervisor Rowena Balduman and other DepEd officials, expressed in return their gratitude to the secretary, according to MayorIbarra in Action fb post. (rvo)
