Sara Takes Oath: God, Country, Family First

DAVAO CITY – Vice president-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio rallied Filipinos to unite and show love for country as it faces unprecedented challenges that threaten the future of the younger generation as she took her oath of office on Sunday, June 19.

“We should not – as we could not afford to – squander the future of our children,” Duterte-Carpio, the first female vice president from Mindanao, said in her inaugural speech.

“The days ahead 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,” she added.

The inauguration, the first to be held in Mindanao, was a break from tradition as it happened 11 days before Duterte-Carpio formally assumes the vice presidency at noon on June 30.

President Duterte, who has not spoken with his eldest daughter since August last year, attended the inauguration, which coincided with Father’s Day.

The incoming vice president’s inauguration was witnessed by thousands of supporters who endured the sweltering heat at the San Pedro Square in this city.

The crowd cheered when the father and daughter hugged on stage after she took her oath.

Duterte-Carpio’s mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, held the Bible while the oath was being administered by Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando.

Other members of the family, including the vice president-elect’s husband Manases Carpio, their children Mikhaila Maria, Mateo Lucas and Marko Digong, and Davao City mayor-elect Sebastian Duterte-Carpio attended the inauguration.

Also present were president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Louise and son, Ilocos Norte representative-elect Sandro; former president and returning Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo; incoming leaders and members of Congress, and local officials from different parts of the country.

Top diplomats, including US chargé d’affaires Heather Variava and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, were also in attendance.

Commitment to serve

Wearing green Filipiniana made by Davao-based designer Silverio Anglacer, Duterte-Carpio in her speech reiterated her full commitment to serve the country.

“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,” she said.

Duterte-Carpio served as Davao City mayor from 2010 to 2013, and again from 2016 up to this year.

“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,” the incoming vice president said.

“I am not the best or the most intelligent person in the world – but no one can surpass my heart as a Filipino,” she declared in Filipino.

Duterte-Carpio obtained the highest number of votes received by any candidate for a national post in Philippine history.

At 44 years old, she will also be the youngest person to assume the vice presidency in the country.

She will be the third vice president from Mindanao, after Emmanuel Pelaez (1961 to 1965) and Teofisto Guingona Jr. (2001 to 2003), and the third female to hold the office, after Arroyo (1998 to 2001) and outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo.

Protecting children

Duterte-Carpio’s speech largely focused on her call to work together to ensure a better future for the next generation.

“Our children are facing a very complex future, one that is rife with conflict and uncertainties,” she said, citing challenges such as poverty, the trauma of broken families, gender discrimination, illegal drugs, HIV, abuses, teenage pregnancy, illiteracy, bullying, unstable mental wellness, terrorism and misinformation.

“A strong, loving, happy family 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,” Duterte-Carpio said.

“And we should never forget that it is the duty of each Filipino family to emphasize that education begins at home,” she added.

The incoming vice president will concurrently serve as the education chief in the next administration.

Prior to the oath taking, she attended a thanksgiving mass celebrated by Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles at the San Pedro Cathedral.

The inauguration was followed by a thanksgiving concert featuring artists who performed during the campaign sorties of Marcos and Duterte-Carpio tandem.

Palace asks Filipinos to support VP

Malacañang called on Filipinos to support Duterte.

“We are one with the whole Filipino nation in witnessing with excitement the inauguration ceremony of outgoing Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio as the 15th vice president of the Philippines. We once again express our deep gratitude to the Filipino people for the trust and support they have given to the vice president-elect,” acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said in a statement.

“As we previously articulated, let us stand behind Vice President-elect Duterte-Carpio and all other newly elected leaders as they embark on the responsibilities and challenges of their offices and fulfill their mandate of delivering genuine change to our beloved country,” he added.

House officials congratulate Sara

Two key officials of the House of Representatives – Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda – have also extended their congratulations to Duterte-Carpio.

“By her victory, she has done her father, President Duterte, her family and her constituents proud. It’s just apt that she wants to begin her term as Vice President in her home city,” Romualdez – the incoming speaker come July 25 – said.

“More importantly, the victory of Mayor Sara and president-elect Bongbong Marcos is the triumph of the more than 31 million Filipinos who shared their message of unity for the country and their aspiration of a better life for our people,” the Leyte congressman said.

Salceda, who heads the House committee on ways and means, lauded the incoming education secretary for her “historic victory,” owing to the record high 32.2 million votes she obtained in the May 9 presidential elections.

He said Duterte-Caprio has the “largest number of votes garnered by any elected official in the country, and the largest vote share, at 61.53 percent, gathered by a candidate for president or vice president since Ramon Magsaysay.”

“Right from when we were together in the Regional Development Council meetings around 10 years ago, I have always known that she was made of leadership mettle. I was the least surprised when people began to look to her for national leadership,” Salceda added.

“As I believe in her and her judgment, when she asked me to gather forces in support of PGMA (former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) as Speaker, and to elect LAV (Lord Allan Velasco) as Speaker, I did not hesitate to take up the mission,” he related further. – With Edith Regalado, Alexis Romero, Delon Porcalla