MEDIUM RARE
Jullie Y. Daza
A triple celebration, Rizal Day, Father’s Day, the day of Sara Duterte’s oath-taking as vice president of the Philippines.
All eyes were on Sara, standing beside her mother and her father the President. The city of Davao turned out to celebrate with her, but other eyes have been following her. An influential voice, eyes-and-ears in the Chinese-Filipino community is keen to note that “China is watching her,” in their eyes Sara possessing all the hallmarks of a presidential future six years from now.
And if China is assessing her performance as the No. 2 of Bongbong Marcos, can the US be far behind? Sara Duterte, from mayor to vice president in one leap, garnering the highest number of votes in a national election ever. Sara Duterte, garnering double the number of votes that her father (likewise a former mayor of Davao City) did in 2016. Sara Duterte, who outperformed her running mate by polling one million more votes than he did in May 2022.
And, as secretary of Education and captain of the ship that will steer our children to a future they will claim with optimism, idealism, and patriotism, who could be a more interesting study?
In her June 19 speech, Inday Sara could not help voicing out her thoughts as a daughter and mother: “Education begins at home.” Direct, straightforward, in plain English using only four words, she articulated the importance of fathers in the upbringing of a child while also emphasizing the roots of patriotism: “Let us show our love of country by serving our family and our community.” This lawyer does not need long, complex sentences decorated with lots of commas, semicolons, conjunctions to drive home a point.
In Metro Manila, Patricia Non of Quezon City received the US Ambassador’s Award for Women of Courage for her community pantry that began as an out-of-the-box idea and set off a countrywide conflagration of lookalikes. Even as she was suspected of harboring communist-inspired ideologies – are communists the only people capable of initiating altruistic programs? – Patricia continued receiving and giving away tons of food donated by generous souls inspired by her example.
Community pantries were born during the Covid pandemic, but they’ll be there at the next emergency or crisis.