Talk about a vote of confidence.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. gave special mention to two of his appointed Cabinet members during his inaugural speech Thursday, June 30 at the National Museum in Ermita, Manila.
These two were Vice President Sara Duterte, the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary; and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople.
Marcos brought up Duterte's name first as he spoke about overhauling school teaching materials in order to benefit Filipinos.
"What we teach in our schools, the materials used, must be rethought. I am not talking about history. I'm talking about the basics, the sciences, sharpening theoretical aptitude and imparting vocational skills such as in the German example. Alongside the National Language; with equal emphasis and facility in a global language; which we had and lost," he said.
"Our teachers from elementary up are our heroes fighting ignorance with poor paper weapons. We are condemning the future of our race to menial occupations abroad. Then they are exploited by traffickers. Once we had an education system that prepared coming generations for more and better jobs.
"There is hope for a comeback. Vice President and soon-to-be Secretary of Education, Sara Duterte-Carpio, will fit that mission to a T," Marcos confidently said.
According to the newly-inaugurated leader, government must give overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) all the advantages that it can in order for them to survive and to thrive.
"Our nurses are the best in the world. They acquitted themselves with the highest distinction abroad, having suffered even the highest casualties. With the same exemplary dedication at home they just got by. They are out there because we cannot pay them for the same risk and workload that we have back here," he said.
"There will be changes starting tomorrow. I am confident because I have an Ople in my Cabinet," Marcos noted.
Vice President Duterte is the eldest daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who Marcos succeeded in Malacañang.
Ople is the daughter of the late former Senate President and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Blas Ople.