Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, Aug. 10, lauded the Leyteños’ resilience and courage for standing up in the aftermath of Typhoon “Odette” that hit the province in December 2021.
Duterte spoke during the celebration of Maasin, Leyte’s 22nd Cityhood anniversary.
“There is nothing that you cannot withstand. There is nothing you cannot overcome. There is nothing that can bring you down on your knees,” she said.
“Maasin City, and its people, are the real definition of strength,” she added.
The city was one of the areas hit by Typhoon Odette, which greatly devastated properties, infrastructures, and agricultural assets, in the Visayas in December last year.
The Vice President also reminded residents to always keep the faith and optimism in facing future challenges.
”Calamities came and tried to destroy you. We do not dream of this -- God forbids -- but if other typhoons will come, the Maasin City, the Leytenos, will not give up,” she said in Bisaya.
She shared that the city is a big part of her family’s life, owing to her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s ancestry.
“We trace our roots back to Maasin City, where my father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, was born,” the lady official said.
“The deep and ancient energy of the Maasin City and its people runs deep in my blood, in my DNA,” she added.
The anniversary program was led by Mayor Nacional Mercado, Governor Damian Mercado, Vice Governor Coco Yap, and Rep. Luz Mercado.
Meanwhile, Duterte’s Facebook post shared that she went to the Limasawa Island on Wednesday morning in Southern Leyte for her “pagbaBAGo” program, which provides bags that include school supplies and dental kits for Grade 1 to Grade 7 students.
Aside from bags, the Vice President and concurrent Education secretary gave away relief goods for the parents and residents in the island.
She also visited the Triana Elementary School to talk with the teachers and look into the state of the school, which was also hit by the typhoon last year.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo kay Limasawa Mayor Melchor Petracorta sa kanyang pagtanggap at pagtulong upang maging matagumpay ang ating ginawang pagbaBAGo distribution (We thank Limasawa Mayor Melchor Petracorta for his welcome and assistance so the pagbaBAGo distribution will be successful),” she wrote.