Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday stressed the importance of art and education in developing the future of children as she joined the Rizaleños in celebrating the Higantes Festival, the first physical celebration of the festival since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the Philippines over two years ago.
In her speech in Angono, also known as the Art Capital of the Philippines, Duteret said it was an honor to join in the festivities.
She also beamed the spotlight on the people of Angono for continuing the "noble work of ensuring that we do not forget the historical significance of this festival."
"Through these colorful and gigantic papier-mâché puppets, our forebears expressed their deep-seated yearning for freedom that planted the seeds and the call for change," she added.
Duterte, also the Education Secretary, reiterated how art, through countless published articles, benefits children’s growth and development, including its impact on early childhood education and the development of their creativity, skills, and talents, among others.
She likewise emphasized the importance of education as a tool for developing children. She said education would keep children away from the hands of groups like the New People’s Army and their front organizations and away from the lure of illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, the Vice President acknowledged the recent achievements of the local government unit of Angono by being recognized as the most competitive municipality in terms of infrastructure during the recently concluded 10th Cities, Municipalities Competitive Summit and ranking as the sixth most competitive municipality out of more than 1,400 municipalities across the country.
The municipality of Angono also repeatedly achieved the Seal of Good Local Governance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government from 2015 to 2020.
"From a third-class municipality in 1998, Angono is now a first-class municipality. At dahil iyon sa pagkakaisa ninyong lahat (This is because you are united)," she said.
"Even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, your town’s economy grew with gross sales of registered firms reaching over 14 billion," she added.