Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte stressed the need to work together and help put Filipino children in school as she donated P100,000 to support the programs of a non-profit civic society group.
(Photo from the Office of the Vice President)
Speaking during the 77th annual ball of the Marilao Social Circle Foundation Inc. at the Liwasang San Miguel Arkanghel in Marilao, Bulacan, the official asked the members to prioritize the value of education for young Filipinos.
“Sa lahat ng mga narito ngayon, magtulungan po tayo para ma-isakatuparan ng mga kabataan ang kanilang pangarap (To all of those who are here, let us help each other for the youth to fulfill their dreams),” she said.
“Magtulungan po tayo at tiyakin natin na makapag-aral sila at maitawid nila ang kanilang edukasyon (Let us help each other and ensure that they will study and they can finish their education),” Duterte added.
The P100,000 donation was her way of thanking the Marilao Social Circle Foundation for their initiative to help young people from poor families get an education as she hoped that more young people can benefit from free education.
As the guest speaker for the event, she took the opportunity to call on parents to make sure their children are in school, and protect them from criminality, drugs, insurgency, and terrorism that she said could destroy their dreams and their future.
“Magtulungan din tayo na mailayo natin ang kabataang Pilipino sa kriminalidad, sa ilegal na droga, at sa mga grupong kalaban ng pamahalaan katulad ng NPA (New People’s Army) at mga alyadong grupo nito (Let us also work together to keep the Filipino youth away from criminality, illegal drugs, and groups against the government like the NPA and its allied groups),” the Vice President asked.
“Ang pangarap ng Department of Education (DepEd) — magkaroon tayo ng mga kabataang Pilipino na may puso para sa Pilipinas. Mga batang makabansa. At nais natin na ang Pilipinas ay isang bansang makabata (The dream of the Department of Education — for us to have a Filipino youth who has a heart for the Philippines. Patriotic youth. We want the Philippines to be pro-youth),” she added.
The official also lauded the Marilao Social Circle for being a “good example” to the Filipinos as they continue the tradition of unity, cooperation, charity, and faith, along with the enthusiastic support for the development of the people.
“Sana ang pagdiriwang natin ngayon ay magsilbing paalala sa mga bagay na pinahalagahan natin at mga bagay na gumabay sa atin para malampasan natin ang hirap na dala ng Covid-19 pandemic (May this celebration today serve as a reminder of the things that are important to us and the things that guide us so we can survive the hardships brought by the Covid-19 pandemic),” Duterte said.
“Sana ang mga bagay na ito ay mas lalo pa nating palakasin sa patuloy nating pagharap sa mga hamon na darating pa sa ating buhay bilang isang komunidad, bilang mga Pilipino, bilang isang bansa (May we make these things stronger as we continue to face the challenges that will come to our lives as a community, as Filipino, as a country),” she added.