Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Singapore were recognized by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte for their valuable contributions and sacrifices to give better lives to their families in the Philippines. Vice President Sara Duterte addresses the crowd of Filipinos gathered at Orchard Hotel in Singapore on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (OVP photo) Duterte capped her two-day visit in Singapore by meeting the Filipino community there after attending a series of events as part of her duties as president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). The official expressed admiration to Filipino workers abroad, noting their “toughness to support their families”. “Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat sa pagtaas ninyo ng bandera ng Pilipinas dito sa Singapore (Thank you very much for giving honor to the Philippines here in Singapore),” Duterte said during the event held on Wednesday, June 14. “As your Vice President, kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa inyo (we thank you) for your hard work, passion, and your dedication, and most especially for helping your families back in the Philippines,” she added. In her speech, Duterte also shared how President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong admired the OFWs’ quality of work. The Vice President separately met with the two officials before she went to the all-Filipino gathering. “Sinabi nila (They said) that the Filipinos have the touch that is why they truly appreciate their help and their work here in Singapore,” she told those who attended the event. During their meeting, Duterte also thanked the Filipino community for supporting her candidacy in last year’s elections. “Thank you for the honor you have given me to serve as Vice President of our country. It is not given to everyone pero ibinigay ninyo sa akin (but you gave it to me) and we all made history in the last election sa tulong ninyong lahat (with all your help),” she said. Filipino rapper Andrew E performed during the event held at the Orchard Hotel. He was among the celebrities who endorsed Duterte's vice presidential bid in the May 2022 polls. (Photo from Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook) The Vice President also expressed gratitude to Filipinos in Singapore for their support to the eight-point socio economic agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and the administration of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. In her capacity as Education secretary, Duterte called on the OFWs to help instill the value of education among their loved ones in the Philippines. “Dapat po ulit-ulitin nating ipa-intindi sa ating mga anak, mga pamangkin, mga kapatid na kailangan nila magtapos ng kanilang pag-aaral dahil yun ‘yung magpapabago sa kanilang pamilya at sa kanilang personal na buhay (We have to make our children, nephews, nieces, siblings repeatedly understand that they have finish their studies because that will change their familes and their personal lives),” she said.