Sara Duterte to Filipinos: 'Stand tall, united, and be resilient'

BOCAUE, Bulacan: Vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has called on Filipinos to "fly, soar, fight and win" like the mighty eagle amid the challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and natural disasters.

Duterte-Carpio, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, said the past two years have been "a very challenging time for everyone of us" but added that the country "shall move forward".

"Kung ano man ang problema na meron tayo noon, pinalala pa ito ng (Whatever problems we had before, they were made worse by the) pandemic," she said during the UniTeam proclamation rally at the Philippine Arena here on Tuesday.

"We will live with Covid and we will bounce back like never before," the outgoing Davao City mayor added.

Duterte-Carpio, runningmate of presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said she wanted three things for Filipinos -- jobs and livelihood, quality education, and a peaceful life.

"Tatlo lang, pero hindi madali. At hindi po tayo susuko. Magpupursigi po tayo dahil mahal natin ang Pilipinas (Just three things but they won't be easy. But we will not give up. We will persevere because we love the Philippines)," Duterte-Carpio said.

"Nakita namin firsthand ang hirap na pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kababayan (We saw firsthand the struggles of our countrymen), despite the overwhelming support of our government and the private sector. Pero wala'y mupildi sa Pilipino. Parang pagmomotorsiklo sa buong Pilipinas, lisod, pero (But no one can defeat the Filipino. It's like riding on a motorcycle all over the Philippines, it's hard, but) we can do better. Government can do better. We shall stand tall, united, and resilient," she added.

Duterte-Carpio was referring to the devastation brought by Typhoon Odette to communities during her "Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride" in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Source: TheManila Times