The May 2022 Philippine
Presidential Elections may well be considered the most era-defining political exercise
in the country’s history. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son of former
President Ferdinand Marcos, was elected to office in the largest victory margin
since his father’s own back in 1981. No less formidable is his would-have-been
competitor-turned-running mate, and now Vice President-elect: Sara
Duterte-Carpio, Mayor of Davao City and daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo
Duterte. Officially, elected officials would take office on June 30 of the
election year, when their inaugurations usually take place. VP-elect Duterte
however decided to be inaugurated early this past Sunday.
The Philippine Star reports that Sara Duterte went into her early
inauguration as 15th Vice President of the Philippines on June 19.
True to form and in honor of her hometown, of which her current Mayoral term is
soon to conclude, the VP-elect was inaugurated in San Pedro Square of Davao
City, 11 days before the traditional inauguration day and start of term on June
30. In fact, despite the ceremony Duterte will not start work as Vice President
until the last day of the month.
Supreme Court Associate Justice
Ramon Paul Hernando administered the oath of office to “Inday Sara”, while her
mother Elizabeth Zimmermann held the Bible she swore on and Presidents Rodrigo
Duterte (outgoing) and Bongbong Marcos (incoming) stood as the chief witnesses.
In her inauguration speech, Duterte-Carpio explained her decision to be
inaugurated early in that it would allow her to do so in Davao City itself,
where she served as Mayor for three terms (2010-13 and 2016-2022). She also
remarked on what could have been with her life if she did not follow her father’s
political footsteps, noting that she initially thought of becoming a doctor.
The call to service by the people however, steered her until this important moment.
“I am not the best or the
smartest in the Philippine but nobody in the Philippines or even the world has
greater heart than I do as a Filipino,” declared Inday Sara in her speech. And
voters last May agreed, with Duterte earning more than 32 million votes or 61%
of the total. The outgoing Davao City Mayor also has the full confidence of
incoming President Bongbong Marcos, who has already appointed her as his
Secretary of Education. Among Duterte’s ideas for the future of DepEd include
the return of face-to-face classes and ROTC program, and introducing mandatory
military service.
Image courtesy of Nikkei Asia
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