Loving, grateful, selfless Inday Sara on overcoming difficulties, achieving aspirations
SARA Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio commits to heart the priorities of God, country, and family. This was one of the most important lessons the 15th Vice President and the appointed secretary of Education in the Philippines, popularly known in the Inday Sara, has learned as she navigates life and the same thing that she believes people should ponder upon as one COUNTRY UNITED IN THEIR DETERMINATION TO OVERCOME DIFfiCULTIES and achieve aspirations.
The hardworking and dedicated DuterteCarpio’s life is a testament to the power of a God, whom we know by many names. “My younger self was consumed by a dream to become a doctor,” VP Sara said in an interview.
The second child of former 16th Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte and former flight attendant and teacher Elizabeth Zimmerman pursued a pathway that she thought could help her realize that dream, but the first-ever elected woman and the youngest vice mayor and mayor of Davao City was directed toward another way: she is now a lawyer.
When she committed herself to governance and public service, Duterte-Carpio, whose socio-political acumen and leadership skills have been sharpened by the Duterte family’s tradition of working in the government and serving the people, was also determined to finish three consecutive terms as mayor; that will not happen anymore as she is now the vice president.
The voice of 32.2 million Filipinos was loud and clear — with the message to serve the motherland. And this message has been reiterated in her oath: to consecrate herself to the service of the nation.
There is a God, said Duterte-Carpio who had a brief stint as a court attorney in the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 2006. A God whose will transcends the desires of hearts, one whose will directs to the way that might not have imagined — but a way that consecrates themselves every day to help the fellowmen overcome the difficulties they face in their lives, to change lives, to save lives.
Duterte-Carpio, who demonstrated transformational leadership skills among the members of the City Council in 2007, believes the country will be heading toward a future of hope, security, strength, stability, and progress if people all take a moment to listen to the call to serve and decide to heed the call.
She urges people to show their love for the country by taking care of their families and communities despite the unending challenges that come their way.
Davao City soared to greater heights and emerged as a premier city in Mindanao, said the politician who relentlessly pursued peace and progress in her administration and has been recognized both here and abroad for the work that she has done as local chief executive.
Children are facing a very complex future, one that is rife with conflict and uncertainties. Duterte-Carpio — whose advocacies are reflected in the projects dearest to her such as the Peace 911, a local peace initiative; Magnegosyo Ta ‘Day (MTD), a livelihood support project; PagbaBAGo campaign; and the Kean Gabriel Hotline, an anonymous reporting platform for abused children — said a strong, loving, happy family sets down all the basic foundations essential in the development and growth of a child.
In Davao City, the MTD has been successful in enabling its beneficiaries by augmenting their daily income, making them economically empowered and independent. The project has been adopted by the Office of the Vice President for nationwide implementation.
Duterte-Carpio also shared how Peace 911, a project in Davao City where she served as mayor and now adopted by the Office of the Vice President, transformed the far-flung community of the city’s Paquibato District which used to be a stronghold of the New People’s Army.
The PagbaBAGo campaign is a program which aims to instill the importance of basic education and nurture the right attitude among young Filipinos to succeed in life. It was Duterte-Carpio’s program when she was still mayor of Davao City. It has become part of the VP’s activities during her visits in cities
and towns across the country.
Duterte shared her experience when she was still mayor of Davao City that led to the creation of the Kean Gabriel Hotline. Kean Gabriel was a child who died because of abuse. Since the creation of the hotline in 2016, the city has no recorded child death due to abuse. The Department of Education will be in the forefront of the campaign to end violence and sexual abuse in schools.
At home, the adopted member of the Philippine Military Academy Maharlika Class of 1984 and the Philippine National Police Academy Tagapagkalinga Class of 1991 noted parents have the duty to teach children the values of integrity, discipline, respect, and compassion for others.
The member of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Army Reserve Command also added to never forget it is the duty of each Filipino family to emphasize that education begins at home.
The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy graduate from the San Pedro College in Davao City stressed people should not — as they could not afford — to squander the future of children.
The days ahead of people may be full of challenges that call for them to be more united as a nation, said Duterte-Carpio, who received her Juris Doctor degree from the San Sebastian College-Recoletos in the Manila, spent four years of law school at the San Beda, and her final year in San Sebastian.
The proud “Dabawenya” and “Mindanawon” Duterte-Carpio, married to fellow lawyer Manases Reyes Carpio and they have three children, namely Shark, Stingray and Stonefish, reiterated people can never go wrong if they are dedicated to honoring the will of God, to serving the country and fellowmen, and to protecting the integrity of the families and the future of our children.
The Manila Times wishes Vice President Inday Sara a happy 45th birthday.