More than 6,000 Dabawenyos from various sectors received food packs from Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday.
In a statement shared by the Office of the Vice President (OVP), a total of 669 Special Education (SPED) students at the Apolinario Mabini Elementary School and Davao City Special National High School in Barangay Bangkal were among the recipients of the spaghetti packs and five kilograms of rice.
The same items were distributed to 1,500 children in Barangay New Camer in Tugbok District. The goods also benefited children from nearby barangays of New Valencia and Matina Biao.
The vice president also led the distribution of another 2,000 packs to sidewalk vendors and 2,002 barangay functionaries at the People’s Park.
She reiterated her message of loving, forgiving, and sharing as the core theme for Christmas and also thanked Dabawenyos for supporting her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The vice president led the return of the face-to-face traditional Christmas gift-giving activity of the Duterte family at the ancestral house of FPRRD in Taal, Bangkal, Davao City on December 25, 2022.
Commonly called “Pahalipay sa Taal” is perhaps the most anticipated yearly activity in Davao City that was started by former President Rodrigo Duterte where people, including those from neighboring provinces and regions, go and line up for grocery packs and gift certificates.
In her message, the vice president emphasized the three virtues of Christmas for people to live a peaceful life: love, forgiveness, and sharing.
“Una, ang pasko ay para sa paghigugmaay or love. Dili kinahanglan na dagko atong mga regalo. Ang importante sa pasko, ay malipay ang kasing-kasing sa atong mga minahal sa kinabuhi. Ikaduha, pagpasaylo or forgiveness. Karong adlawa gianak ang atong Lord Jesus Christ. Ang mensahe Niya, mangayo ta ug pasaylo sa Ginoo. Mao pud na ang tema sa pasko,” she added.
