THE only way Filipinos who truly believe in the leadership of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte can immortalize his legacy is to do better than him, Acting Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte said as he urged FPRRD’s supporters not to give up the fight.
“We have to remain optimistic because to honor all the things that he did for this country is to pick ourselves up and do it harder than he did,” Duterte said during the inauguration of the one-story classroom for Balay Dangupan, the city government’s home for abused girls.
“Kelangan push talaga tayo. Hindi pwede na nagsakripisyo siya at pinakita niya lahat ng kaya niyang gawin para sa minamahal niyang bansa at tayo naman ay titigil lang kasi nandoon siya sa malayo. Hindi pwede (We have to keep on pushing. He sacrificed and showed us all that he can do for his beloved country. We cannot just stop just because he is in a faraway place. That cannot be),” the acting mayor said.
The young Duterte said his father only showed the people the way of good governance and
public service. The challenge now for the Filipino people is to follow that path.
“It’s only a seed that he planted in all of us that we can nurture and someday, it will grow into a tree and immortalize his legacy as President of this country,” Duterte added. “Do not give up, be stronger, and do what he did: Fight for your country.”
Last Wednesday’s inauguration was made possible through the donation by staunch FPRRD supporters Krizette Laureta Chu and Jasmin Egan. The groundbreaking of the building was a gift to FPRRD last year. He attended the groundbreaking and spent time with the girls of Balay Dangupan who call him, Tatay Digong.
Balay Dangupan, the home for abused girls, and House of Hope, the halfway home for children with cancer at the Southern Philippines Medical Center, are two of FPRRD’s favorite charities. In last March 23, 2004 groundbreaking ceremony, he told the girls to approach him anytime and introduce themselves as proud Balay Dangupan girls once they are all grown up and in a better place.
Chu, in her message to the girls, said this is but in fulfillment of their promise to FPRRD.
“We promised him during his birthday last year that we will help him achieve his dreams for the future Filipinos. So hopefully hangga’t makakaya namin we will build more classrooms in the name of PRRD because he inspired us,” she said.
These supporters had earlier funded the rehabilitation of the House of Hope at Margarita Village, the second transient home of children with cancer in Davao City.
“So, laban lang. Two years na lang na,” acting Mayor Duterte said.