SINGAPORE — A 14-year-old learner from Bacolod has joined Vice President Sara Duterte in her official engagements in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore as the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council President.

Naomi, a Grade 8 student of Mariano G. Medalla Integrated School, accompanied VP Duterte as the second participant in the special project You Can be VP of the Office of the Vice President.

The project aims to give the participants the chance to see first-hand the job of the Vice President by allowing them to follow her and observe her official engagements.

Participants must have impressive academic records and must show commitment to finish their studies and fulfill their dreams.

It also encourages other learners to aim high and develop their leadership skills.

The You Can be VP was launched last year, with Grade 9 student Trix from Dinalupihan, Bataan as its first recipient. Trix accompanied Duterte in her inaugural foreign travel to Japan to attend the state funeral of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visit the Shibahama Elementary School.

This time, Naomi accompanied the Vice President in her SEAMEO activities in Brunei and Singapore. In Brunei, they visited institutions like the Sekolah Rendah Pusar Ulak, Seri Mulia Sarjana International School, and the SEAMEO VOCTECH Regional Center.

She is set to join Duterte’s Singapore engagements, which include visits to the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, and the SEAMEO Regional Language Centre (RELC) here.

Naomi, who dreams of becoming an architect or a lawyer, described the You Can bd VP Project as “a once in a lifetime opportunity” that gave her the opportunity to visit different learning facilities and experience various instructional modes.

“Nahanga po ako sa Qr code na pag-iniscan mo may 3Dd example na lalabas. Dahil po dito, mas mabilis mae-explain at matuturo ng mga guro sa estudyante ang mga bagay tulad ng heart ng tao, mga dinosaurs noon na hndi natin makita mismo,” Naomi said recalling her experience from an international school in Brunei which uses technology through virtual reality to help learners know and understand certain topics.

She also admitted to having been “overwhelmed” by the amount of VP Duterte’s work, adding that she was impressed by how she carries our her commitments as a state leader.

“Nakita ko kung gaano po ka-busy at gaano ka-pagod maging Vice President. Madami pong events, meetings na ina-attendan. Napaka-hectic po ng schedule nya. Pero kahit nakakapagod po yung trabaho, nagbibigay pa rin sya ng time para ikumusta ang ating kababayan,” she added.

Duterte’s visit in schools in Brunei ended with a celebration of the 125th Philippine Independence Day with the Filipino community.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako nang lubos sa ganitong programa, masasabi ko talaga na nakatulong ito sa akin. Hindi ko ito malilimutan,” Naomi said.

OVP MEDIA