DAVAO CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday graced her family's traditional Christmas gift-giving for the Dabawenyos at the ancestral house of former President Rodrigo Duterte along Taal Road in Central Park Subdivision here.

Grocery packs were given to Davawenyos, who were also provided with breakfast and lunch 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,” Duterte said.

“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.

The Vice President reiterated “sharing” as the third virtue of Christmas.

These virtues, Duterte said, will lead people to live in peace because people forgive and share, especially to those who are not able to receive anything in this season.

Andriana Arcillas, 79, said she has been waiting near the venue since 1 p.m. Saturday just to personally thank the Vice President for the medication and burial assistance that they have been receiving from the Dutertes since 2015.

“Wala’y kabutangan ang akong kalipay sa kabuotan sa mga Duterte nga naghatag sila ug tabang sa mga pobre sama namo. Wala sila’y ginapili na hatagan ug tabang kay pinangga nila dili lang ang taga-Davao City kay kutob sa mangabot diri, ginahatagan sad nila,” Arcillas said.

“Sukad 2015 na mayor pa si former President Rodrigo Duterte hangtod namatay akong bana sa sakit sa kidney niadtong 2019, wala jud ko nag problema sa mga gasto kay tanang proyekto sa Davao sama sa Lingap, ang gasto sa pagpa-dialysis sa akong bana kay muabot ug Php 300,000 — wala jud ko’y nagasto hangtod sa pagpalubong,” she added.

Lingap para sa mahihirap, a project which gives financial aide to indigent residents in need of medical assistance, and free cremations assistance are only few of of the many projects of the City Government of Davao.

The Dutertes’ Christmas party for the masses has been a yearly event and started even before former President Duterte’s rose to the presidency in 2016. It had to be called off in 2020 and 2021 due to public health restrictions imposed by the government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

OVP MEDIA