URBIZTONDO, Pangasinan — It was a kakanin overload.

Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday joined residents here in a boodle fight which was the highlight of the Kanen Festival and town’s 171st founding anniversary.

A 65-meter long table along Rizal Street in Barangay Poblacion was filled with bibingka, latik, palitao, suman, turonket, unday-unday, sapin-sapin — all local delicacies that Urbiztondo is known for.

The Vice President, who was the guest of honor and speaker in the celebration, lauded the local government for putting importance on the livelihood of people.

Duterte said the festivity mirrors the people’s triumph over the two-year pandemic which crippled economic activities and halted development in the country.

“Ang Kanen Festival ay napakagandang paalala na nagtagumpay ang Urbiztondo at nalampasan nito ang kahirapan na dala ng pandemya,” she said.

“Ipinakita nito ang katatagan, katapangan at kakayahan na muling itayo at protektahan ang yaman ng Urbiztondo at ng mga mamamayan nito — sa kabila ng kahirapan at pagsubok,” she added.

Acknowledging the importance of livelihood in sustaining a family’s day-to-day needs, Duterte shared the Office of the Vice President’s Magnegosyo Ta ‘Day (MTD) project, which capacitates interested individuals to properly manage business and receive a starting capital for their desired venture.

“Dito (MTD), pwede naming pondohan ang inyong mga programa at bibigyan kayo ng training o pagsasanay para matiyak na lalago at maging successful ang inyong mga negosyo,” she told residents.

Duterte also shared the recent opening of the Isabela Satellite Office located in Cauayan City. It will serve residents of Northern Luzon.

The eighth and newest addition to the OVP extension offices, which was inaugurated last April 24, offers medical and burial assistance, a flagship project of the office to help indigent and marginalized Filipinos who are in need of such aid.

The Vice President also called on parents to make sure their children are in school, and protect them from forces like criminality, drugs, insurgency and terrorism that may destroy their dreams and their future .

“Magkasundo po tayo — tulungan natin ang ating mga anak na makapagtapos ng kanilang pag-aaral at maging produktibong mamamayan ng Pilipinas,” Duterte, who is also the Education Secretary, said.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pagtitiyak na ang ating mga kabataan ay makakapag-aral, tinitiyak din natin ang patuloy na pag-unlad ng bansa sa mga susunod na henerasyon,” VP-Sec. She added.

Muncipal Mayor Modesto Operania thanked the Vice President for joining the people in the celebration.

“For the first time, no less than the Vice President of our country, is here to partake with us the native delicacies of our town. Isa po itong malaking karangalan, Madam Vice President,” Operania said.

OVP MEDIA