BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY, Taguig — Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday night thanked the Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic surgeons for “changing the lives of others for the better.”

“Thank you for your kindness and acts of selflessness. Kailangan po ng Pilipinas ang mga katulad ninyo na handang tumulong sa kapwa. Sa tuwing tumutulong kasi tayo sa ating mga kababayan, tinutulungan din natin ang ating bayan,” Duterte said at the Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgeons (PAPRAS) Induction Ceremonies at the SEDA Hotel here.

“Your extraordinary effort, commitment, and determination to sustain the growth of the field of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery in the Philippines will never go unnoticed,” she added.

The Vice President recalled that when she was still mayor of Davao City she partnered with the Mindanao Aesthetics Plastic Surgery to help children with cleft palates receive free medication from the government.

“Lahat ng madaanan kong mga barangay before na may nakikita akong mayroong cleft palates na mga bata ay pinapadala kaagad namin sa aming mga partner surgeons,” Duterte said.

“With the help of Dr. Arnulfo Mapayo, we were able to help around 100 children with cleft palate at the Maharlika Charity Foundation and the Center for Ambulatory Surgery and Total Medical Care of Davao Inc.,” she added.

Duterte also recalled helping a soldier who survived the Marawi Siege, and assisted him by providing the best health care possible with the help of partner plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeons.

OVP MEDIA