Vice Presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio. Image from BBM-Sara Uniteam / Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Friends and allies greeted Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday as she celebrated her 44th birthday.
Among the first to greet Duterte-Carpio was her running mate in the 2022 national elections, president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Happy Birthday, Vice President! Cheers to the best running mate and BFF (best friend forever) anyone could wish for!” Marcos Jr. said in a Facebook post.
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, a known close friend of Duterte-Carpio, called the vice president-elect a “great role model and inspiration to all Filipinos.”
“You are a great role model and inspiration to all Filipinos, particularly to the country’s new generation of leaders. It is truly an honor and privilege to be your friend and ally,” Velasco said in a statement.
“Enjoy your special day, and may your years ahead be filled with good health, strength and happiness. Good luck on your new role as incoming Vice President and Education Secretary, and I wish you the very best that life has to offer,” he added.
House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, who is the president of Lakas-CMD party, wished Duterte-Carpio long life, excellent health, and more opportunities to serve Filipinos.
Duterte-Carpio joined the vice presidential race under the Lakas-CMD party.
“We thank the Lord for giving her a full life, and we pray that He will continue to bless our incoming Vice President with good health and strength of will as she faces the next big challenge of her life,” Romualdez said in a statement.
Romualdez said Duterte-Carpio is a “true blue public servant whose primary goal is to address the needs of her constituents.”
“She has the right mix of compassion, courage, and leadership that the people need for guidance and inspiration during tough times like this pandemic. We are all lucky to have her,” Romualdez said.
Lawyer Larry Gadon, who was a part of the Marcos-Duterte senatorial slate but lost in the May 9 polls, posted on TikTok a video of him playing a guitar while greeting the vice president-elect a happy birthday.
Duterte-Carpio, a lawyer, currently serves as the mayor of Davao City. She is the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte and Elizabeth Zimmerman, and born on May 31, 1978. She is the first female mayor and the youngest to have been elected to the position in the history of Davao City.
She was recently proclaimed as the 15th Vice President of the country after receiving over 32 million votes.
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