VP Duterte says she wanted to be a doctor but ‘God had a different plan’

Photo from Vice President Sara Duterte’s Facebook 

MANILA, Philippines — Speaking to high school graduates in Quezon City, Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday expressed her previous desire to become a doctor, but God had different plans for her.

Duterte had been appearing as the commencement speaker for several schools, with the most recent school being the Ismael Mathay Sr. High School in Quezon City.

“I dreamed of becoming a doctor, but God had a different plan for me. And God’s plan is something that we cannot possibly change or defy,” she told students.

The Vice President serves as the concurrent chief of the Department of Education.

“Base ang aking mensahe sa aking personal na karanasan. Gusto ko kasi sanang maging doktor, pero imbis na mag-aral ng medisina, napunta ako sa abogasiya. Minsan sa ating buhay, hindi nagkakatotoo ang ating mga pangarap. Pero hindi tayo dapat na panghinaan ng loob — dahil marahil ay may ibang mas maganda at mas malaking plano ang Diyos para sa atin,” said Duterte in a Facebook post.

(My message is based on my personal experience. I wanted to become a doctor but rather than medicine, I went into law. Sometimes in our lives, our dreams do not come true. But this should not weaken our resolve—because God has other plans for us that are better and bigger.)

Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The Dutertes are a powerful political clan from the south, with the Vice President Sara Duterte’s brother Sebastian Duterte serving as Davao City’s mayor.

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JPV