"Hindi ako ang pinakamagaling o pinakamatalinong tao sa Pilipinas, ngunit walang makakatalo sa tibay ng puso ko bilang isang Pilipino" -VP Sara Duterte.

With more than 32.2 million votes from the Filipinos, former Davao City first woman mayor and now Vice President-elect Sara Duterte took her oath of office at San Pedro Square, Davao City. She was accompanied on stage by her father, outgoing president Rodrigo Roa Duterter and her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman. 

The inauguration was attended by some of the most influential names in Philippine politics. Present at the event are Senators Loren Legarda, Bong Go, Bong Revilla, Imee Marcos and congresswoman Gloria Arroyo. President-elect Bongbong Marcos and his family were also in attendance to show support to his tandem during the May 2022 election where they both had a landslide electoral victory.

In her speech, VP Sara revealed that her younger self dreamed to be a doctor and pursued a pathway towards it but was redirected to another way, to becoming a lawyer. She eventually became the successor of her father as mayor of Davao City. Now that she finished the three term limit, she is now the 15th vice president of the country after being elected by 32.2 million Filipinos. 

"I am now the vice-president elect," she said. 

VP Sara also mentioned that the million of votes she gathered from Filipino people indicated a message to serve the country and his countrymen to a more felt and progressive leadership. 

"The voice of 32.2 million Filipinos was loud and clear, with the message to serve our motherland," she emphasized. 

"If we all take a moment to listen to the call to serve and decide to heed the call, in the same way that many are already devoting their lives as hardworking farmers and fisherfolk that ensure there is food on our tables, dedicated health workers who help the sick, brave soldiers who fight for our country, honest and fair entrepreneurs who support our economy, patient school teachers that guide our children, I believe the country will be heading toward a future of hope, security, strength, stability and progress", she added. 

On his 161st birthday, VP Sarah urged the Filipino people to mimic and be inspired to the life and works Jose Rizal has instilled and imparted to the country. 

"May his memory light up the fire within us to become patriots. Rizal taught us that selflessness and sacrifice could change our country's fate and shape our children's future. The bravery of Rizal completes the fabric of our identity as Filipinos. Let us show our love for our country by taking care of our families and communities despite the unending challenges that come our way," she said.

Tapped by incoming president Marcos as the head of Department of Education, VP Sara highlighted the significance of education and the role of the parents.

"At home, parents have the duty to teach children the values of integrity, discipline, respect and compassion for others. And we should never forget that it is the duty of each Filipino family to emphasize that education begins at home". 

"The days ahead of us may be full of challenges that call for us to be more united as a nation. But let me reiterate this, we can never go wrong if we are a people dedicated to honoring the will of God, to serving our country and our fellowmen, and protecting the integrity of our families and the future of our children," she concluded. 

VP Sara Duterte was sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando on June 19, 2022.