VP Sara praises OFWs in Singapore during meeting with Filipino community

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday ended her visit to Singapore by meeting with the Filipino community, GMA Integrated News' Ian Cruz reported on Unang Balita on Thursday.

In her speech, Duterte honored overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Singapore for their hard work.

"I salute all of you dahil sa tibay ng puso ninyo na gawin ang mahihirap na bagay para sa inyong mga mahal sa buhay at para sa ating bansa," she said.

(I salute all of you for your bravery in doing difficult things for your loved ones and the country.)

She also told the Filipinos in attendance that Singapore President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long appreciate them for their hard work.

"Sinabi nila (They said) that the Filipinos have the touch that's why we truly appreciate their help and their work here in Singapore," the Vice President said.

Duterte also urged the Filipinos in Singapore to instill in their loved ones in the Philippines the importance of education.

"Dapat po ulit-ulitin natin na ipaintindi sa ating mga anak, sa ating mga pamangkin at kapatid na kailangan nilang magtapos ng kanilang pag-aaral dahil iyon ang magpapabago sa kanilang pamilya at sa kanilang personal na buhay," she said.

(We should repeatedly tell our children, our nephews and nieces and our siblings that they should finish their studies because that would change the status of their families and their personal lives.)

The daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte also reminded the Filipinos that the government is doing everything it can to make going overseas a matter of choice for Filipinos and not a necessity.

"Kung aalis ka man, hindi dahil napipilitan ka but aalis ka dahil gusto mo na tumira sa ibang bansa. 'Yan ang pangarap ng Pilipinas at iyan po ang ginagawan natin ng paraan at sana po sa ganoong estado during our lifetimes, so that our children will not experience the pain and hurt of separation from their loved ones and their families," Duterte said.

(If you will leave the country, it's because you want to live abroad and not because you have no other choice. That's the Philippines' dream and that's what the government is trying to accomplish hopefully within our lifetimes, so that our children will not experience the pain and hurt of separation from their loved ones and their families.)

Duterte was in Singapore to attend several events as part of her duties as council president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). Before Singapore, she was in Brunei where she visited schools to observe best practices in education that may be adopted in the Philippines. —KBK, GMA Integrated News