Sara Duterte Returns Home for Christmas Gift-Giving in Davao, Upholding Family Tradition

Vice President Sara Duterte arrived in Bangkal, Davao City on Thursday morning to take part in her family’s long-standing Christmas gift-giving tradition at their ancestral home, marking another year of “Pasko Pahalipay sa Taal”.

According to the Office of the Vice President, Duterte personally oversaw the annual activity, greeting residents, taking photos, and signing items for attendees who gathered early to celebrate the season with the Duterte family.

The event, held along Taal Street, was conducted with heightened security and orderly crowd management. Local police deployed more than 2,000 personnel to ensure safety, while organizers installed barriers, tents, and designated lanes for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs)—underscoring an emphasis on dignity and inclusion.

Despite the ongoing situation involving her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who remains detained in The Hague, the Vice President said the family chose to continue the tradition, emphasizing that Christmas is about service, presence, and hope, especially for ordinary families.

For many residents, the gathering was more than a gift-giving event—it was a reminder that leadership can still feel close to the ground, rooted in shared history and personal connection.

🦅 Agila note:
True strength is not shown by retreating in hard times, but by returning home and serving anyway.

Bible Verse:
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35