DOÑA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD, Bulacan — The Dumagat tribe in this municipality thanked Vice President Sara Duterte for returning and sharing "Pamasko packs."

Duterte on Sunday returned in Barangay Kalawakan, the same barangay where she visited during the campaign period and talked to the Dumagats under a huge tree.

Dante Dela Rosa, 38, a resident of neighbouring barangay Cabayunan, recalled how he participated in the campaign gathering. Now, dela Rosa thanked Duterte for her efforts to come back, which he said, showed that the latter sees their importance.

“Tuwang-tuwa po kami. Masaya po kami kasi binalikan po niya kami hindi lang po noong nangangampanya siya nakarating dito sa lugar namin, maging nang nakaupo na siya, nakarating pa rin po siya dito sa amin. Ibig sabihin mahalaga kaming mga katutubong Dumagat sa kanya,” he said.

Jimmy Cruz, a former chieftain in another sitio, also shared he attended the informal conversation with then vice presidential candidate along with his fellow Dumagats.

The Vice President’s visiting the area, Cruz said, made him appreciate the leadership of country’s second highest elected official.

“Siya lang po ang talagang naging totoo sa amin. Si Vice President Sara Duterte. Siya lang po ang bumalik sa amin talaga. Sana po yung pagganap niya at pagtulong sa amin huwag maputol,” Cruz said.

“Napakasaya po talaga namin. Ako po yung sumisigaw kanina ng “Ma’am, Merry Christmas,” he said.

“Simula nang ako'y magkaisip, hanggang ngayon, siya lang po ang nakikita namin na pumunta sa aming mga katutubong Dumagat,” he added.

Duterte, just like her ‘Balik Pasasalamat’ rounds in Tondo, Manila and Quezon City on Saturday, also delivered 400 Pamasko packages to the tribe members and residents.

OVP MEDIA