Vice President Sara Duterte described her 2024 as challenging yet meaningful, sharing personal and professional highlights during a year-end event at the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
One of her notable activities was meeting with former Vice Presidents, including Leni Robredo in September, as part of efforts to foster collaboration among past and current leaders.
Duterte revealed plans to establish a museum dedicated to former Vice Presidents, which may be located in Mandaluyong or at the current OVP premises, pending project approvals.
In her personal engagements, she visited Apo Whang-Od, the 107-year-old traditional tattoo artist from Buscalan, Kalinga, who is internationally recognized and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Merit.
During her visit, Duterte received a tattoo from Apo Whang-Od, a gesture that contradicted her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman’s wish to refrain from further body art but was ultimately well-received by her family.
Following her Kalinga trip, while listening to the radio in her car, VP Sara heard an announcement for a bloodletting program.
They adjusted her schedule, and she was ready to donate to Dugong Bombo, which in Metro Manila was held in Fairview, Quezon City.
But she was disappointed to find out she was not qualified.
This was due to her new leg tattoo, which is a health protocol for those conducting blood extraction.
“Narinig ko kasi yan sa sasakyan ko. Naka-on man yan lagi sa station nyo sa Bombo. May blood donation nga daw, kaya lang noong inaayos na ang schedule.. ah bawal pala dahil ‘di pa matagal yung pagkaka-tattoo,” (I heard it in my car. It’s always tuned in to your Bombo station. There was a blood donation drive, but when they were arranging the schedule… oh, I’m not allowed because the tattoo is too recent,) VP Duterte said.
And since she does not plan on getting more tattoos, she may be qualified to donate blood at the next Dugong Bombo event, especially since it will be a while before it is held again.
“So, nanghihinayang ako na hindi ako nakapag-donate ng dugo, Sayang gusto ko talaga ‘yun,” (So, I regret that I wasn’t able to donate blood. It’s a shame because I really wanted to,) the vice president added.