Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte from Davao City took his oath of office last Thursday as the 16th president of the Philippines at Malacañan Palace in Manila.
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| Gov. Edgar Chatto recites his third-term official oath as daughter Trisha holds a Christian Bible and first lady Balilihan Mayor Pureza Chatto looks on during swearing-in ceremony at the Bohol Cultural Center on Thursday morning. Contributed Photo |
He told the Filipinos that “I am ready to start my work for the nation.”
In his inaugural address, Duterte listed what he considers the ills of society: Corruption, criminality, rampant sale of illegal drugs and the breakdown of law and order.
He also said the erosion of trust in government, tainted with corruption, has to be restored.
Duterte’s speech was fluent---stringent in words and magnanimous in essence.
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| Lawyer Dionisio Balite surrounded by his family swearing in as Bohol Vice Governor. Contributed Photo |
“His Excellency President Rody Duterte delivered a very sincere and heartfelt presidential speech,” said youth awardee Clement Lofranco.
“Moreover, he resonated the themes and clarified the mandate and itemized the programs and framing the fundamental problems of governance like the erosion of trust from the people to the government and the message of real change that must start from each one of us,” he added.
In Bohol, Edgar Chatto officially began his third and last term as Bohol’s governor last Thursday, taking the oath of office in a low-key ceremony at the Bohol Cultural Center and preparing to provide the province of his vision for the next three years on Monday.
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| Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel and board member Niño Rey Boniel. Courtesy: Nestor Daarol |
It was a crisp and flawless event that Chatto and other public officials--- Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite, Reps. Rene Relampagos, Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Art Yap--- recited the constitutionally mandated avowal, word for word. With their spouses and families, the public officials quickly repeated the words from their administering officers.
After the swearing-in, Relampagos, Aumentado, Yap, Balite and Chatto delivered their inaugural addresses.
The biggest sidelight of this year’s inaugural and oathtaking ceremonies was the red carpet where the province’s government officials and then some have come to make a statement. We’re paying to all the pretty outfits!
Dazzling ternos and dashing barongs worn by the officials and their spouses make the ceremonies solemn, dignified and formal.
The men decided to stick with the traditional plain barong Tagalog.
The traditional Filipina formal wear that is the terno was in the limelight.
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| Provincial board members Jade Acapulco Bautista and Alexi Tutor Courtesy: Nestor Daarol |
Board member Kristine Alexis Tutor made a big statement during the event with her simple yet sleek figure-hugging gown that emphasized her curves. She instantly became a hot topic with audience complementing her. She has a keen eye for style, right?
New lawmaker Jade Acapulco Bautista had a dazzling look on her Filipiniana. Her entire look was totally sustainable that she had us all talking.
The audience were also quick to notice how confidently beautiful Balilihan Mayor Pureza Chatto and her daughter Trisha in their purple-colored terno. They wore them with dignity and pride.
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| Bohol's Queen of All Media Ardy Araneta-Batoy Contributed Photo |
Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel left the audience open-mouthed after showing her stunning figure in a sleek deep-blue gown. The lady aviator did not need an interview nor a red carpet to turn heads at the event. She was there to support her husband board member Niño Rey Boniel.
The Balite ladies (and girls) were wearing shade of pink-colored cocktail dresses making a big statement during the event. Color pink is unconditional love and nurture.
Another real highlight was Ardy Araneta-Batoy (who was the event’s emcee. Take a bow, Ma’am Ardy!) who wore a dazzling lemongrass gown. Bohol’s Queen of All Media understood special occasion dressing.
Aside from gushing about their looks, the usherettes (mostly from the Capitol) were wearing ternos.
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