Digong tells Sara 'Be good, I love you' in taped message on 'Wowowin' (Sabong News)

“Be good. I love you.” These words were part of President Duterte’s short but sweet message to his eldest daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Friday night, March 18. The pre-recorded message was played during Mayor Duterte’s special appearance on popular game show “Wowowin’s” live episode at the Cebu City Sports Center in Cebu City. Game show host Willie Revillame called the lady official on stage and had her sit on a chair. President Duterte’s face then appeared on the big screen. “So ‘day, be true to your country, work hard for the people. And the rewards I think may be–are there, made in heaven. Not here,” he said, as the younger Duterte watched. “Trabaho ka lang (Just work) and be good. I love you,” the Chief Executive said. After that, Revillame serenaded the presidential daughter with his song “Ikaw na nga.” When he performed it, he changed his original lyrics in order to describe vice presidential candidate Inday Sara as the “ilaw ng tahanan” or light of the home. Ikaw na nga means “You are the one” in english. Earlier in the day, during an chance interview, Mayor Duterte admitted that she and her dad haven’t been talking about politics. “We did not (sic) discussed politics since August last year,” she said in mixed English and Bisaya. There have been rumors that the relationship between the father and daughter has been strained even before the election season began. President Duterte had wanted his daughter to run for the highest post in the land in the upcoming May 9 elections. Instead, she chose to run for vice president. Mayor Duterte said that she would still want her father to endorse her May 2022 election partner, Bongbong Marcos, for the presidency. One prospective event that the father and daughter could talk in person is on the President’s 77th birthday on March 28.