“Speak out but do so with kindness.”
Thus, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as he urged Filipinos to emulate the valor of the country’s heroes on Araw ng Kagitingan Sunday.
Marcos called on Filipinos to show their “indomitable” spirit by sounding off against discrimination and helping solve the country’s problems.
“May we learn to make wise and sound decisions so that we may address our country’s pressing problems with compassion and concern for others,” he said.
Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor commemorates the fall of Bataan to the Japanese invaders of World War 2 on 9 April 1942.
Marcos added that the country has stood “tall and proud, guided by the principles of justice, truth and democracy.”
“As the legacy of our heroes and heroines came at a great and hefty cost, may we also re-examine our values and honor their lives by speaking up against discrimination, extending help to those in need, and working towards a better future,” he said.
Holiday moved
He also reminded the people that what they do today will affect the country’s future.
“May we also learn to make wise and sound decisions so that we may address our country’s pressing problems with compassion and concern for others,” Marcos said.
“Let us also bear in mind that our actions today determine the future of our country, including the succeeding generations,” he added.
Marcos signed a resolution to move the 2023 Day of Valor holiday to 10 April, Monday, since it fell on Easter Sunday this year.
Vice President Sara Duterte, on the other hand, cited the need to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions.
She said the siege of Bataan, where Filipino and American soldiers made a heroic but futile stand against the Japanese, has underscored “Filipino patriotism, courage and resilience in the face of insurmountable adversity.”
“We are called on this occasion to embody a strong sense of bravery in rising above the unconquerable challenges of nationhood as we tirelessly commit to our enduring fight against the social ills that corrupt the core of governance and march on toward our hope of inclusive and resilient progress,” she said.
Duterte also urged Filipinos to follow the same brave route in achieving socioeconomic growth, upholding long-term reforms, and encouraging one another in promoting the “deep love” of the nation.
In his Araw ng Kagitingan message, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the 81st commemoration of the event serves as a reminder to Filipinos to “fight on, move forward and prevail with unity.”
He said Filipinos’ resilience at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic epitomizes their valor. “We suffered, we fought and we prevailed,” the Leyte solon said.
“Today, as we commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan nationwide, we honor and recognize the gallantry of our fallen heroes, who willingly laid down their lives so that we can enjoy the blessings of freedom today.”