Marcos says Filipinos will defend territory

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Independence Day said that Filipinos would never shy away from defending the nation's territory, stressing that real power is measured through the reason of what the people are fighting for.

In his speech during the «Parada ng Kalayaan [Freedom Parade] 2024» at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, the President urged Filipinos to honor their forefathers' sacrifices by protecting the nation and drawing strength from their heroic past.

«Ang ating mga ninuno ay hindi umurong sa digmaan, kaya't tayo ay hindi rin tatalikod sa tungkuling ipagtanggol ang ating nasasakupan (Our forefathers did not cower in time of war, so we won't turn away from our duty to defend our territory),» Marcos said.

FREEDOM DAY Flag-waving Boy Scouts join Independence Day activities held at SM Marikina on June 12, 2024. PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

«Let's show the world that real power is not measured by strength or riches, but through the real meaning of what is being fought for as well as the love of country,» he added.

Marcos said that marking the country's 126th Independence Day was a way of paying tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives in the fight for freedom and independence.

He said that today, Filipinos are not merely looking back at the past; they live it with every step they take toward a freer future.

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Along with this appreciation, the President said, is the commitment to continue what the country's forebears started: The wholehearted stand for the rights as a free nation, the honest and proactive measures to uplift communities, and the relentless efforts to improve the lives of the citizens.

Marcos said he also wants to impart to the people, especially the youth, the suffering of the nation's ancestors and heroes to achieve freedom and peace, noting that freedom is nurtured, protected, and fought for.

He emphasized the resolve to defend the country's territory amid the rising tension in the West Philippine Sea.

In his toast during the traditional vin d'honneur in Malacañang, Marcos reasserted that Filipinos remain unyielding even as the country faces modern-day challenges.

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He noted how the flame of nationalism that