Vice President Sara Duterte called on Filipinos to confront present-day challenges with the same courage shown by soldiers of Bataan, as the nation marked Araw ng Kagitingan on Thursday, April 9.
In her message, Duterte urged citizens to remain steadfast and resilient.
“Kagaya ng ating mga bayani sa Bataan, huwag tayong sumuko,” she said.
“Harapin natin ang mga hamon ng ating panahon taglay ang parehong diwa ng katatagan—panindigan ang isang matatag, ligtas, at tunay na malayang Pilipinas.”
She paid tribute to the soldiers “who stood their ground in Bataan,” emphasizing that their sacrifices were not only acts of military resistance but also expressions of deep patriotism.
“The Day of Valor reminds us that our freedom was bought at a high price. It is a reminder that the defense of our Republic is a continuous duty that falls upon every generation,” Duterte said.
The Vice President highlighted that heroism in modern times is reflected in discipline and the defense of national sovereignty.
“Today, valor is found in our courage to protect our sovereignty and our discipline to uphold the rule of law,” she added.
Duterte underscored that true valor lies in “our firm resolve to protect our sovereignty,” cautioning against foreign interference in the country’s judicial system.
“Ang anumang pagtatangka ng mga banyagang institusyon na manghimasok sa ating hustisya ay isang tuwirang hamon sa kalayaang ipinaglaban ng ating mga bayani sa Bataan,” she declared.
She also reminded Filipinos of their capacity for self-governance:
“We are capable of governing ourselves and enforcing our own laws under our own courts.”
The annual observance of Araw ng Kagitingan commemorates the fall of Bataan in 1942 and honors the bravery of Filipino and American troops whose resistance slowed Japanese advances in the Pacific.
For Duterte, the occasion serves both as a solemn remembrance of sacrifice and a call for Filipinos to embody valor in protecting the nation’s future.