Today, we pay tribute to our brave Filipino soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Fall of Bataan 77 years ago.

We also recognize the martyrdom of all of those who gave up their lives during one of the darkest chapters of our nation’s history.

Let us remember the gallantry of these heroes who even in the face of death, demonstrated to our nation and the whole world their immeasurable love for our motherland.

Several decades have passed since that fateful day but its lessons still resonate among all of us today.

We should draw inspiration from our fallen brothers who have displayed extraordinary courage during those trying times.

As we commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of our heroes today, I would like to call on my fellow countrymen to work hand in hand as we pursue our collective goal of achieving enduring peace.

I encourage everyone to do their part in strengthening the bond of unity and cooperation among us, particularly in pushing forward the Philippine peace process.

I believe that it is only through our concerted efforts and deep love for country that we can make our dreams for our nation a reality.

These aspirations are best reflected in the successful implementation of peace agreements with our Moro brothers and sisters in Mindanao.

We are also making major strides in our initiatives to address the communist insurgency problem through the national government’s whole-of-nation approach.

Times may have changed but the indomitable spirit of our heroes continues to live within our hearts and minds.

May they continue to serve as an inspiration to us all as we face the challenges of nation-building.