00:01We gather here today to remember those who stood firm in the face of overwhelming diversity as well as to
00:10reaffirm the values that they lived and that they died for, the values of courage, of dignity, and an unyielding
00:18love of country.
00:20The heroes of Bataan gave their all so that we, and the generations that followed, may inherit a nation that
00:28is free, sovereign, and worthy of their sacrifice.
00:32We also witnessed earlier the unveiling of the checkmarker for World War II to honor the Czech nationals who chose
00:40to stand with us in the defense of Bataan.
00:42Their story reminds us that the fight for freedom knows no borders, and that solidarity, even in the darkest of
00:52times, is a force that binds humanity together.
00:57Eighty-four years ago, Filipino and Allied forces, outnumbered and outgunned, stood their ground.
01:04For months, they held the line with steady resolve and dauntless bravery, delaying the advance of an invading force at
01:12immense personal cost.
01:15And when the defenses finally fell, they faced one of the darkest chapters in our history, the Bataan Death March.
01:23Yet even in defeat, the spirit of the Filipinos did not break.
01:30Across our archipelago, resistance took many forms.
01:34Guerrillas fought in the mountains.
01:36Civilians risked their lives to shelter and sustain those who were in hiding.
01:41Even those without arms found way to serve the cause of freedom.
01:46This is the essence of our strength as a people.
01:50Not merely the ability to fight, but the will to endure.
01:56Not only to survive hardship, but to rise above it with dignity intact.
02:03The story of Bataan is a cornerstone of our national identity and a guiding light for the generations that follow.
02:11And in honoring our heroes who made all of these possible, we must ensure that they receive the care and
02:18support that they deserve.
02:20This is why we continue to work closely with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office to establish veterans' hospitals in the
02:28Visayas and in Mindanao,
02:30making healthcare more accessible to those who have long served our nation.
02:35We ensure the separation benefits for soldiers who suffer total permanent disability in the line of duty that are commensurate
02:44to their sacrifices.
02:46We provide available and efficient healthcare services for our veterans.
02:51We are having established the veterans' access to Lifetime Optimized Healthcare, or Valor Clinic.
02:57We have continuously implemented several programs.
03:02Last year, over 2,630 veterans and their dependents benefited from services under the Veterans Hospitalization and Medical Care Program.
03:14We have constructed veterans' wards in select government hospitals.
03:19A monthly average of 146,896 pensioners have all received their benefits.
03:29In parallel, we have invested in the future of their families.
03:35973 scholars have already received assistance for their education.
03:40And through Republic Act No. 11958, disability pension rates have been increased,
03:46recognizing those who have borne the cost of service in their very bodies.
03:53As we honor the past, we are reminded that remembrance is a call to responsibility.
03:59The sacrifices of those who came before us demand vigilance, unity, and the continuing willpower to act in the present.
04:09Today's challenges may not mirror those of yesterday, but they test us in much the same way.
04:15Among these is the enduring geopolitical tension that we are observing in the Middle East.
04:21While we may stand far from the centers of conflict, we are not untouched by its consequences.
04:28Fuel prices weigh heavily on Filipino families, those who already have the least having been subjected the most to this
04:38scourge.
04:38In moments like these, the government will do everything that is possible to cushion the impact and safeguard the welfare
04:47of our people.
04:49And yet, governance is only a part of the equation.
04:54Nation building has always been a shared responsibility.
04:59But for this collective responsibility to succeed, it must be grounded in integrity, in courage, and in love for our
05:08country.
05:08Sa panahon ng matinding pagsubok, tulad ng nangyayari ngayon, kailangan natin balikan ang isang mahalagang bahagi ng katangian ng bilang
05:21Pilipino, ang pakikipagkapwa.
05:24Dapat natin kilalanin na ang bawat isa ay may parehong pangangailangan, may parehong pangarap, at may parehong pinagdadaanan.
05:34Sa ganitong paraan, may papalalim natin ang ating tiwala sa pamahalaan, ang ating malasakit sa kapwa, at ang ating pagmahal
05:44sa ating bayan.
05:46Dahil kapag iniisip natin ang kapakanan ng iba, mas nagiging malinaw kung bakit kailangan tayong magtulungan at magkaisa.
05:56Sa simpleng pagunawa at pagdamay, nakakatulong tayong mapagaang ang bigat na dinadala ng ating mga kababayan.
06:06Ipinapaalala nila sa atin, ang pag-uunlad ng bansa ay nakasalalay sa kung paano tayo nagsusubikap na humarap sa mga
06:17pagsubok at bumangon mula rito.
06:21Let me once again recognize our veterans who are with us today, for you are living witnesses to history.
06:30You are the embodiments of strength and enduring symbols of what it means to serve something greater than yourself.
06:40No tribute can ever equal the debt that we owe you.
06:44But let this gathering stand as a promise that your service will never be forgotten.
06:52Your stories will always be told, and your legacy will drive us forward.
06:59Together, we will build a bagong Pilipinas that is steadfast in purpose, united in vision, and worthy of the heroism
07:09that today we celebrate.
07:11Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang ating mga bayaneng.
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