President Rodrigo Roa Duterte rallied for national unity Monday during the celebration of the National Heroes Day 2019 as he renewed his administration’s vision to create a more progressive Philippines.

In his speech delivered by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City, President Duterte honored the country’s heroes who fought during the tumultuous period in the country’s history and called on the Filipino people to emulate their patriotism.

“We dedicate this day most especially to those unnamed heroes who have also shed blood, sweat, and tears in defense of this nation and the values that it represents,” the President said in his message.

“As we commemorate National Heroes Day, I call on my fellow Filipinos to emulate the patriotism of all those heroes who came before us by supporting the government’s nation-building efforts, especially our campaign against illegal drugs, criminality, corruption, terrorism, poverty, and environmental degradation.”

The ultimate sacrifice of the Filipino heroes will never be in vain if the people, in their daily lives, learn to embody their courage through small deeds of heroism that will touch the lives of our countrymen, especially the poor and marginalized, he added.

The Chief Executive then reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to create an environment where every Filipino, regardless of ethnicity, political affiliation, religious belief, educational attainment, or financial capability, can become a hero in his own right.

It is every Filipino’s obligation, he said, to build on the legacy of those brave men and women who offered their lives building the foundations of a better Filipino nation, adding that the people owe it to the heroes to be worthy heirs to such legacy.

“I therefore ask my fellow Filipinos to set aside our differences so that together, we may shape a more dynamic and prosperous society that will serve as a cradle of future generations of Filipino heroes,” he noted. PND