(FILE) President Rodrigo Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — As 2021 comes to a close, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday urged Filipinos to cherish the nation’s experiences during the year, including the struggles and victories amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastation brought by Typhoon Odette.
Duterte hailed the Filipino’s “indomitable spirit” that “adapts, endures, and triumphs over all adversities.”
“Indeed, we have been through many challenging times but our distinct resilience and bayanihan spirit allowed us to prevail and come out stronger,” he said in his New Year message.
“The dedication and courage of our people—especially of our medical and essential frontliners, uniformed services, civilian personnel, and volunteers— demonstrate what great things we can achieve if we work in solidarity,” he added.
Duterte said he hopes Filipinos will be inspired by the “promise of new beginnings” as 2022 starts, saying the nation is given a “fresh start” and an opportunity to “aim higher and do things better.”
“Let all our aspirations and actions be guided by our strong sense of nationhood and our deep faith in the Almighty. May we also find a stronger and higher purpose in our lives so that we may pursue only what is good for our families, communities, and the entire nation,” he said.