Filipinos will never bow to oppression, says Marcos on Independence Day

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. (Photo from the Official Facebook page of Bongbong Marcos)

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos will never succumb to oppression, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. stressed on Wednesday, Independence Day.

In his presidential message on the 126th anniversary of Philippine independence posted on Facebook, Marcos said that the spirit of freedom exists in everyday people such as teachers, farmers, fisherfolk, and soldiers.

“We see it in the tenacity of our soldiers as they protect every inch of our territory, adamant as they are in the certainty that Filipinos do not, and shall never, succumb to oppression,” said Marcos.

The president’s statement comes amid tension between Manila and Beijing. 

China’s maritime expansion in the West Philippine Sea has intensified more since Marcos assumed the presidency.

Marcos recounted the history of the Philippines’ declaring independence in Kawit, Cavite 126 years ago.

“A century and a quarter has passed since we unshackled the chains of subjugation yet the fervor of nationalism persistently burns brightły in each of us today. We stand united as ever, upholding with pride the hard-earned liberty bequeathed to us by our forebears,” said Marcos.

The president said that Filipinos must dedicate themselves to realizing their own potential.