‘We are not a damaged culture,’ Marcos tells teachers, soldiers and cops

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (File photo from RTV Malacañang.)

MANILA, Philippines — “We are not a damaged culture.”

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos expressed his sentiment in a speech at Malacañang honoring 10 recipients of Medallions of Excellence of Metrobank Foundation.

The awardees were honored as the 10 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos for 2023.

Marcos said they represent the excellence of Filipinos.

“Through you, we honor Filipinos, and we remind our countrymen this is what a Filipino is,” he told the teachers, soldiers and policemen awardees.

“We are not a damaged culture. I hate that term. We are a great people, and you are the example of that greatness, and we need to remind our people,” he emphasized.

The President also acknowledged the significant challenges the honorees face in their lines of duty.

“Yours are the most important, and hopefully the most rewarding and most rewarding vocations there are,” the Chief Executive said.

“And I use the word vocations carefully because what you have done has gone above and beyond, shall we say, the job description that was given you,” he explained.

The awardees included four teachers, three soldiers, and three police officers.

The teacher awardees are Rex Sario, June Elias Patalinghug, Edgar Durana, and Doctor Jovelyn Delosa.

The soldier awardees are Colonel Joseph Dator and Staff Sergeant Danilo Banquiao from the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Bitancur.

The awardees in law enforcement are Police Chief Master Sergeant Dennis Bendo, Police Major Mae Ann Cunanan and Police Colonel Renell R. Sabaldica.

For his part, Metrobank Foundation President Aniceto Sobrepeña expressed hope the awardees will inspire their colleagues.

“In the flagship program of Metrobank Foundation, ‘outstanding’ is characterized as ‘going beyond excellence,” he said.

“Excellence is, oftentimes, translated to the Filipino word ‘magaling,’ but the word ‘mahalaga,’ perhaps, defines it even more,” he added.

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