Aquino urges Filipinos to protect freedom

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Sunday encouraged Filipinos to protect the country’s hard earned freedom in light of the 118^th celebration of the Philippine Independence Day.

“Papasok tayo sa panibagong kabanata ng kasaysayan. Nawa’y 'di natin malimot na ang kalayaan, kailangang bantayan at alagaan,” Aquino said in his speech at the Vin d'honneur for the commemoration of the country's independence.

Aquino reminded the public that protecting the Filipino freedom is very important as our ancestors shed blood and risked their lives to fight for the nation’s dignity and integrity.

“Minsan nang inagaw ng kapwa natin Pilipino ang kalayaan. Kung hindi tayo magiging mapagmatyag, maaari itong mangyari ulit,” he said.

During his speech at the Vin d’honneur, Aquino presented a video of himself narrating his family's and the country’s ordeals during the Martial Law era when several Filipinos were deprived of freedom including his father late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. He said the People Power paved the way for the reclamation of democracy.

“Tunay po na ang People Power ang bumawi sa demokrasya. Ang People Power ang naging tulay ng people empowerment. Ang People Power ang nagbalik sa gobyerno sa tunay nitong mandato: Ang arugain at bigyang lakas ang taumbayan,” Aquino said.

The outgoing president also cited a quote from the writer Edmund Burke: “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

“Naninindigan pa rin tayo. Walang mararating na tunay na pag-unlad kung isusuko ang ating dignidad at karapatan,” he added.

Aquino not only urged the Filipinos but also friends of the Philippines to keep their solidarity in improving the lives of the respective peoples. He concluded his speech with a toast for the Filipino freedom.

 “To the Filipino people, may we never lose our patience with the ways of democracy, and may we never take it for granted or be passive in its defense,” the outgoing president said while proposing a toast.

“To our hard-won Filipino freedom earned by the blood and sacrifice of martyrs, nurtured by the vigilance of an empowered people, may it never again be challenged, diminished, or negated,” he concluded.