503rd Kadaugan sa Mactan speech: Unity vs. adversity - President Marcos
CEBU, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. yesterday said that with the country beset with several challenges, the solution should not be violence or arms but bravery in our actions and most importantly, unity.
“Ito ang kalasag natin laban sa kahirapan…(sa) paglaban sa ating mga sakit, sa ating gutom, sa kamangmangan, sa kawalang pag-unlad, at kasalatan ng mga oportunidad na giginhawa ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.
“Ipagpatuloy natin ang laban at pagtiyak na ang Bagong Pilipinas ay umapaw ng pag-asa, pagkakaisa, at pagkakataon para sa susunod na mga henerasyon,” he added.
He also challenged Filipinos, especially the youth, to continue embracing the ideals of Lapulapu and the wealth of the country’s heritage, as the country moves forward to a “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines).
Lapulapu, the chieftain of Mactan, and his mean killed Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in what is now known as the “Battle of Mactan”, which Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu commemorated yesterday, with the President as it most honored guest.
“The image of Lapulapu as a living, breathing, and real figure who risked his life to keep his family, comrades, and community safe from hostile outsiders may seem strange to our modern responsibilities. Yet, he remains a symbol of the bravery and honor that each of us inherently possesses,” President Marcos said ahead of reenactment of the battle.
He especially challenged the youth to follow the example set by Lapulapu.
“The challenge now for all, especially the youth, is to continue embracing his [Lapulapu] ideals and the wealth of our heritage, as we realize a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ that is built on the foundations of the liberty and freedom that he and all our other heroes fought hard for,” President Marcos said.
He said that what Lapulapu and his mean showed the “indomitable Filipino spirit” and their victory showed how “a force that is rooted in community, courage, and integrity can destroy even the strongest of opponents,” which is timely and relevant today.
He urged everyone to uphold patriotism amidst all the challenges in modern times.
“The same is what the nation needs today. Despite being in a world incomparable to that of Lapulapu, we are called to rise against our modern-day oppressors – greed, selfishness, and divisiveness – and uphold the legacy of patriotism that has been passed onto us through the years,” he further said.
He paid special tribute to Lapu-Lapu and how the spirit of valor and patriotism he showed still rings true in the heart of all.
“Ako’y nagagalak na ang diwang makabayan ay buhay na buhay hindi lamang dito sa Mactan, hindi lamang sa Cebu, hindi lamang sa Visayas, kundi sa buong Pilipinas. Ito ay nakikita sa pagtitiwala natin sa ating sariling lakas at paniniwalang nakasalalay sa ating pagpupunyagi ang pag-unlad ng ating bansa,” the President said.
“Ito ay nakikita sa pagmamahal natin sa ating kapwa, pag-aaruga sa mga napinsala, pagtulong sa mga nagdarahop, at pagtanggol sa mga inaapi. Ito ay nakikita sa matapang nating pag-giit sa ating karapatan at sa pagtanggol kung ano ang atin ayon sa ilalim ng batas, sang-ayon sa pandaigdigang kaayusan, at sa mata ng ating Diyos,” he added.
Prior to his speech, he led the flag-raising ceremony and wreath-laying at the statue of Datu Lapu-Lapu at the Liberty Shrine
The President also witnessed the reenactment of the Battle of Mactan on the very shores where Lapulapu and his men killed Magellan in 1521.
He and the other guests were likewise treated to a display of talent and skill, as 500 eskrimadors (stick fighters), with ages ranging from six to 18, showcased their craft.
Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Cindi King Chan said that the young eskrimadors embodied the carrying on of the martial traditions that is also a legacy of Lapu-Lapu.
“As we stand on this historic ground to commemorate the 503rd Kadaugan sa Mactan, we pay homage to, not only the bravery and heroism of our local hero, Datu Lapulapu, but also to the vibrant spirit of our city. This occasion is not just a remembrance of a historical battle but a celebration of the enduring spirit of bravery and heroism that defines our beloved city of Lapu-Lapu,” Rep. Chan said.
“But our celebration today is not just about looking back; it's also about embracing the present and looking towards the future,” she added.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, on the other hand, recalled in her message the history of Spanish colonialism that first started in Cebu and how the same Spaniards came back in our modern time to invest in Cebu and other parts of the country, to help bring progress and development.
“Ang mga Espanyol nga atong gikahadlokan kaniadto ug atong gikasangka, karon kuyog na kanato aron ato pang mapalambo kining atong minahal nga Lapu-Lapu City, minahal nga Probinsiya sa Sugbo, minahal nga Isla sa Sugbo,” she said.
She was particularly referring to Spanish firm Acciona, which was instrumental in constructing the 8.5-kilometer Cebu Cordova Link Expressway, which connects Cebu City to Mactan island via Cordova town, as well as in the construction of Daanbantayan town’s 150-megawatt solar power plan—a project it undertook in partnership with the Cebu Provincial Government.
Also, in his welcome message, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan expressed his gratefulness to the President for the anti-poverty programs and social protection initiatives of his administration that greatly helped Filipinos rise from the challenges of poverty and its nuances.
These anti-poverty programs, Chan said, resulted in the sharp decline in self-rated poverty and hunger among Filipinos.
Aside from President Marcos and Garcia, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Mandaue City Lone District Representative Emmarie Ouano-Dizon, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairperson Lisa Guerero-Nakpil, Office of the Presidential Assistant in the Visayas Undersecretary Terence Calatrava, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, members of the Consular Corps, other distinguished guests, and well as Lapu-Lapu City residents were also present during the occasion.
Rama, who last Friday called a press conference to declared his all-out support for the Marcos, especially took time to greet the President onstage.
Meanwhile, with the tight security imposed with the presence of the highest executive of the land, The Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 said the event, attended by 8,000 to 10,000 people, was peaceful, as not one untoward incident was reported to authorities.
"Our security coverage of our President became effective. So, we would like to thank the people on the ground who worked with the security (team) of our President,"said Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, PRO-7 spokesperson.
Apart from the police in Central Visayas, there are also personnel from other law enforcement agencies who guard the security of the activities attended by the President. — (FREEMAN)
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