AS THE country marked the 77th Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor on Tuesday, April 9, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio urged the youth to remember and learn from the heroism, bravery, and sacrifices of the war veterans who fought the invaders.
“As our nation continues to strengthen partnership with our foreign allies, a renewed perspective between our countries is established against adversities in the past. Today, sisterhood agreements are instituted as integral tools in sustainable development,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“And while we celebrate these bilateral and multilateral relations, we do not set aside the sacrifices of yesterday’s way and oppression. Thus, allow me to encourage our youth, to take the good lessons from both the past and present times in building a safe, secure, peaceful, and progressive nation tomorrow,” Duterte-Carpio said.
The annual celebration commemorates the gallantry of Filipino fighters at the grounds of Bataan, Corregidor, and Bessang Pass to pay tribute to the veterans and fallen heroes.
The commemoration is anchored on Executive Order no. 203 s. 1987, which declared April 9 of every year as a national holiday for the observance of Araw ng Kagitingan, and Proclamation no. 466 s. 1989 designating the period of April 5 to 11 of every year as Philippine Veterans Week.
Duterte-Carpio likewise remembered the valor of the 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) who were massacred in Mamasapano in January 2015 while serving an arrest warrant against terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir as well as those who fought for the liberation of Marawi City from the hands of the terrorists.
“We are reminded how our fight for freedom and peace can also be challenged within our very homeland. Thus, let us all be of one mind in this pursuit of achieving lasting peace for our city and for our nation – a pursuit that is not the sole responsibility of our uniformed personnel but of all of us Dabawenyos,” she added.
She also recognized the importance of freedom and peace in the development of the city, thus, they anchored their plans on it.
“Let us look back not with resentment, pity, or misery for the wound s that we all wear from those dark times rather to look back with love and gratitude for the valor of our veterans and our forefathers – the valor that continues to inspire us today to stand tall, united, and resilient,” Duterte-Carpio added.