OUTGOING Davao City Mayor and Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio urged Dabawenyos to remember those who fought for the country's freedom.
"As we celebrate our independence and sovereignty as a nation, let us remember the brave men and women who came before us, who fought through the trials and tribulations of their own time, and whose love for the country have allowed us to enjoy the freedoms we have today," Duterte-Carpio said in a message during the 124th Philippine Independence Day on Sunday, June 12.
She also called on the public "to honor the sacrifices" of the "martyrs" "to ensure that we shall never again be brought to our knees -- not by external forces, not by disease, not by the differences that threaten to divide us as a nation."
"We must unshackle ourselves from our fears and learn from the past in order to rise up and face the challenges of the future, with resolve, with hope, and with trust in our fellow Filipinos," the mayor said.
She ended her speech by saying that the sacrifices of the heroes should serve as an inspiration for them to strive and help one another to protect the freedom they are currently enjoying.
In an ambush interview, Duterte-Carpio said that giving service to the country is already enough effort to become a hero.
"Service sa atong nasud, dako na kaayo siya og tabang sa atoang pagiging (Giving service to the country is already a huge help of us becoming) everyday hero and of course... going out of our way para mutabang sa atong isig katao, sa atoang silingan, bisang isa ka kinabuhi lang atong natabangan (to help our fellow Dabawenyo, to your neighbor, even if helping one life would already make a difference), that is being a hero already," she said.
Duterte-Carpio attended the annual Independence Day for the last time as city mayor, as she is set to assume her position as Vice President in the country on noontime June 30.
The program was also attended by City Government of Davao department heads and members of the Philippine National Police, Task Force Davao, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Navy.