THE City Government of Davao marked the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the Veteran's Memorial Monument along C. Bangoy Street, Davao City.
Vice Mayor Melchor Quitain, representing Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, led the event, joined by city government officials and security forces. In his address, he highlighted the bravery and patriotism of soldiers during one of the darkest chapters in Philippine history.
"Reflect on the sacrifices made by our heroes, many of whom endured hardships beyond imagination not for personal gain but for the liberty and peace we now enjoy," he said.
Quitain urged the people to embody the heroism shown by Filipinos in 1942 and to stay vigilant, standing up for the greater good of every Filipino. He said that the annual celebration not only honors past heroism but also serves as a call for unity in building a resilient nation for future generations.
Isidro S. Lapeña, former Davao City Police Office director, spoke about how today's battles are no longer fought with bullets but with issues such as social injustice, corruption, disinformation, and threats to democracy.
He also expressed concern about the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, calling it a source of deeper outrage and casting doubt on the impartiality of the country’s justice system.
Lapeña suggested that the former president, after his service to Davao City and the nation, did not deserve such treatment.
"Let us also not allow current controversies from remembering the contribution of President Duterte during his time in office, particularly his aggressive campaign against illegal drugs," he stated.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. honored the heroes of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the Araw ng Kagitingan commemoration at Camp Aguinaldo. He paid tribute to the families of AFP and PNP members who were killed or wounded in action or police operations.
Vice President Sara Duterte also honored Filipino soldiers, urging Filipinos to face today’s challenges with courage, unity, and faith. She underscored the importance of building a nation free from past suffering.
“Ipagdiwang natin ang kanilang alaala sa pamamagitan ng pagtatag ng isang bansang kailanma’y hindi na muling daranas ng gayong pagdurusa (Let us celebrate their memory by establishing a nation that will never again experience such suffering),” she said.
As a reminder, Marcos declared April 9 a regular holiday to mark Araw ng Kagitingan, which honors the heroism of Filipino and American soldiers during World War II, particularly during the Fall of Bataan and the Resistance in Corregidor. RGP