On the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor, President Marcos urged the citizenry to emulate the bravery and resilience of the heroes of Bataan as "foul forces continue to threaten" the country.

Marcos said Filipinos may now live in a completely different age, but the "challenges before us are in no way less grave," prompting him to encourage the nation to stand by the country amid these challenges.

"Foul forces continue to threaten us outside and within, endangering the hard-fought gains we made for our country," the President said in his Day of Valor message.

"There are times when our struggles seem too complex or too daunting. Still, it is precisely during those moments that we must stand by our cherished freedoms and principles, perform our tasks with utmost dedication and diligence, and fight fiercely for a better life and a brighter future," he added.

He told the citizenry to "emulate the bravery, integrity, and resilience of the heroes and heroines
of Bataan so that, like them, we may emerge triumphant in the trials of our time."

With the great sacrifices of Filipinos in Bataan, Marcos called on the nation to be inspired and follow their legacy by working together to realize a country that the administration aspires for the people.

The Chief Executive also said that the immortal line "Bataan has fallen", which was first heard 82 years ago, revealed the great paradox of the Filipino spirit.

"For from the ashes of that defeat, we would rise even harder to secure the eventual freedom of our nation," he said.

The Day of Valor  commemorates the heroism and sacrifice of Filipinos during World War II.