Binabati ko ang sambayanang Pilipino sa pagdiriwang ng ika-97 taon ng Araw ng Kasarinlan ng Pilipinas. Isang magandang pagkakataon ito upang muli nating palakasin at palawakin ang ating pagkakaisa.

Last year, on this occasion, we saw ourselves as a people united in our love of God, of country, of Mother Earth, and of our fellowmen. Today we build further upon those qualities, and emphasize the Filipino’s nobility and solidarity.

These were most recently exemplified in last month’s national legislative and local elections in a peaceful transfer of political power that could not have been possible if we were not free, and did not value our freedom highly.

Ito po ang ating maaaring ipagmalaki ngayon — sa Kawit, sa Rizal Park, sa Malacañang, sa buong bansa at sa buong daigdig: “Ang Galing ng Pilipino: Dakila, Magiting, Nagkakaisa.”
Indeed, whatever greatness, glory or nobility we can claim for ourselves as a people derives from our unity, from those instances in our history when we rallied behind the one flag and the one spirit of our nationhood.

Such a moment came ninety-seven years ago, when the Filipino people established, by revolutionary proclamation, the first democratic Republic in Asia. That proclamation was an act of faith in the rightness and necessity of our long quest for liberty and self-determination.

Tungkulin natin ngayon na ipagtanggol ang kalayaang iyon, at higit pa roon ay gamitin ito upang mapabuti ang kalagayan ng lahat nating mga kababayan.

To all our beloved countrymen throughout the length and breadth of our archipelago, as well as to our brothers and sisters who live and work abroad and to all other peoples of the world, I extend a resounding “Mabuhay!” (Long Life!) and fervent prayers for your enduring peace, happiness and success.

Isang maligayang pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Kasarinlan sa inyong lahat.

Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!

Mabuhay ang Republika ng Pilipinas!