INTRODUCTION
Sa araw na ito, masayang ginugunita natin muli ang isang ginintuang pahina ng ating kasaysayan, na isang bahagi ng ating pagka-Pilipino na dinilig ng dugo, pinatingkad ng katapangan at pinadakila ng kabayanihan ng Lahing Kayumanggi.

Sa araw na ito, ang Araw ng Kagitingan, ang ating bayan ay nagpupugay at nagpapasalamat sa ating mga bayani ng digmaan na nagbuwis ng kanilang buhay at kinabukasan para sa kalayaan.

Today we remember those heroes of war who have selflessly invested their lives and their future so that you and I will be what we are today — independent, dignified and freely competing in the economic arena of the world, standing on equal terms with any man and proud to be a Filipino.

By executive mandate, April 9 has been set aside as “Araw ng Kagitingan”. The day calls for the celebration and commemoration of three important events of the period — Bataan Day which falls on April 9, Corregidor Day which falls on May 6 and the Filipino resistance movement throughout the war as exemplified by Bessang Pass.

These are days etched in blood in the annals of our history, shining moments when the Filipino’s valor was again demonstrated, and evoked the world’s recognition and admiration.

Indeed, as historical accounts testify, the battles of Bataan, Corregidor and Bessang Pass belong to the most brilliant episodes of World War II, wherein with true grit and determination, Filipino fighters, with their American allies, displayed the stuff of which heroes are made.

OUR HALLOWED GROUNDS
We know Bataan capitulated only as an offshoot of the tremendous application of Japanese firepower in this peninsula called Bataan.

Today, we have come again to these hallowed grounds. The roll of drums still echoes in our minds as we remember and give homage to those who have died here and those who survived, some of whom honor us with their presence in our midst this morning.

As we call the roll, the entire Filipino nation, nay, the whole world, salutes the gallantry and heroism of the fighting units from both sides of the line. They who had been locked in war more than fifty years ago and are now here in peace as brothers in the quest for a better world.

Here underneath the blue skies and the proud Filipino flag, the veterans present still remember vividly the names of the places where they fought and risked their lives, all for democracy and freedom.

Layac Junction, Abucay Line, Longos Kawayan, Quinawan and Anyasin Point; the pockets of Trail Seven; the river lines of San Vicente, Alangan and Lamao; the Corregidor North Channel; Malinta Hill and the mountain jungles of Natic Silangan and Samat — for many, these are just ordinary names, perhaps interesting only to students of history. But to our surviving heroes, these places are shrines to Filipino valor and gallantry.

The veterans cannot ever forget these places. And we who have benefitted from their sacrifices, will not desecrate their memories by being indifferent to them.
LOOKING FORWARD
The true meaning of today’s event will however be lost if we merely indulge in recalling the past but ignore the realities of the present and refuse to look forward. The guns of war have long been muted, peace has at last been achieved and the glory of our heroes is secure.

The Filipino nation however, is still waging the moral equivalent of war against poverty, and it is a no-less demanding struggle. And this struggle requires not guns and bullets, but political will, creative determination and social justice, for these are what we need to triumph in this war — our national war against poverty, injustice and social inequity that hold back our nation from achieving full development and liberation.

This war no less requires from us the self-same fortitude, heroism and sacrifices of those men and women of fifty years ago who fought and gave all in Bataan, Corregidor and the guerrilla resistance movement. What is at stake in this new struggle is as great as before — the future of our people and that of our children. I have no doubt in my mind that we can win, if we move together as a nation.

My administration has presented the blueprints for our progress, namely the Medium-Term Development Plan and the Social Reform Agenda which are embodied in our shared vision of “Philippines 2000!!!”. These blueprints shall guide us in our purposeful strides towards making the Philippines a more progressive and competitive nation.

In less than three years, we have been able to post solid achievements and breakthroughs that have put aside the doubts and skepticisms at the start: a growth rate of 5.1%, a much-reduced inflation rate, and investment inflows amounting to billions of dollars which fortify our campaign of sustained development.

The global economic community has been unanimous in recognizing the significant, positive changes in our economy that have transformed us into a dependable performer in the Asia-Pacific region. We are poised to regain in double-time fashion our rightful place in the competitive world of trade and commerce.

Our economic achievements have been made possible by our greatly improved political and social environment. The forthcoming elections in may prove that we have maintained the stability of our democracy and its processes and that we are determined to reinforce our nation’s continuity under a democratic system.

Our Social Reform Agenda is well in place; we will assert its progressive implementation in the next two years. Together, we will achieve and maintain the true measure of a politically and economically stable nation, which is an improved quality of life for our people.

For indeed, “Philippines 2000!!!” and the Social Reform Agenda will only be rhetorics and technocracy jargons if we will not be able to see our common tao raised from poverty.

Our development programs will be considered a success, not through statistics showing a higher growth rate, but through increased food in the family’s dinner table, better-educated and healthier children, more jobs to those willing to work, more roads and hospitals, and a sense of well-being for both the present and our prospects for the future.

Our veterans, widows, orphans and senior citizens, my administration has been deeply committed to serve. The proof of this top priority concern is embodied in the following:

1) RA No. 7696 – an act amending certain sections of Republic Act No. 6948 otherwise known as “an act standardizing and upgrading the benefits for military veterans and their dependents”

2) initial release of p500 million to implement RA 7696 approved on April 9, 1994

3) RA No. 7876 – an act establishing a senior citizen center in all cities and municipalities of the Philippines, and appropriating funds therefor approved on February 14, 1995
SUCCEEDING DESPITE OBSTACLES
These tangible fruits that our people can feel and actually taste have always been the premise of my vision for the Filipino people since the start of my administration.

Our aim today, as it has been in the past years, is to have sustainable growth that will provide employment opportunities for all within our country and to produce sufficient revenues to enable us to pay for the basic needs of the majority of our people in the countryside and in our urban centers.

We are truly grateful to our overseas workers, but we do not in the least aim to perpetuate our exportation of Filipino labor. We are now creating more jobs here, especially in industry and in services, so that mothers and fathers no longer need to go abroad and pay the high cost of social displacement for the sake of their children. That aim is part and parcel of our goals under “Philippines 2000!!!”.

The Philippines may not yet be the perfect country that we want it to become. There are still many problems to solve and we who know how much we have been weakened by the failures of the past two decades realize this only too well.

And sometimes, despite our best efforts to lift ourselves up, evil elements in our society try to pull us down. I am referring in particular to the despicable pillage of Ipil town in Zamboanga del Sur by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group which claimed innocent lives and reduced to rubble a once progressive community.

We are saddened by such events, but we should not be deterred in our steady steps toward advancement. Let us maintain faith in the capacity of the government to respond in such emergencies, as we are now aggressively doing.

Let us call upon the resiliency and fortitude that we Filipinos are capable of displaying in the face of difficulty and challenge. As our Bataan and Corregidor veterans have shown, we have not allowed ourselves to be permanently distracted nor disheartened, even by great adversities. With steadiness and purpose, let us march onward to the stability and progress that the heroes of our battles for freedom dreamed for us.
CLOSING
In closing, let me again greet the veterans here present. The Filipino people will always be grateful to you. Rest assured that we are not neglectful of your needs. We know that accolades during commemoration days like these are not enough. You deserve the concrete benefits that are provided under the law and which are rightfully your due from a grateful nation.

To our guests from the United States and Japan, especially those who have been part of the last war, we thank you for sharing with us this day. To my fellow Filipinos, remember that we are a proud people who have sprung from these noble heroes now enshrined in our hearts by their gallant deeds.

Mabuhay ang mga Beterano!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Mabuhay tayong lahat!