Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of the Fall of Bataan on Tuesday (Apr. 9) at the summit of Mt. Samat, the site of some of the fiercest fighting to take place in 1942, which was rededicated as a shrine to the fallen Filipinos and Americans.
In a speech that followed a wreath-laying ceremony—also attended by US Deputy Chief of Mission to the Philippines Robert Ewing and newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya—Marcos insisted that the Philippines would stand against oppression amid "unacceptable" and "unjust" threats to the country's sovereign rights that, he said, "have already caused physical harm to our people."
According to the Manila Times, the president further called on Filipinos to never allow oppressors in the country's "own backyard," much like those who fought during the Second World War.
"Eighty-two years on, our nation remains confronted with novel challenges, in varying forms and degrees, but with the same existential impact," he told the audience, most of which were surviving veterans of World War II, Korea, and even Vietnam. "Some portend clear and present threats to our sovereign rights and, in fact, have already caused physical harm to our people."
Marcos also hopes that the example of the "Battling Bastards of Bataan" and their Filipino counterparts would inspire the youth and future generations to stand firm in the face of current geopolitical tensions, especially in the South China Sea.
"Just like what our ancestors did, we should not be subjugated and oppressed, especially within our own backyard," he exhorted, adding that the Philippines should leverage the lessons of the past to "safeguard the future of [the] Republic," and that the sacrifices of its heroes must "galvanize" and "strengthen" its national consciousness and patriotic spirit.
"Ours is a complicated world today, but we must not yield. We must not back down from any and all challenges that seek to threaten our peace, our honor, and our very existence," he added.
He further called on defense officials to "assess" and "submit a report" on the responsiveness of the current inventory of military supplies and equipment.
He also urged his cabinet officials to "study the existing separation benefits of soldiers who incurred total permanent disability in the line of duty to see if these are commensurate to the sacrifices they have made and submit their recommendation while taking stock of the national government's position."
While Marcos did not specify any incident, the speech came a month after the Chinese Coast Guard injured Filipino crew members in a water cannon attack near Second Thomas Shoal, where the dilapidated Filipino warship BRP Sierra Madre was run aground and permanently crewed by Filipino marines.
The speech also came two days after warships from Manila completed a joint maritime drill with US, Japanese, and Australian naval vessels in the South China Sea.
Later this week, Marcos will join Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in traveling to Washington to meet with US President Joe Biden to discuss mutually relevant issues such as the recent maritime incidents off the Philippine coast.
Meanwhile, Kazuya also spoke in the memorial ceremony, stressing his country's commitment to maintaining the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific against Chinese oppression as a foe-turned-ally and partner for both Washington and Manila.
"We, the Japanese people, are determined to never allow the devastation of war to be repeated ever again for the sake of present and future generations," he said. "Our trilateral cooperation with the Philippines and the United States serves as a symbol as a shared commitment to promote a free and open international order based on the rule of law."
"Let us seize this moment to reaffirm our commitment as strategic partners and ally and friends in building a future preserving the peace and prosperity in the region. I believe that this is the best tribute we can offer to the souls of those who passed away in the fighting that took place here 82 years ago,"
