Marcos urges Filipinos to embrace Lapulapu's ideals, PH heritage

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday remembered Lapulapu's bravery and encouraged Filipinos to embrace the hero's ideals and the wealth of Philippine heritage in the shift to "Bagong Pilipinas".

“The challenge now for all, especially the youth, is to continue embracing his [Lapulapu] ideals and the wealth of our heritage as we realize a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ that is built on the foundations of the liberty and freedom that he and all our other heroes fought hard for,” Marcos said in a statement.

Lapulapu and his men defeated and killed Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. Magellan was then on a mission to conquer the Philippines for Spain. The hero's victory "helped fuel [other Filipino heroes and thinkers'] revolutionary movement for the country’s independence from Spain," the Presidential Communications Office said.

Marcos on Saturday joined the 503rd commemoration of the Victory at Mactan in the City of Lapu-Lapu in Cebu.

He first led the flag raising ceremony and laid a wreath at the hero's monument at the Mactan Shrine.

The president said Lapulapu's courage and love for the country revealed how “a force that is rooted in community, courage, and integrity can destroy even the strongest of opponents.”

Marcos said Filipinos should take on the challenge and rise against modern-day oppressors and uphold patriotism.

“The same is what the nation needs today. Despite being in a world incomparable to that of Lapulapu, we are called to rise against our modern-day oppressors – greed, selfishness, and divisiveness – and uphold the legacy of patriotism that has been passed onto us through the years,” Marcos said.

“The image of Lapulapu as a living, breathing, and real figure who risked his life to keep his family, comrades, and community safe from hostile outsiders may seem strange to our modern responsibilities. Yet, he remains a symbol of the bravery and honor that each of us inherently possesses,” the president added.

In his speech during the commemoration on Saturday, Marcos said the challenges facing Filipinos today need solutions that do not require military might. Instead, these need bravery, action, and unity.

"Ito ang kalasag natin laban sa kahirapan, ang kalaban–ang paglaban sa ating mga sakit, sa ating gutom, sa kamangmangan, sa kawalang pag-unlad, at kasalatan ng mga oportunidad na gumiginhawa ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino," he said.

(These are our shield against poverty, disease, hunger, illiteracy, lack of progress, and lack of opportunities to improve the life of every Filipino.)

The country is winning against these challenges, despite the hard fight, he said.

"Ang mga ito ay nilalaban natin at tayo ay nagwawagi. Sa pamamagitan ng pagtatayo ng maraming pagamutan, nakukubkob natin ang mga sakit. Sa pagtayo ng dagdag na mga paaralan, nasasagip natin mula sa mundo ng kadukhaan ang mga batang salat sa kaalaman. Sa pagbaha ng tulong sa ating mga magsasaka, pinapaatras natin ang kahirapan na umaalipin sa kanila. Sa pagbubukas ng mga pagawaan at negosyo, ginagapi natin ang salot na kawalan ng hanapbuhay. 'Yan ang hamon ng ating panahon. 'Yan ang pakikibaka ng ating lahi," Marcos said.

(We are battling these and we are winning. By building many hospitals, we are helping those who are sick. By building additional schools, we are rescuing youths from lack of education. By giving assistance to our farmers, we are addressing poverty that enslaves them. By opening factories and businesses, we are addressing the lack of livelihood. Those are the challenges facing us.)

"Sa ating pag-alala ng mga mahahalagang yugto ng ating kasaysayan, ang responsibilidad na ipagpatuloy ang ipinaglaban ni Datu Lapulapu ay nakasalalay sa ating mga balikat, lalung-lalo na ang pagsiguro na ang ating bansa na patuloy na umuunlad. Ipagpatuloy natin ang laban at pag-tiyak na ang Bagong Pilipinas ay umapaw ng pag-asa, pagkakaisa, at pagkakataon para sa susunod na mga henerasyon," he added.

(In remembering the important episodes in our history, the responsibility to continue what Datu Lapulapu started lies on our shoulders, especially in ensuring that our country continues toward progress. Let us continue our battle and ensure that Bagong Pilipinas will be overflowing with hope, unity, and opportunities for the next generation.)

During the commemoration on Saturday, performers reenacted the Battle of Mactan.

The event was attended by Speaker Martin Romualdez, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Lapulapu City Mayor Ahong Chang, Lapulapu City Representative Ma. Cynthia Chan, National Historical Commission of the Philippines  chairperson Lisa Guerrero-Nakpil, other government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.—KG, GMA Integrated News