President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. offers flowers at the Libingan ng mga Bayani for the National Heroes' Day celebration. (RTVM screengrab)

TAGUIG CITY, (PIA) -- President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. on Monday reiterated his call for Filipinos to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and complete their booster shots as part of efforts to revive the economy, as he led this year's National Heroes' Day celebration in Taguig City.

“Inaanyayahan ko ang lahat na ang mga maaaring magpabakuna na makiisa sa ating mga vaccination program upang mapangalagaan ang kalusugan hindi lamang ng ating mga sarili kung hindi ang ating mga kapwa (I invite everyone who’s eligible to get vaccinated to join our vaccination programs to protect the health of not only ourselves but our neighbors),” the President said.

In his speech, Marcos said history has shown that Filipinos’ collective strength is key to attaining victory.

“Ang mga bayaning nag-alay ng sarili para sa atin ay huwarang patutuo sa pangako ng pag-asa ng ating pinanghahawakan. Kaya naman dapat lamang natin pahalagahan ng wasto ang ating kalayaan at ibaling ang ating mga kinikilos na ayon sa pag-ibig at pagmamalasakit sa kapwa (The heroes who sacrificed themselves for us are exemplary believers in the promise of hope that we hold dear. That's why we should only properly value our freedom and change our actions according to love and concern for others),” he added.

According to Marcos, all Filipinos can create change that will benefit the greater good.

“Habang ang mga makabagong panahon ay nagbibigay sa atin ng mga pagbabagong kailangang harapin, tiyak na malalampasan natin ang kahit na anong pagsubok kung magiging bayani tayo sa ating mga sariling pamamaraan (As modern times present us with changes to deal with, we can surely overcome any challenge if we become heroes in our own ways),” he added. (PIA-NCR)