Marcoses host diplomatic corps in Independence Day celebrations
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 12, 2025, the 127th anniversary of Philippine Independence, renews his commitment to forge alliances that 'are based on mutual respect, reciprocity, and shared goals.' The President and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos hosted the Diplomatic Corps in a Vin d’honneur (French tradition meaning wine of honor) in Malacañang, one of two events celebrated in the Palace with local and foreign dignitaries, with the other during the New Year.
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00:41You have brought a bit of charm to the proceedings.
00:47Executive Secretary Lucas Persimine, the Honourable Members of the Capital,
00:53Foreign Affairs Acting Secretary Charles Jose,
00:56and, of course, First Lady Luisa Renata Marcos,
01:01my fellow workers in government,
01:04Honourable guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.
01:09It is always a joy that I once again welcome all of you today as we join the entire nation in this proud occasion of celebrating the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence.
01:22From the birth of our statehood to this day, the country has forged a path to developing its national identity that is guided by the values of freedom and of democracy as inspired by our own struggles.
01:37The bravery of our ancestors is certainly not lost to us.
01:41The virtue continues to flow in the veins of all Filipinos as a proud race that is known to have stood against my dear folks both in times of peace and in conflict.
01:52Today, we muster once again that same courage in the face of new challenges confronting the nation and the world.
02:00When I first took office three years ago, my marching orders to our Department of Foreign Affairs and our Foreign Services were clear.
02:09We introduced the Philippines to the world and formed a global community that the Philippines is open for business and that we seek mutually beneficial cooperation with countries around the world who share our values and our aspirations.
02:25In a manner of speaking, these marching orders are similar to the government to untask a revolutionary government had to accomplish when the Philippines declared independence on this day in 1898, when our envoys had to secure international recognition of our nascent republic.
02:45One hundred and twenty-seven years later, our diplomats are tasked to secure international support for the Philippines' national development agenda and the global recognition of our role as a reliable partner, a trusted peacemaker, and an innovative pathmaker.
03:04I am pleased that we have made such great strides in this endeavor.
03:08Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, with the indomitable spirit and resilience of the Filipino people, we have kept the torch of hard-won freedom lit and ablaze to this very day.
03:21And we have unremittingly defended our sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of all in person.
03:28Our country has since gone a long way from a fledgling republic to an active and responsible member of a community of nations.
03:37Our growth as a country has allowed us to play significant roles in the global discourse on climate change, human rights, migration, regional stability and freedom in the seas, and most other issues.
03:50More than that, we have also expanded our diplomacy to include serving as consensus builders between and amongst nations on issues of international significance.
04:02We have positioned ourselves on the world stage so we can participate in international dialogue, safeguard our national interests, and contribute to the common good.
04:13Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, since taking the mantle of the presidency three years ago, I have made several pronouncements about charting an independent foreign policy as a constitutional mandate.
04:27Our independent foreign policy is informed by our development goals and reflects our national priorities.
04:34Ours is a proactive policy that is true to ourselves, responsive to the needs and aspirations of our people.
04:41Our engagements in the world are geared towards building peace and cooperation and to foster enduring partnerships.
04:49We build bridges, we build bridges, not walls, we forge alliances that are based on mutual respect, reciprocity and shared goals.
04:58Given our own domestic priorities for socio-economic transformation, our foreign policy promotes development through the strategic conduct of diplomacy.
05:08Our foreign policy strategic outlook is anchored in a long-term vision in Ambition Latin 2014 and the agenda of the Baro Filipinas for the New Philippines.
05:21At this juncture, allow me to share some of the highlights of the stake in play in the Philippine economy.
05:28I am pleased to know that the Philippine economy grew 5.4% in the first quarter of 2035.
