MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has urged Filipinos to welcome the New Year with renewed hope and optimism as they carry the spirit of bayanihan or communal unity in achieving a new Philippines.
Marcos said the New Year is an opportunity to “learn from the lessons of the past and apply the wisdom gained to better oneself.”
“As we move forward into 2025, we look ahead with renewed hope and optimism, knowing that our experiences will guide us into building a future filled with promise and purpose,” the President said in a message released on New Year’s Eve.
“Let us draw inspiration from the innumerable acts of courage, compassion and bayanihan that we have witnessed in the face of adversity. Only then can we fortify the bonds that connect us, truly rebuild what has been lost and realize a Bagong Pilipinas where dreams flourish and every Filipino thrives,” he said.
“It is our desire for our citizens to embrace this outlook and adopt an introspective and growth-focused mindset that balances the realities of yesterday and the promises of tomorrow,” Marcos said.
He the past year had been filled with “incredible challenges” as calamities disrupted lives and communities.
“Reflecting on the resilience we have shown in overcoming them, it is crucial for our progress to esteem such moments as hallmarks of the extraordinary strength we gain through solidarity and perseverance,” he said.
Six powerful typhoons slammed into the Philippines in the latter part of 2024, leaving over a hundred people dead and billions of pesos worth of damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
A survey recently released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed about 90 percent of Filipinos were entering the new year with hope rather than fear.
While the number remained high, it was six points below the 96 percent obtained in a similar survey in 2023, the SWS said in its Dec. 12-18 poll.
Expectations ahead of 2025 are the lowest since the end of 2009, when 89 percent said they were entering the new year with hope, the SWS said.
Vice President Sara Duterte, meanwhile, urged Filipinos to remain steadfast in facing challenges this year.
Duterte, who has had a tumultuous year in politics, thanked Filipinos for their enduring resilience and hard work in providing their households a better tomorrow.
“Year 2024 tested our capabilities and molded us as a nation ready to stand up for justice and prosperity,” she said.
AFP ‘even stronger’
For Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., the challenges in 2024 have made the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) even stronger this year.
In his New Year message yesterday, he said the DND “stands with the Filipino people in celebrating the New Year, reflecting on the journey of 2024, and looking ahead with hope and resolve to 2025.”
“To say that the nation endured its share of challenges in 2024 would be an understatement. Yet, amidst these trials, we also achieved significant victories – moments of triumph for which we are deeply grateful,” he added.
Teodoro noted that in 2024, the Philippines faced and overcame both literal and figurative storms, from natural disasters to challenges to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Our resilience in rising above these trials was made possible by the dedication of our men and women in uniform, civil defense officers, first responders, strong defense partnerships, government support and the unwavering solidarity and resilience of the Filipino people,” he said.
“With grateful anticipation, we look forward to 2025 and the promising future of the Philippines – a secure, climate-resilient, archipelagic nation poised to be a strategic global player and a stable platform for true national development and progress,” Teodoro said.
Public servants, unite
In his New Year message, Speaker Martin Romualdez urged public servants to unite and make a fresh start to strengthen their service to the Filipino people.
Romualdez also called on Filipinos to embrace 2025 as an opportunity to “build a stronger, more resilient Philippines.”
He said the start of New Year is a chance for collective action to create a brighter future for the nation under the administration of President Marcos.
“The New Year is a symbol of new start, another chance to help and establish a strong future for our nation,” Romualdez said.
He said 2024 was marked by significant achievements as well as major challenges for the House of Representatives, as the nation went through several natural calamities like typhoons.
“The year 2024 has left many memories for our country. We have many successes, but this is also a year which gives us many challenges, particularly the series of typhoons, floods and calamities that caused grave challenges and hardship to our people,” the Speaker said.
Despite these challenges, Romualdez said people showed resilience and exhibited unity and the spirit of “bayanihan” in overcoming hardships.
“As we step into 2025, let us carry with us the lessons of the past year. Let us remain united in our resolve to rise above challenges, to rebuild what has been lost and to ensure that no Filipino is left behind,” he said.
“Along with hope in the New Year are the new courage and strength of will to face the challenges and opportunities for the future,” he maintained.
The Speaker reaffirmed the House’s commitment to addressing the nation’s pressing needs through proactive legislation, saying it will remain focused on enacting measures that promote economic growth, improve public services and enhance disaster resilience.
“As the leader of the House of Representatives, I would like to assure you that Congress will continue to push for laws that can help the entire country,” Romualdez said.
“We remain strong in our commitment to prioritize legislation that will uplift the lives of our people – laws that will spur economic growth, improve public services and strengthen disaster resilience,” he added.
He also emphasized the critical role of collaboration between the government and the private sector to ensure that all Filipinos have access to essential services and opportunities for a better future.
“The cooperation between the government and private sector also played an important role in ensuring that public service is always accessible to each Filipino. We will continue to push for programs that will pave the way for a better future for each Filipino family,” Romualdez said.
The House leader reiterated his full support for Marcos’ vision of a Bagong Pilipinas, a nation of opportunity, security and hope for all.
“Let us continue to uphold President Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas with a country where each Filipino has an opportunity, security and hope,” Romualdez said.
Health reforms
Sen. Bong Go said he will remain committed to his advocacies for health reforms and welfare of overseas Filipino workers as the country enters 2025.
Go, chairman of the Senate committee on health, relayed his New Year message to Filipinos over “Kasangga Mo Ang Langit” program on Radyo Agila hosted by broadcaster Rey Langit.
Asked to share his experience in 2021 when he helped 30 OFWs evacuate from Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover, Go said he felt happy to play a role in saving Filipinos but was saddened by the loss of lives of other nationalities.
“First of all, it’s heartbreaking to realize that people die during conflicts. But it’s important that in this case, we were able to save OFWs,” Go told Langit.
He also called on the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to prioritize immediate response to OFW needs, especially during crisis situations.
“It’s hard to live far away from your family. It’s hard to work abroad,” he said.
As an advocate for OFW welfare, Go authored and co-sponsored Republic Act No. 11641, which established the DMW.
He also proposed Senate Bill No. 2414, or the “OFW Ward Act,” to ensure dedicated health care services for OFWs and their families in all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals.
Additionally, Go filed SBN 2297, seeking to institutionalize the OFW Hospital in Pampanga that was established during the Duterte administration, ensuring its sustainability and improving healthcare for OFWs and their loved ones.
Go also emphasized the importance of health. “My wish is for all Filipinos to be healthy. For me, health is life itself,” he added.
In the same interview, Go expressed disappointment over the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)’s zero subsidy in the 2025 budget.
“That’s why I’m asking PhilHealth to focus on this. We have hearings in the Senate every month to make PhilHealth stick to its promises to expand benefit packages, increase case rate and remove the 24-hour confinement policy,” he said.
“Also, it’s important to expand benefit packages like for dental, eye checkup and free eyeglasses because Filipinos are experiencing hard times. It’s hard to get sick,” he said.
The senator also emphasized his ongoing efforts to support health workers, particularly in securing their Health Emergency Allowance (HEA). He reassured Filipinos that his office is always open to assist those in need.
“I don’t take a rest, I work from Monday to Sunday for Filipinos. And I thank Filipinos for their trust,” he said. — Michael Punongbayan, Jose Rodel Clapano, Cecille Suerte-Felipe, Neil Jayson Servallos
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