12/06/2022
AKBAYAN PARTYLIST ON INDEPENDENCE DAY 2022
Today, we celebrate more than our freedom from the chains of colonialism. We uplift the sacrifices of the many heroes who gave their lives so that we could have a country of our own.
The power to determine our destiny as a nation is also our greatest responsibility. The actions of our leaders, the victories and failures of those in power, and our choices as citizens carry life or death consequences for ourselves and the lives of our children, the excluded, and the vulnerable. Times may change, but the central mission of any democracy remains the same – the creation of a society that defends the dignity of the individual, anchored on the principles of justice, fairness, and truth.
While the work of nation building continues, we must remain vigilant against the insidious forces which threaten to enslave us – fake news, historical revisionism, and the threat of an illiberal democracy which exploits genuine discontent and perverts the law for the benefit of a few. The forces that peddle these evils seek to erode our faith not only in the nation we have built, but in one another. We will not let them win.
Let us take back the truth from those who would steal it, and prove that the courage of the Filipino people has lost none of its strength and power. Akbayan is one with our collective struggle towards a truly brighter future for all.
