Marcos: 'Solution to war is not more war, but only peace'

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday emphasized that the lone solution to an armed conflict is peace agreed upon by all involved parties.

Speaking in Pilar, Bataan to commemorate the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), Marcos said Filipinos today celebrate the peace that was earned through the blood and sacrifice of all those who fought bravely for their own countries during World War II.

"We celebrate the lessons that have been learned through this very terrible hardship and very terrible experience. The lessons that we learned are that the solution to war is not more war, and that the solution to war is only peace—an honorable peace that is arrived at by the different parties involved and having a hand and a voice in achieving that peace," the President said.

"Peace cannot be attained by one person, by one country alone. We have to bring together all the parties that are involved. These are the lessons that we hope to have learned," Marcos added.

The President lamented that many countries still have yet to learn such a lesson, while expressing hoping that peace will soon be reached by all.

Marcos delivered his speech at the Dambana ng Kagitingan in Mount Samat National Shrine in Bataan, where he also led the wreath-laying ceremony and the viewing of the newly curated Mt. Samat National Shrine Underground Museum.

The museum is located beneath the Colonnade that was inaugurated in 1970 by Marcos' father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.  

The P19-million renovation project features a curated showcase of Bataan's role in World War II, honoring the heroism and sacrifices of Filipino and American soldiers, as well as the local heroes of Bataan.

In his Araw ng Kagitingan statement, the President called on Filipinos to follow the example of the heroes who defended Bataan by advancing causes that improve the lives of their fellow citizens.

Marcos earlier declared April 9, 2025 as a regular holiday to mark the Araw ng Kagitingan.

Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor commemorates the Fall of Bataan, which happened on April 9, 1942, to remember the thousands of Filipinos who dedicated their lives to freeing the Philippines during World War II. — VDV, GMA Integrated News