Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reminded the personnel of the Department of National Defense (DND) of the deeper meaning of what it means to be a part of the "One Defense Team" during the celebration of the 123rd Philippine Independence Day on Saturday, June 12.
"Securing our country in all fronts -- from the outside and from within -- is the essence of our existence," Lorenzana said in a statement.
The Defense Chief paid tribute to the DND personnel, including the soldiers who belong to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), as they gallantly safeguard the West Philippine Sea, Philippine Rise, Mavulis Island, and all the other islands in the southern part of the country.
Meanwhile, AFP Chief of Staff Cirilito Sobejana remembered the sacrifices of those who died for the liberation of the country from foreign colonizers.
"Their heroism and bravery in fighting against the enemies in different ways -- through their principles, intelligence, words, or actions -- are the reason why we have the freedom that we enjoy now as Filipinos," said Sobejana, who is considered a living hero and Medal of Valor awardee.
"This is the same freedom that we, your soldiers, want to preserve and protect," the AFP Chief added.
On June 7, more than 1,000 personnel, field offices and units from the Department and its bureaus -- the AFP, Government Arsenal, National Defense College of the Philippines, Office of Civil Defense and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office -- also took part in an hybrid flag-raising ceremony to jumpstart the Independence Day celebration of the DND -- a first for the Defense department.
Lorenzana, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, and other top military and defense officials attended the physical ceremony while others participated via teleconference to avoid mass gathering and the potential spread of COVID-19
The theme for this year's Independence Day celebration was "Kalayaan 2021: Diwa ng Kalayaan sa Pagkakaisa at Paghilom ng Bayan."
The DND is among the government agencies that are the forefront of thw country's fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Aside from the global health crisis, the DND is also dealing with other major external and internal security issues such as the continuing maritime tension between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea, terrorism, and communist insurgency among others.