As the Philippines commemorates its 124th year of independence, it is now time to set aside politics, so said House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez.

“My dear brothers and sisters, it is time now to set aside politics. Tapos na ang eleksiyon, a new set of leaders are set to assume on July 1. We need your support for our leaders, let us work with them, if we want the Filipino nation to rise again,” Romualdez said in his Independence Day message.

“We need all hands on deck. The challenges ahead of us are enormous,” said Romualdez.

Romualdez reminded Filipinos that the task ahead is enormous given the country’s problems with the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on public health and the economy.

“The threat of COVID-19 is not fully over. Businesses have yet to recover to pre-pandemic level. The jobs of our people in the Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are still in peril. The Philippine economy is still bouncing back from the ravages of the pandemic,” he said.

“Let us face these challenges with heads up high and with strong conviction to secure our victory. Be heroes in our own little way. Each one of us has a great role to play in making this nation great again,” the House leader appealed.

“I urge all of you to remain steadfast in our common quest to build a strong nation founded on freedom, justice and democracy,” Romualdez emphasized.

The lawmaker further said it is important to carry on in honoring the memory of the nation’s heroes but doing one’s part in the heavy task of nation-building and protect the gains of independence by working hard to move the country forward.

“In the coming days, we are being called again to action and service. Not to bear arms against a foreign invader, but heed the call of unity by the incoming administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.,” he said.

“We are asked to reach out to our fellow Filipinos, friends and foes alike, and appeal to them to link arms for nation-building. Mabigat ang hamon sa ating lahat (This is a huge challenge to all of us). We have been polarized as a nation due to political differences. Even families were torn apart by loyalties to opposing candidates in the last elections. The ‘cancel culture’ has reached our shores and wrought havoc on relationships among friends,” he said.

Romualdez, President-elect Marcos Jr.’s cousin, is gearing up to be the next House Speaker in the 19th Congress.