As the country commemorates the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda a decade ago, Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, Nov. 8, remembered the “unwavering spirit” of Filipinos that pushed them to rise above adversities and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of such catastrophe.

Vice President Sara Duterte commemorates the 10th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda via prerecorded video message. (Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)

In a video message posted on Facebook, she also took the opportunity to invite Filipinos to support the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) campaign to plant one million trees by 2028 as she underscored the importance of disaster preparedness and sustainable development.

“As we mark the commemoration of Typhoon Yolanda, we come together to remember and honor the lives that were tragically taken away during one of the most devastating natural disasters in our history,” she said.

“Typhoon Yolanda, left an indelible mark on our hearts, but it also revealed the extraordinary resilience and strength of those who were affected. In the midst of unimaginable destruction, we witnessed the unwavering spirit of Filipinos, who rose above adversity and rebuilt their lives with determination and courage,” she added.

The official looked back on Nov. 8, 2013, when Super Typhoon Yolanda, one of the most powerful typhoons in history, struck the Philippines as a Category 5 storm, affecting more than 14 million people across 44 provinces, leaving 8,000 dead, and displacing millions in its trail.

Highlighting the importance of disaster risk reduction, climate change mitigation, and disaster preparedness, Duterte said “it is crucial that we learn from the lessons of the past and take proactive steps to prevent such catastrophic events from happening again.”

She then invited Filipinos to the OVP’s “PagbaBAGo, A Million Trees” project, which aims to plant one million trees by 2028. Duterte herself already participated in the campaign during the opening of classes in August.

“Likewise, by investing in resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and education on disaster preparedness, we can safeguard our communities and mitigate the impact of future calamities,” she said.

But it is not only in remembering the lives lost that the country should looked back at the lessons of Yolanda.

Rather, the Vice President stressed the need to be united in “creating a safer, more resilient future defined by sustainable development.”

“Together, we can build communities that are better prepared to face the challenges posed by natural disasters and climate change,” she added.

The official, who serves as the country’s Education secretary in a concurrent capacity, also recalled the “tireless efforts” of the first responders, volunteers, and humanitarian organizations.

Duterte acknowledged how they “worked tirelessly to provide aid, support, and solace to those in need” amid the devastation caused by Yolanda.

“Their dedication and selflessness were instrumental in helping affected communities rebuild their lives and regain hope for a brighter future,” she added.