By Argyll Cyrus Geducos As the Philippines continues to grapple with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, President Duterte told the new graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) to "adapt" to the current changes in the world to enable the Philippines to keep pace with progress made by other countries. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the simultaneous commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy "Masidlawin" Class of 2020 and the Philippine National Police Academy "Mandayug" Class of 2020 at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang, Manila on May 22, 2020. The commencement exercises were held online while proper social distancing protocols were observed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO Duterte made the statement as he virtually led the graduation rites of the two institutions Friday evening. The President delivered his message to the graduates from Malacañang via videoconferencing app Zoom. In his speech, Duterte reminded the graduates that the current situation was not a vineyard of comfort, saying it affects everyone and every human activity and will continue to do so for months. "These are troubled times, dangerous abnormal times caused by a fast-spreading and highly contagious virulent virus, the COVID-19, that cuts across the whole of humankind," he said. "Patience, perseverance, and resiliency are the crying needs of the moment. I trust that every Filipino has this in his person and virtues abundant," he added. Duterte hoped that COVID-19 will not dampen the joy and pride the graduates and their parents were feeling after years of study and rigorous training. He also asked them to always carry with them the values their alma mater taught them. "The world is changing and we have to adapt to the changes lest we lag behind. But like someone else said, 'We can change in a changing world and yet cling to the unchanging values of life.'," he said. "Values like the love of country, honesty, integrity, concern for the poor and the needy, adherence to the rule of law. These are values that make our society, humane, and a nation, progressive. A simple truth that is unassailable," he added. The President, however, reminded the graduates to remain true to their duties and warned them against committing illegal acts. "Let me end this question which I once heard. It goes thus: If those who are tasked with the maintenance of peace and order and the protection of public and private property do not do their mandate or worse, commit that which they are called upon to prevent or guard against. Again, I said the question be: what then?" President Duterte asked. "Who will carry the liberty? Who will carry our independence? Who will carry the constitutional duty of due process, fair play? These are the things which you have to worry ... Remain true to that sacred document and remain as ever loyal to the Filipino flag," he said. "That is both a question and a challenge that beg for a response - your response. Think it over. You have all the time to do that. Thereafter, act accordingly," he added. President Duterte "added flavor" to the simultaneous graduation rites of the PMA and PNPA by giving both class valedictorians a house and lot each.