On the 125th anniversary of the first Philippine Republic, President Marcos has reiterated his stance on protecting the Philippines' territory, stressing that the country will continue to resist any attempts to "trample our sacred shores."

In his speech at the event held at the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan on Jan. 23, Marcos pledged to continue to honor the sacrifices made by our forefathers by continuing the legacy of the country's first republic.

"So, today, as beneficiaries of their heroism, we pledge to continue to pay those dues. For that is the only way that we can honor those who founded this Republic, those who fought for its ideals, and those who fell in the war," Marcos said.

He stressed that freedom continues to face threats up to this day, conveying that he will continue to be firm with his stand in not allowing the country to give up an inch of its territory.  

"And the fight continues up to this day, because while the great cause of freedom endures, it still faces threats, some shocking, some subtle, but all met with the same resolve," Marcos said.

"To those who 'trample our sacred shores', the Spirit of Malolos commands us to resist you, for the territory our forefathers fought for is unconquerable," he expressed.

Marcos also stressed that the government continues "to be unrelenting in securing peace from all quarters, for freedom cannot thrive in chaos."

"It cannot exist with those who preach intolerance or seek tyranny," he said.

The President underscored that the country faces new challenges now such as poverty, hunger, and disease.

"But the wars we fight today involve no armies to be crushed or trenches to be overwhelmed. They require no bloodletting, no rushing of barricades," the Chief Executive said.

"They are harder to vanquish, and they exact a toll of poverty, hunger, and disease claim more lives than any armed conflicts," he added.

He further advocated unity within the government and the nation, saying "a divided Republic can never prosper."

"When fractured into tribes, cliques and factions, its attention is divided by the petty, and its energy is distracted away from the grand dreams we have for our nation," he said.

He enjoined the citizenry to continuously be inspired to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of the nation’s march to progress through the history made by our founding fathers.

The event formed part of a series of activities leading up to the 125th anniversary of the Philippine Independence.

The Malolos Republic was regarded as the first democratic republic in Asia, which later inspired other  Asian republics.