President Marcos vowed that the government would continue defending the Philippines' landmark 2016 arbitral victory in the West Philippine Sea, declaring that it would use "every peaceful and legal means" to uphold the ruling against any attempt to undermine it.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27, Marcos denounced what he described as efforts to question the dignity and character of the Filipino people amid continuing security challenges facing the country.

The President was precise in his reminder to the country’s “friends and detractors” that Filipinos are a noble, kind, gracious, and great race.

"We are not greedy. We are not racists. We are not liars. We are respectful, and we are dignified. We are Filipinos, and we do not yield," he said.

"Sa mga pang-aalipusta, hindi tayo matitinag. Sa manlulupig, hindi tayo pasisiil (In the face of insults, we will not be shaken. Before any oppressor, we will never submit),” he added.

Marcos said the Philippines would never abandon the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award, which he described as a definitive benchmark in the interpretation and application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"This is not a claim that we advance alone, nor one that we will abandon," he said.

"Your government will do all that is necessary to continue upholding this Award, utilizing every peaceful and legal means available to the Republic against any attempt, foreign or domestic, to undermine this achievement," he added.

President Marcos likewise paid tribute to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Filipino fisherfolk, saying they continue to uphold the country's rights despite the dangers they face at sea.

"We give honor to our Armed Forces, the Coast Guard, and even our fisherfolk, who all continue to patrol and ply our seas, though fraught with risks," he said.

"To them we owe collective gratitude and appreciation for they give life to the letter and spirit of the Arbitral Award," he added.

The 2016 Arbitral Award, issued by a tribunal constituted under UNCLOS, invalidated China's sweeping "nine-dash line" claim over most of the South China Sea and affirmed the Philippines' sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone, including parts of the West Philippine Sea, although Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling.

Marcos' remarks came days after the country marked the 10th anniversary of the landmark decision, which the Philippines and several like-minded partners have reaffirmed as final and legally binding amid continued tensions in the disputed waters.

His remarks likewise came amid continuing confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, particularly around Ayungin Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc, where the Philippines has repeatedly protested what it described as dangerous and coercive actions by the China Coast Guard while continuing its rotation, resupply, and maritime patrol operations.

Meanwhile, Marcos urged Filipinos to remain united in confronting threats to the country's security, saying differences should not divide the nation in defending its sovereignty.

"Mga kapwa kong Pilipino, sa ganitong mga banta sa ating seguridad, sa loob at labas ng bansa, tayo'y tumindig nang taas-noo at magkapit-bisig (My fellow Filipinos, in the face of these threats to our security, both within and beyond our borders, let us stand tall and stand together),” he said.

"Dahil tayo man ay magkakaiba sa maraming bagay, iisa lang ang ating lahi. Tayong lahat ay Pilipino. Pilipino sa diwa; Pilipino sa dugo (Though we may differ in many ways, we are one people. We are all Filipinos—Filipino in spirit and Filipino by blood),” he added.

Marcos hoped that unity and love for the country and fellow Filipinos would prevail.

“Sa bagay na ito, hindi tayo magkakatunggali. Tayo ay magkakabigkis — tulad ng ating pinamalas sa ating buong kasaysayan (On this matter, we should not be divided. We should remain united—as we have shown throughout our history),” he said.