On National Heroes’ Day, President Marcos called on Filipinos to understand history and know the Philippines’ rights, stressing that defending the country’s territory is a shared responsibility among its people.

In his speech at the National Heroes' Day commemoration on Aug. 31, Marcos mentioned the country’s interests, upholding the rule of law, and securing the resources upon which our communities depend.

"This is timely as 2026 marks a decade since the 2016 Arbitral Award affirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)," Marcos said.

The President stressed that the Philippines will continue to fight for its rights in a peaceful and lawful manner.

"Ipaglalaban natin ang ating mga karapatan sa paraang mapayapa, naaayon sa batas, at naaayon sa ating mga prinsipyo (We will fight for our rights peacefully, according to the law and our principles)," he said.

He underscored that this plight is a shared responsibility among Filipinos, encouraging them to equip themselves with the knowledge to help protect the country's interests.

"But defending our territory is a responsibility shared by the entire nation," Marcos said.

"It calls on each of us to understand our history, to know our rights, and to take part in protecting the national interests," he added.

Marcos said the effort to protect the Philippines' rights and interests should begin by educating the youth on where the country's maritime rights come from and why they matter.

"Sapagkat ang tibay ng ating paninindigan bilang bansa ay nagsisimula sa lalim ng ating kaalaman at lakas ng ating pagkakabuklod-buklod bilang isang bayan (Because the strength of our resolve as a nation begins with the depth of our knowledge and the strength of our unity as one people)," Marcos said.

"Magkakaiba man ang ating pamamaraan, iisa ang mensahe ng mga ito: Ang Pilipinas ay karapat-dapat na ipaglaban. Ang bawat Pilipino ay karapat-dapat na paglingkuran. Ang ating soberanya ay karapat-dapat na ipagtanggol (Our ways may differ, they all carry the same message: The Philippines is worth fighting for. Every Filipino is worth serving. Our sovereignty is worth defending)," Marcos stressed.

He further said that Filipinos must "champion truth, counter disinformation, and encourage responsible discourse" across every platform available. 

"Our fisherfolk, too, deserve our unconditional support. Their continued presence in our waters strengthens our connection to our maritime territory," he added.

Marcos emphasized that the Filipino people have a duty to uphold the integrity of its institutions "by demanding transparency, accountability, and a standard of service worthy of the Filipino people."

"Ganito natin binibigyan ng mukha ang kabayanihan sa ating panahon: sa pagkilala sa ating bayan, sa pagtataguyod sa mga karapatan nito, at sa paggawa ng ating responsibilidad upang manatiling matatag, malaya, at nagkakaisa ang Pilipinas (This is how we give heroism a face in our time: by knowing our country, upholding its rights, and fulfilling our responsibilities to keep the Philippines strong, free, and united)," he said.

In his speech, the President also honored Filipinos from different walks of life who sacrificed their safety, their comfort, and their lives "to raise a young Republic that would nurture future generations."

He paid tribute to modern day heroes like overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), firemen, police, soldiers, teachers, emergency responders, healthcare workers, fishermen, Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) among others.