By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
The Philippines maintains an independent foreign policy that is anchored on peace and national interest, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Wednesday before foreign diplomats as the country celebrated the 126th anniversary of the proclamation of the nation’s independence.
Marcos hosted in Malacañang the diplomatic corps with the traditional vin d’honneur (French for “wine of honor”), an official reception commemorating both the New Year and the anniversary of the nation’s independence every June 12.
In his speech, Marcos said his government is making its own policy decisions and actions to protect the Philippines’ national interest while promoting peace and strengthening engagements with “like-minded” nations.
“We continue to chart an independent foreign policy in keeping with our constitutional mandate. We pursue [this] through international engagements that seek to strengthen existing alliances [and] build new partnerships with like-minded states,” Marcos said.
“Our foreign policy is grounded on the continuing promotion and work for peace, and the continuing promotion and work for our national interest,” he added.
The President stressed that the Philippines has consistently taken positions in support of the rule of law and of the rules-based international order.
“As we continue to promote diplomacy and dialogue in our efforts to build bridges in our various multilateral advocacies—such as for peace, economic development, climate change, amongst others—we shall endeavor to enhance engagements with bilateral, regional, [and] multilateral partners, especially in areas where cooperation has not yet reached its full potential,” he said.
Likewise, the Chief Executive honored the Filipinos’ forefathers who fought to liberate the country, which he described as the Philippines’ “proudest moment” in its storied past.
He also bared the administration’s success in navigating the challenges of the economy.
‘Dialogue surest way to avoid catastrophe’
In his message, Archbishop Charles John Brown, the papal nuncio to the Philippines and the dean of the diplomatic corps, congratulated the Philippines for the peace and development achieved in the Bangsamoro region.
He said that to address conflict arising from geopolitical tensions, diplomacy and dialogue should be the way forward, citing how the Philippines resolved the armed conflict in Mindanao through the signing of the Bangsamoro peace accord.
“If we want to make a world of safety and prosperity for our children, the way forward for all of us is the same path that has brought the hope of peace to the people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and Muslim Mindanao. And that is the path of dialogue. Patient, serious dialogue, together with a respect for international law and a respect for legitimate diversity,” Brown said.
“Engaging with others, and particularly those with whom we profoundly disagree, is the surest way of avoiding the catastrophe of escalation,” he added.