President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the celebration of the Philippine Army’s 128th founding anniversary at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City on Saturday (March 22, 2025). He told the Army to set aside personal interests and help achieve the administration’s goal of building a more united, just and truly peaceful nation. (Screengrab from RTVM)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the critical role of adaptability and discipline in today’s evolving security landscape, warning that cyberspace has emerged as the new frontline in modern warfare.
Speaking at the Philippine Army’s 128th anniversary celebration held Saturday at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Marcos pointed to the increasing complexity of global threats and emphasized the importance of resilience to safeguard the country’s development and national security.
“We live in a world that is constantly changing. Threats are no longer limited to the battlefield — they now extend to cyberspace and beyond,” Marcos said, addressing members of the Philippine Army.
He stressed that overcoming these modern challenges requires more than courage and skill, calling for enhanced adaptability, discipline, and a deeper commitment to national service.
The President lauded the Army’s ongoing efforts to strengthen defense capabilities and improve readiness to detect, respond to, and recover from both traditional and cyber threats. Still, he noted that technical ability alone is not enough in the face of increasingly sophisticated attacks.
“It demands unshakable resolve in times of adversity, principles that remain firm in the face of fear or uncertainty, and a heart that serves loyally without expecting anything in return,” Marcos said in Filipino.
He further urged members of the military to rise above personal interests and instead pursue a greater collective mission of building a more united, just, and peaceful Philippines.
“In any organization, true leadership isn’t measured by rank or power, but by the willingness to set aside self-interest for the greater good,” he said.
Marcos praised the Philippine Army’s enduring legacy, saying it has stood as a “pillar of strength and stability” for over a century, consistently defending the nation, upholding the Constitution, and protecting the Filipino people in times of war, crisis, and calamity.