[ad_1]
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed Friday 2021 with hope and said that the indomitable spirit of the Filipinos would lead to better days despite the pandemic.
In his New Year’s message, the CEO said that the new year serves as another opportunity to be wiser, stronger, and prepared for new challenges.
“Today is a joyous day, a time for new beginnings, and a time for hope. We ended the previous year with so many difficulties and trials, but with great gratitude, “he said in a statement.
Duterte also believes in strong Filipino spirit, which he said was the reason the nation braved hardships last year.
RELATED STORIES:
“[W]We endure it all, sustained by our distinctive resistance as a people … I am sure that we will all see brighter days ahead because we believe in the indomitable spirit of the Filipino. ”
He also emphasized the importance of Philippine unity and how much the country learned from the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic may have cost us so many lives and material resources, but we also learned a lot from it. We realized the value of human life and our relationships with each other,” Duterte said.
“We understood what it means to be a family, a community, a nation. We learned to share and take care of the well-being of our brothers ”, he added.
Millions of Filipinos have lost their jobs as COVID-19 restrictions crippled the economy and closed businesses.
Apart from local workers, many Filipinos abroad lost their jobs and were repatriated due to COVID-19.
A survey conducted by pollster Social Weather Stations in September showed that approximately 7.6 million households experienced hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic.
RELATED VIDEO: Professor of Economics: Some Jobs Lost During the Pandemic May Not Return | African National Congress
Duterte, President Duterte, 2021, New Years message, 2021 Duterte, Filipino resilience, resilience
[ad_2]