Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. honored Filipino and American veterans on Saturday, calling on present generations to preserve the freedoms and shared values that veterans of both nations fought to defend, in remarks delivered at the commemoration of US Veterans Day 2026 in Taguig City.
The event, held on November 7, 2026, was attended by the Department of National Defense (DND) chief, who used the occasion to say that recognition of veterans must extend beyond ceremonial tribute to active, ongoing responsibility.
Sacrifices Beyond the Battlefield
Speaking at the commemoration, Secretary Teodoro emphasized that veterans deserve honor not only for the ultimate sacrifices some made, but also for the personal opportunities they relinquished upon entering military service.
"When they chose or found themselves in the crossroad of serving their countries in the profession of arms, they removed other options in their lives: the chance to perhaps chase a dream, the chance to have higher education, the chance to have a family, or the chance to continue caring for their families," Teodoro said, according to the DND press release.
The Defense Secretary drew a distinction between those who gave their lives in service and those who survived, saying both deserve recognition — the fallen through remembrance, and the living through genuine care.
Veterans as Protagonists in Shared History
Teodoro highlighted the role of Filipino and American veterans in shaping the histories of both nations, particularly through their joint defense of common values and their efforts to resist aggression.
"These veterans being protagonists in both and all our country's histories, in a common fight for shared values, in a common fight to repulse aggression, they serve as inspirations to the continuing fight for active preservation of the freedoms that we enjoy, and to build the patrimony that both our countries' future generations deserve," he said.
The DND statement described the Secretary's remarks as highlighting the significance of the Philippines-United States partnership, rooted in a shared history of service, sacrifice, and commitment to defending freedom.
A Duty Beyond Commemoration
Teodoro stressed that honoring veterans carries a responsibility that outlasts any single ceremony, calling on present generations to ensure that the sacrifices of those who served are not rendered meaningless.
"However, the greater sacrifice is to continue and not waste the sacrifice they made. That is the ultimate duty that we owe those… who chose an option or found themselves in a situation where we are living today because of them," the Defense Chief said, as quoted in the DND press release issued by releasing authority Assistant Secretary Arsenio R. Andolong.
Photo credit: Department of National Defense