ASEAN Urged to Embrace Bayanihan Spirit for Shared Future

Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday urged member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to work together and practice bayanihan to build a shared future. In her video message for ASEAN Day, Duterte said that during her term as president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Council, she has seen what happens when countries work together. "It reminds me of a beautiful Filipino tradition called Bayanihan—the spirit of an entire community coming together to lift a neighbor’s house on their shoulders and move it to safer ground," Duterte said. "This is exactly how we must build our shared future. No country carries the weight alone. We lift each other up. As we celebrate 59 years of ASEAN, let us bring this spirit of Bayanihan to the global stage," she said. "I challenge our ASEAN youth to conquer and challenge in shaping our shared future, united by our shared vision, and driven by our shared purpose," she added. Duterte added that the ASEAN region is home to nearly 700 million people with different cultures, languages and dreams. "As we look ahead, our shared goal is simple: to build a future where every young person can thrive, no matter where they come from," she said. "Happy ASEAN day to everyone! Shukran," Duterte said. —KG, GMA News