INCOMING Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez urged all allies and foes to unite, set aside politics and instead be heroes for the country.

Romualdez joined the Filipinos in the 124th commemoration of Independence Day in Kawit, Cavite.

“In the coming days, we are being called again to action and service. Not to bear arms against a foreign invader, but to heed the call of unity by the incoming administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. We are asked to reach out to our fellow Filipinos, friends and foes alike, and appeal to them to link arms for nation-building,” Romualdez said in his speech Sunday morning as guest of honor during an Independence Day celebration.

“Mabigat ang hamon sa ating lahat. We have been polarized as a nation due to political differences. Even families were torn apart by loyalties to opposing candidates in the last elections. The ‘cancel culture’ has reached our shores and wrought havoc on relationships among friends,” he added.

Romualdez also led the wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of General Emilio Aguinaldo.

Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president who also served as one of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte’s campaign managers, said now is the time to set aside politics and work together towards building a strong nation founded on freedom, justice, and democracy.

“My dear brothers and sisters, it is time now to set aside politics. Tapos na ang eleksiyon, a new set of leaders are set to assume on July 1. We need your support for our leaders, let us work with them, if we want the Filipino nation to rise again,” Romualdez said.

“Mga kababayan, harapin po natin ang hamon ng kabayanihan. Let us face these challenges with heads up high and with strong conviction to secure our victory. Be heroes in our own little way.

Each one of us has a great role to play in making this nation great again,” added Romualdez, a lawyer from University of the Philippines (UP) and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), as he noted the enormous blows of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, especially on the Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises and the Philippine economy in general.

It was on June 12, 1898, that Aguinaldo, head of the Philippine Revolutionary Government, declared the country’s independence from Spanish rule.

On the same day, the country’s national anthem was played and the flag unfurled at Aguinaldo’s ancestral house in Kawit, Cavite.

The country’s ninth President Diosdado Macapagal proclaimed June 12 a public holiday in 1962.

“As we celebrate the birth of our nation today (Sunday), we also pay tribute to the heroism of our fellowmen who shed blood to secure the freedom that we enjoy at the moment. Dahil sa kanilang kabayanihan, payapa nating nakakasama ang ating mga pamilya at mahal sa buhay. We continue to enjoy the fruits of our labor, and we remain at peace with our neighbors,” Romualdez said.

“Let us carry on in honoring the memory of our heroes by doing our part in the heavy task of nation-building. Huwag po nating sayangin ang kanilang nagawa. Let us all protect the gains of independence by working hard to move our country forward,” Romualdez added.