President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines鈥揚resident Benigno Aquino III on Monday raised the importance of unity, especially in addressing climate change and worsening calamities.
鈥淣ow, more than ever, the truism of the saying, 鈥楿nited we stand, divided we fall,鈥� comes to the forefront. We are responsible for our world and its future,鈥� Aquino said in the annual vin d鈥檋onneur at Malaca帽ang, which was attended by members of the diplomatic corps.
鈥淭he time to act is now,鈥� Aquino said of the fight against climate change, inequality and terrorism.
鈥淲e can work together: each person and each country doing its part to collectively solve all these issues. Or we can think only of ourselves, thereby allowing these challenges to grow more convoluted, and more insurmountable until we are all consumed by them,鈥� he said.
Aquino said he was thankful that the world chose to hope in challenging times, especially when the Philippines was struck by calamities last year.
鈥淲e must also never forget how the vast majority of the world has responded to such trials. Instead of being daunted or wallowing in fear, we have chosen to hope,鈥� he said.
The President said he cannot forget how different nations 鈥渞eached out to the Philippines鈥� after Supertyphoon 鈥淵olanda鈥� (Haiyan) and Typhoon 鈥淩uby鈥� (Hagupit).
鈥淚 will never forget how the global community has come together to fight climate change, including the example of His Holiness Pope Francis, who is expected to issue an encyclical on climate change and the imperative for all of humanity to take action,鈥� he added.
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