Honorable Cabinet Secretaries;

Excellencies and members of the diplomatic corps;

Colleagues in government;

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and gentlemen;

Good evening.

Allow me to thank each of you for joining the Philippines in this meaningful commemoration.

Tonight, we mark the tenth anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. This landmark decision continues to stand as the defining affirmation of the Philippines’ commitment to international law, and the bedrock of a stable, rules-based maritime order.

For a decade, the Philippines has met challenges with consistent resolve, choosing diplomacy, dialogue, and peaceful engagement. As Chair of ASEAN, our priority remains clear: to lead with a principled, measured approach focused on regional stability, de-escalation, and maritime cooperation.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

A decade after its issuance, the message of the Award remains as powerful as ever: that law matters; that the rights of states, regardless of size, must be respected; and that peace is only durable when anchored in justice and equity.

Our task for the next decade is to continue giving life to this moral and legal legacy—by upholding UNCLOS in its entirety, protecting our environment, and ensuring the South China Sea remains a sea of peace and prosperity.

This commitment lies at the very heart of the President’s directive on Philippine foreign policy—an independent path where we remain a friend to all and an enemy to none, yet fiercely resolute in safeguarding our sovereignty, with the rule of law as both our shield and our voice on the global stage.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, on this note, allow me to introduce our guest of honor tonight, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. END