Assalamualaikum!

Madayaw ug maayong adlaw kaninyong tanan!

Good day to everyone!

Today, I join the world in the observance of the United Nations International Day of Peace which serves as a constant reminder of our yearning for meaningful and lasting peace for all.

The message to end the pervading culture of racism as the core of this year’s observance of the UN International Day of Peace highlights the universality of our fight to be recognized, respected, and be accorded our equal rights as a nation with diverse culture, traditions, and religions.

Racism as a source of conflict carves painful wounds that linger through generations — resulting in a cycle of violence inflamed by raging hate of a race against another race.

We have a moral obligation to end racism and address the web of violence interlocking around the culture of hate that threatens to overcome us, injure us, and break us apart as a community.

We cannot allow hate to poison our differences or allow it to overpower our unity as one community that respects each other’s ethnicity, culture, and religion.

Instead, we should tap on our differences and ensure that every person can freely exercise their cultural rights and other fundamental rights recognized by international laws.

May we be unrelenting in our mission of engaging all groups and sectors in all our endeavors — ensuring that we build an inclusive society.

I trust that Filipinos will support the campaign against racism in the spirit of unity, peace, and progress for our country.

Mabuhay ang kapayaan. Patuloy nating mahalin ang Pilipinas!

Shukran.

Sara Z. Duterte
Vice President of the Philippines
Secretary of the Department of Education
September 21, 2022