2022 Liberation Day speech of Col. Jose C. Sorreta (Ret.)
“Seventy-seven years ago, our veterans, with great fortitude and amazing courage, faced a determined enemy, emerged victorious and liberated our province.
Our veterans were willing to make the supreme sacrifice, pay the ultimate price, for our liberty and freedom.
Our veterans are living legacies of the bravery of the Filipino and of our cherished democracy.
Over the decades, we have honored them, cared for them and ensured that their heroic contributions are never forgotten.
It has been my honor to be a part of these efforts. To the best of my abilities, I have worked to ensure that their benefits are received and even enhanced, especially during the pandemic.
It is also my honor and privilege to speak on their behalf on this important day in our history, for I witnessed for myself their acts of courage over seven decades ago.
I know all of us here are eternally grateful for their great service to our province and our nation.
There is one more way to thank and honor them. We must join together and secure our common future by meaningfully participating in that most sacred of democratic traditions: to freely choose those who will lead and govern our country.
This May, let us go out and vote and let us vote wisely.
Let us vote for those who will preserve law and order, promote progress and strengthen our democracy. In addition, our vote should go to those who will look after the interests and welfare of those who fought and sacrificed for our freedom and democratic way of life: our dear veterans.
Thank you.”