MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said that the relationship between the Philippines and the United States remains “robust” with the two allies “working together to address common challenges.” 

The Philippines is “deeply familiar with the atrocities brought about by war between and among nations” after the country was the “most devastated city in the Pacific” during World War II, Marcos Jr. said during the 80th anniversary of Manila’s liberation from Japanese invasion. 

“The Philippines… has always chosen the path of peace, and I can assure all of you that we will continue to do so,” the Filipino leader said.

“We have and will continue to work with partners and the international community in building bridges, forging solutions, preserving our global commons,” he said.

“The Philippines will always make a stand and will always stand for what is right.”

Marcos Jr. emphasized that relations between Manila and Washington “are firmly anchored on the values and principles” such as “peace, democracy, fairness, social progress, and justice.”

“Our two nations are committed to the preservation and enhancement of national security, the attainment of economic prosperity, and the promotion of the rights and wellbeing of our peoples,” he said.

“Bound by our shared history and our common commitment to a region governed by rules not by might, where the rights of countries, large or small, are respected, the Philippines recognizes challenges that lie ahead and is assured that we can continue to count on the help of friends, as we have done so over the last eighty years,” he said.

The President also thanked veterans and their families who attended the event at the Manila American Cemetery in Taguig, mounted to pay tribute to the tens of thousands of Filipinos and Americans who worked together to rid the Philippine capital of Japanese invaders in the 1940s.

“May we continue to deserve living and thriving in this world that you have built for us,” he told the survivors of the second world war.

“Filipinos paid the highest price for democracy to be preserved and for democracy to flourish,” he said.

“Standing on this hallowed ground, we are reminded of our solemn duty to always do what is necessary to ensure that we bequeath a sovereign and proud country to future generations.”

Meantime, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said Manila and Washington’s “shared experience fighting side by side 80 years ago continues to provide meaning and focus for the modern U.S.-Philippine Alliance.”

“Our bilateral ties are stronger than ever as we work together today to address shared challenges ranging from maritime security and disaster response to complex 21st century concerns such as those we encounter in the space and cyber domains,” the American envoy said. 

“We are encouraged by the growing number of likeminded partners who are playing key roles in our concerted effort to achieve our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific and a world where democratic freedoms can flourish,” she said. 

Carlson ended her statement by noting that Japan — once a foe — is now seen as a partner of both the US and the Philippines. 

“The United States, the Philippines, and Japan now stand as partners—demonstrating that yesterday’s barriers can be overcome in the spirit of friendship and cooperation,” she said.

“Together, let us strive to preserve the legacy of those who fought and suffered here by working toward a future defined by peace and the shared values of democracy and freedom,” she said.

Last year, top leaders of the Philippines, United States and Japan gathered in Washington D.C. to formally sign a trilateral agreement, committing to help each other bolster rules-based order in Asia-Pacific in the face of China’s growing aggression in illegally claiming waters beyond its jurisdiction.