Holy Cross Memorial Garden, Tacloban City, Leyte
November 8, 2022

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joined the nation in remembering the lives lost and paid homage to those who suffered and survived Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ that severely hit the country exactly nine (9) years ago on this day.

“We knew that there were still thousands out there. And for those thousands, those countless thousands, we come here, we commemorate. Because if we no longer commemorate, their memory dies. And it is only up to us to keep that memory alive,” said the President when he led a solemn ceremony at the Yolanda Memorial Mass Grave located at the Holy Cross Memorial Garden in Tacloban City, Leyte; a site where over 2,000 victims were laid to rest.

The President paid tribute to the extraordinary strength and resilience displayed by Filipinos as large parts of the Visayas and other areas suffered death and destruction from ‘Yolanda’, said to be the most powerful storm to make landfall in recorded history, claiming 6,300 lives and causing destruction to more than a million homes and properties.

“And it is a wondrous sight to see. And it always gives us hope that even if there are tragedies and disasters in other places, we know the Filipino spirit will never be quelled. The Filipino spirit will always burn bright and bring back normal life to their communities. That is what we commemorate,” President Marcos Jr. expressed.

He also acknowledged the concerted relief and recovery efforts from all those who came to aid the affected communities, including various government agencies, the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the international community.

“All of this out of the generosity of your own heart once again. Many people owe their lives to you. And for that, we cannot thank you enough,” the Chief Executive conveyed in his message.

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