UN General Assembly
2021

Meaningful change, to be enduring, must come from within. The imposition of one’s will over another — no matter how noble the intent — has never worked in the past. And it never will in the future. How many more countries shall be made to unravel and descend into chaos before the powerful heed this simple lesson? In dealing with complex problems in nation-building, let us consider pragmatic approaches that square ideals with reality. Sure, they may lead us to imperfect solutions — but solutions, nonetheless, that actually work. We all pay the price for the misadventures of the few that spiral into humanitarian disasters. The Philippines, in line with its long-standing humanitarian tradition, has opened its doors to Afghan nationals, especially women and children, fleeing from conflict. As one global community, we must do our utmost to help the Afghan people and all those who continue to suffer.