Today, from a war-torn province, Bataan has rebuilt itself as a promising area of development. The old enemies of the past have long since become our good friends and trustworthy allies who have been giving invaluable aid to our country in its quest for economic development. In fact, Japan is by far our number one source of official development assistance. Japan is helping us wage another war, the war against poverty. Dear Veterans, even as we honor your heroism which you have shown here in Bataan more than half a century ago, we ask you, too, to help us wage that war, the war against poverty.
Poverty is the worst kind of enemy that destroys.
It destroys us from within. It is poverty that forces men to take to the hills and become rebels. It is poverty that drives men to engage in illegal activities or live a life of crime. Poverty gnaws at our very lives, saps our energy and debases our dignity as a people. We call upon you to join us as we do battle with poverty, as we fight to give each and every citizen a better life.