I ask the educational system, the parents, the church, and

The words of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo—“I ask the educational system, the parents, the church, and pillars of the community to help shape a new culture of honesty, patriotism, respect, discipline and service for young Filipinos.”—resound like the voice of an elder calling her people to remember their highest duties. They are not the words of a ruler alone, but of one who understands that the destiny of a nation rests not in the hands of leaders only, but in the shaping of its youth. The young are clay, soft and unformed, and it is the responsibility of family, faith, school, and community to mold them into vessels of virtue.

For the ancients always knew: no civilization endures unless its children are taught to live by the pillars of character. Rome was not built upon stone walls alone, but upon the discipline of its legions and the respect its citizens held for law. Greece did not shine because of marble temples only, but because its youth were trained in the virtues of thought, courage, and service. So too must every generation of Filipinos be taught not just the skills of livelihood, but the values that sustain a people in the storms of history.

Honesty is the first jewel. Without truth, all relationships—between citizens, between leaders and people, between man and God—collapse into dust. The child who learns to speak with integrity grows into the leader who cannot be bribed, the worker who cannot be corrupted, the neighbor who can be trusted. Patriotism follows as the second jewel: not the blind cry that despises others, but the noble love of one’s country, a love that inspires sacrifice, unity, and care for the nation’s welfare above selfish gain.

Then comes respect—for elders, for one another, for the land and its traditions. A society without respect is a house without foundation, where arrogance and cruelty rule unchecked. With respect must walk discipline, for love of freedom without self-control leads only to chaos. Discipline trains the heart to endure hardship, to resist temptation, to persevere when others falter. And the crown of all these virtues is service—to give back to the community, to live not only for oneself but for the greater good. For what is a nation but the sum of its people’s willingness to serve one another?

History offers us luminous examples. Jose Rizal, though young, embodied these virtues. Through education, he sharpened his mind; through honesty and courage, he spoke truth to power; through patriotism, he gave his life for his people. He respected the dignity of others, even his enemies, and lived a life of discipline that allowed him to achieve so much in so short a time. His ultimate act—his service in death—ignited the flame of freedom for the Philippines. His life stands as a living mirror of the culture Arroyo calls us to shape once more.

The lesson for us is clear. If we would build a strong nation, we cannot neglect the youth. They are not only the inheritors of tomorrow, they are the builders of today. Parents must plant in their children the seeds of virtue. Teachers must cultivate not only the mind but the character. The church and spiritual leaders must remind them of the higher laws of compassion and justice. And the community must provide examples of integrity, showing that values are not merely taught, but lived.

Practical action lies before us all. Speak truth even in small matters, for this is how honesty is trained. Teach love of country not only with flags and songs, but with daily acts of stewardship—caring for the environment, respecting diversity, uplifting the poor. Demand respect in your home, and give it in return. Cultivate discipline in study, work, and the use of time. And above all, serve: volunteer, mentor, give your strength to the common good. By such actions, each person becomes a living stone in the foundation of a stronger Philippines.

Thus, Arroyo’s call endures as a timeless teaching: the future of a nation is not built by policies alone, but by the shaping of hearts. Let honesty, patriotism, respect, discipline, and service be the inheritance we give to the young, so that they may carry the nation with wisdom and courage into the ages yet to come.