Manila, Sept. 2 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to "rediscover and reclaim" the nation's maritime identity, stressing that protecting the seas is central not only to sovereignty but also to the country's survival and legacy for future generations.

"The celebration of MANA Mo 2025 is a clarion call to rediscover and reclaim our provenance as a seafaring country. As we continue building a Bagong Pilipinas, let us unite our people towards caring for our seas and shores, for we care to protect not only our nation's sovereignty but also those who will inherit our legacy," Marcos said in his message for the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) made public Monday.

The President said the Philippin...