On June 15, 2026, Brightside officially joined the BCDA family, marking an important step toward helping build the Philippines' sovereign digital future. For me, the moment was also deeply personal. My uncle survived the Bataan Death March because a young Filipina woman refused to let him die. Today, that story continues to inspire Brightside's commitment to building lasting capability in the Philippines.

The Indo-Pacific is entering a new strategic era where sovereign satellites, artificial intelligence, and secure digital networks are becoming core elements of national power. For the Philippines, located at the geographic center of the region, this moment presents a rare opportunity to strengthen national security, accelerate economic development, and deepen its role as a trusted partner within the Indo-Pacific alliance network through sovereign digital infrastructure.

I used to walk past 56 rue Jacob in Paris nearly every morning, where peace was sealed after the American Revolution. Inside that quiet salon, liberty was inked into history. As we celebrate Independence Day, may we remember what was declared in 1776: that we would no longer bow to a king, and that all men are created equal. Liberty must be remembered or, as Santayana warned, we risk repeating the past.