MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte asked his fellow workers in government and the public to lead lives away from temptations, reminding them that material riches are only temporary.

In his message for All Saints’ and Souls’ Days commemoration, Duterte urged his fellow Filipinos to “accumulate riches, not for ourselves, but for future generations and for the life that comes after.”

“These two events remind us that, even though all things come to pass, our deeds will outlast our mortal lives. No amount of success, power, or position can ever compensate for the greed and corruption of human character,” Duterte said.

“Truly, Christ was right in asking the question: ‘For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his own soul?’”

“With a keen appreciation for the immaterial treasures that bring us closer to God, let us continue to pursue an agenda for genuine change that will be for the best interest of our people. I hope that we cherish with fondness, love and gratitude the spiritual inheritance left by our ancestors and loved ones on their special day,” he added.