APEC 2002 - Speeches

PGMA's Opening Statement during a Press Conference

PGMA's Remarks during the Meeting with Fil-Am Veterans Sakadas and Fil-Am Students

PGMA's Speech during a Luncheon hosted by Governor Benjamin Cayetano and Mrs. Vicky Cayetano

PGMA's Speech during the "Fil-Am Community salutes the President" Program

PGMA's Speech during a Dinner with the Filipino-American Community of Hawaii

PGMA's Speech during the meeting with the Filipino Community in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

PGMA's Speech during the Plenary Breakfast at the APEC CEO Summit "A Conversation with Leaders"

PGMA's Speech during a Dinner with the Filipino Community

PGMA's Opening Statement during a Press Conference

PGMA's Opening Statement during a Press Conference (Filipino Community Center Conference Room Waipahu, Hawaii - 24 October 2002)

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

PLEASE SIT DOWN.

I ARRIVED IN HONOLULU EARLY THIS MORNING ON A BRIEF STOP ON MY WAY TO THE APEC LEADERS ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN LOS CABOS, MEXICO. I'M GLAD TO MEET THE PRESS HERE. FILIPINOS AT HOME FEEL A SPECIAL CLOSENESS TO HAWAII. WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST MIGRANTS HERE 96 YEARS AGO. AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO HAVE A FILIPINO GOVERNOR OF HAWAII. WHERE IS HE? IN THE PERSON OF GOVERNOR BEN CAYETANO.

THE HISTORY OF THE FILIPINOS IN HAWAII IS A MIRROR OF THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE PHILIPPINES AND AMERICA. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS FIRM ON SECURITY AND ECONOMICS. IT IS MOLDED BY HISTORY AND SHARED STRATEGIC INTERESTS. THE CURRENT PHILIPPINE-U.S. ALLIANCE IS A MORAL PARTNERSHIP, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP GOVERNED BY THE COMMON BELIEF IN STRONG DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS THAT WILL CREATE PEACE AND FREEDOM FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. WE ARE DETERMINED TO FIGHT TERRORISM TO THE END.

WE HAVE OFFERED POLITICAL, SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE UNITED STATES IN THE PURSUIT OF HER MOST VITAL INTERESTS AGAINST TERRORISM WHICH COINCIDE WITH OUR OWN. STRATEGIC ASSESSMENTS POINT TO A POSSIBLE SHIFT IN AL QAEDA'S CENTER OF GRAVITY TO SOUTHEAST ASIA. AMERICA AND THE PHILIPPINES ARE SHARING EYES AND EARS ON THIS DEVELOPMENT.

WE ARE ALSO CLOSELY ALLIED WITH INDONESIA AND MALAYSIA UNDER OUR TRILATERAL AGREEMENT TO CHECK TERRORIST MOVEMENTS ACROSS OUR COMMON SEAS. AFTER THE BALI BOMBING, WE HAD OUR OWN -- THOUGH SMALLER ATTACKS -- IN ZAMBOANGA CITY IN WESTERN MINDANAO.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT THE SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. WE WON'T LET THESE INCIDENTS JUST TAKE FOR LONG. OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE ENTHUSIASTICALLY HELPING THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WATCH OUT FOR TERRORISTS CLOSELY.

I AM FOCUSED ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THE WAR ON TERRORISM AND
TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY IN THE PHILIPPINES WITHIN THE DECADE. TERRORISM WILL NEVER COMPLETELY GO AWAY UNLESS WE ROOT OUT THE HANDMAIDEN OF TERRORISM -- POVERTY. WE HAVE PUT A FACE ON TERRORISTS AND NOW WE MUST PUT A FACE ON THE POOR. WE WILL ELIMINATE TERRORISM AND WE MUST ELIMINATE POVERTY. IF WE DON'T, THE BREEDING GROUND OF RESENTMENT WILL BEGIN AGAIN TO PLAGUE ANOTHER GENERATION.

THE 21st CENTURY WAR AGAINST TERRORISM IS A NEW KIND OF WAR THAT REQUIRES A NEW KIND OF PEACE. PART OF THIS NEW KIND OF PEACE PROCESS IS RECONCILING THE CONCERNS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF DEVELOPED ECONOMIES. THUS, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICA HAS ALSO LEANED MUCH ON THE COMMON BELIEF THAT TERRORISM AND POVERTY ARE A COMBINED ENEMY.

I WILL MEET PRESIDENT BUSH IN LOS CABOS, NOT ONLY TO TAKE UP SECURITY MATTERS BUT ALSO DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES STRIKING AT THE VERY ROOTS OF POVERTY IN OUR TERRORISM-PRONE AREAS.

HERE IN HAWAII, I AM HERE IN THIS NEWLY BUILT FANTASTIC, FABULOUS FILIPINO COMMUNITY CENTER. AND TONIGHT, I WILL MEET WITH THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY.

EARLIER IN GOVERNOR CAYETANO'S LUNCHEON WHICH INCLUDED MANY OF THE TOP OFFICIALS OF HAWAII WHO ARE OF FILIPINO DESCENT; TODAY HERE IN THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE I MET THE SACADAS, THE VETERANS AND THE STUDENTS; AND TONIGHT WITH THE LARGER PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY, I AM THANKING THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN HELPING ME IMPROVE AND DEVELOP THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY.

I AM ALSO GIVING THEM THE GOOD NEWS THAT THE ABSENTEE VOTING BILL HAS BEEN PASSED IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS ON THIRD AND FINAL READING. THIS IS THE FARTHEST THE BILL HAS GONE IN ALL THE ADMINISTRATIONS WHICH ATTEMPTED TO ENACT IT. I WILL ASK THE FILIPINOS HERE TO JOIN ME IN PRAYING THAT THE DIFFERING PROVISIONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS WILL BE IRONED OUT SOON IN THE BICAMERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SO THAT IT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED SOON. THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL ALSO HAS BEEN PASSED IN THE PHILIPPINE SENATE ON THIRD AND FINAL READING.

EARLIER TODAY, I MET SENATOR INOUYE, A GOOD FRIEND OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE, SENATOR FROM HAWAII. WE DISCUSSED ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST AND I THANK HIM FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY OF PHILIPPINE INTERESTS IN THE AMERICAN CONGRESS.

AFTER THAT I RECEIVED ADMIRAL TOM FARGO, THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND. WE TOOK UP MATTERS CONCERNING PHILIPPINE AND AMERICAN DEFENSE AND SECURITY COOPERATION. THE FORCES UNDER ADMIRAL FARGO'S COMMAND HAVING WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEIR COUNTERPART IN THE PHILIPPINES UNDER TRAINING ACTIVITIES COVERED BY OUR MUTUAL DEFENSE TREATY AND THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT.

TOMORROW, I WILL PROCEED TO MEXICO. THERE, I WILL JOIN THE LEADERS IN A COLLECTIVE BID TO INFLUENCE THE DIRECTION OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AWAY FROM ANOTHER THREATENING ECONOMIC RECESSION.

I WILL TAKE A SHORT SWING THROUGH CALIFORNIA TO DRUM UP INVESTMENTS IN OUR LARGE ICT INDUSTRY. AMERICAN FIRMS ARE DOING WELL IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THERE IS MUCH MORE ROOM FOR EXPANSION AND NEW INVESTMENTS.

AGAIN, LET ME SAY, IT IS A VERY REFRESHING AND REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO VISIT HAWAII AT THIS TIME. I THANK GOVERNOR CAYETANO AND THE HAWAIIAN PEOPLE FOR THEIR WARM HOSPITALITY.

NOW, I WILL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.

[TOP] [HOME]

PGMA's Remarks during the Meeting with Fil-Am Veterans Sakadas and Fil-Am Students (Filipino Community Center Waipahu, Hawaii - 24 October 2002)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GUSTO KONG BATIIN YUNG MGA NAGTAYO AT NAGPAPATAKBO NITONG NAPAKAGANDANG PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY CENTER DITO. INIMBITA NILA AKO DAHIL ANG AKING LONGTIME CRIME DRIVE PERO SABI KO SA UNANG PANAHON... PAGKAKATAON AY PUPUNTA AKO, WELL, NGAYON NARITO NAMAN AKO DITO NGAYON, CONGRATULATIONS.

GUSTO KONG BATIIN KAYONG LAHAT. UNANG-UNA, BATIIN KO 'YUNG MGA SAKADA, 'YUNG MGA ORIGINALS NA FILIPINO ANG MARAMI SA INYO. KASAYSAYAN NA NG HAWAII AT ALAM NATIN 'YUNG HIRAP NA DINANAS NUNG UNANG MGA PUMUNTA RITONG PILIPINO NAGTRABAHO DOON SA MGA SUGAR FIELDS. 'YUNG TATAY NGA NI BEN CAYETANO AY ISANG PUMUNTA RITO PARA MAG-TRABAHO DOON SA SUGARCANE FIELDS. NOON HIRAP NA HIRAP SILA. PERO TINGNAN NINYO, ISA SA KANILANG ANAK AY NAGING GOBERNADOR NG STATE OF HAWAII.

AT SA ATING MGA BETERANO NAMAN AY GUSTO KO LAMANG NA I-REPORT NGA SA INYO NA TALAGANG KINUKULIT KO AT KINULIT KO 'YUNG MGA OFFICIALS, HINDI LAMANG SI PRESIDENT BUSH PATI NA RIN 'YUNG MGA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AT ANG STATUS NG... AT PAGKATAPOS NGA NOON AY NAGKAROON NG HOUSE BILL PARA MAG-ALLOCATE NG 65 MILLION DOLLARS PARA SA VETERANS HEALTH BENEFITS DITO SA AMERIKA PARA SA MGA PILIPINO LAMANG. ITO AY PUMASA NA SA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ANG SPONSOR NITO SA SENADO AY ANG HAWIIAN STATE... SENATOR FROM HAWAII NA SI SENATOR INOUYE. KAYA MAGDASAL TAYO NA MAGTAGUMPAY SI SENATOR INOUYE PAG ITO AY PINAPAGTANGGOL NA NIYA DOON SA SENADO.

IN THE MEANTIME, SI PRESIDENT BUSH AY NAGBIBIGAY NG 500,000 DOLLARS A YEAR PARA SA HEALTH BENEFITS NG MGA BETERANONG NASA PILIPINAS NAMAN. AT YUNG UNANG RELEASE AY LALABAS BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH OF OCTOBER.

SA MGA KABATAAN NAMAN, KAHIT NA KAYO AY NARITO NA SA INYONG BAGONG TAHANAN, SA MGA DARATING NA PANAHON SIGURO KAGAYA NANG UNANG MGA SAKADANG DUMATING, KAYO RIN AY MAGIGING BAHAGI PA RIN NG ATING BANSA DAHIL AKO AY NASISIYAHAN NA JUST BEFORE I CAME HERE TO HAWAII 'YUNG SENATE AT SAKA 'YUNG HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PARA MERON AKONG MADALANG BAON SA INYO AY PINASA ON THIRD READING 'YUNG OVERSEAS VOTERS BILL. SA MADALING PANAHON MAPIPIRMAHAN KO NA KAAGAD PARA MAKABOTO 'YUNG ATING MGA BATA HINDI LAMANG DITO SA HAWAII KUNGDI PATI NA RIN DOON SA PILIPINAS.

KAYA MULI IN THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE OF PHILIPPINE-HAWAII RELATIONS.

ALOHA AND MABUHAY!

[TOP] [HOME]

PGMA's Speech during a Luncheon hosted by Governor Benjamin Cayetano and Mrs. Vicky Cayetano (Formal Dining Room, Washington Place Honolulu, Hawaii - 24 October 2002)

MRS. CAYETANO; ADMIRAL ANG MRS. FARGO; HONORABLE SENATOR; CONGRESSMAN; STATE SENATORS; SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND JUDGES; FORMER GOVERNORS; MADAME VICE GOVERNOR; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN; LEADERS OF THE HAWAIIAN POLITICAL SCENE WHO ARE PARTLY FILIPINO:

I'M REALLY VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH FELLOW FILIPINOS. TONIGHT WITH THE BIGGER COMMUNITY AND TODAY WITH THOSE WHO RUN THE STATE BUT ARE OF PHILIPPINE ORIGIN.

AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO REALIZE HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO EACH OTHER. AMBASSADOR DEL ROSARIO TOOK 17 HOURS TO COME HERE FROM WASHINGTON BUT I ONLY TOOK 10 HOURS TO COME HERE FROM MANILA. SO, ACTUALLY HAWAII IS CLOSER TO THE PHILIPPINES THAN TO WASHINGTON GEOGRAPHICALLY.

AND NO WONDER THEN THAT THERE ARE FILIPINOS IN HAWAII. BUT OF COURSE, WE KNOW THE HISTORY OF FILIPINOS HERE. BEN CAYETANO'S FATHER IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE STORY, THE SAGA OF THE FIRST FILIPINOS WHO CAME TO HAWAII. HE WAS NOT HERE IN 1906, HE CAME IN 1928, BUT THE STORY WAS QUITE SIMILAR.

WE KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST FILIPINOS WHO CAME TO LIVE IN HAWAII WHO STARTED HERE WORKING IN THE SUGAR PLANTATIONS. BUT TODAY, ALL OF YOU IN THIS HALL ARE TESTIMONY TO HOW IMPORTANT THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY HAS BECOME. YOU ARE SUCH KINGMAKERS THAT YOU HAVE MADE A GOVERNOR. AND IN A FEDERAL COUNTRY LIKE THE UNITED STATES, THE GOVERNOR IS THE PRESIDENT OF HIS OWN STATE. IN A UNITARY COUNTRY LIKE THE PHILIPPINES, THE SENATORS USUALLY PRODUCED A PRESIDENT LIKE IN MY CASE. BUT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE YOU HAVE A FEDERAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT MANY OF THE PRESIDENTS COME FROM THE RANKS OF THE GOVERNORS -- THAT IS HOW IMPORTANT A GOVERNOR IS. AND THAT IS WHY WE FILIPINOS ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO IS A FILIPINO, AND THAT ISTHE GOVERNOR (OF HAWAII.

AND SO, THEREFORE, IT IS MY HONOR TO COME THEN TO GIVE YOU THE GREETINGS OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE, TO LET YOU KNOW HOW PROUD THEY ARE OF YOU. AND HOW PROUD THEY ARE OF THE MANY FILIPINOS WHO ARE HERE IN THIS HALL WHO ARE IN GREAT POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY IN THE STATE OF HAWAII AND EVEN IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO, MAY I ASK YOU ALL TO JOIN ME IN A TOAST TO MORE POWER FOR THE FILIPINOS IN HAWAII.

AND TO BEN FOR A GREAT JOB WELL DONE AS GOVERNOR OF HAWAII, THE HIGHEST RANKING FILIPINO IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

[TOP] [HOME]

PGMA's Speech during the "Fil-Am Community salutes the President" Program (Davis Symphony Hall San Francisco, California, USA - 29 October 2002)

THANK YOU. MARAMING SALAMAT.

MARAMING SALAMAT, AMBASSADOR DEL ROSARIO. I'D LIKE TO GREET ALSO CONSUL GENERAL DELIA ME�EZ-ROSAL; AND I'D LIKE TO GREET THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING VETERANS BENEFITS AHEAD OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT; I'D LIKE TO THANK SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR WILLY BROWN FOR HIS KEY TO THE CITY. ACTUALLY, THIS IS THE SECOND KEY TO THE CITY. YOU GAVE ME ONE WHEN I WAS VICE PRESIDENT. BUT THIS IS AN UPGRADED ONE; MARAMING SALAMAT KAY MRS. LOIDA NICOLAS-LEWIS, THE NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION . THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, PART OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU DISPLAY EVEN IF YOU ARE BASED IN NEW YORK; AND TO RODEL RODIS, WHO WAS A VERY IMPORTANT AND BRILLIANT STUDENT LEADER IN HIS TIME IN THE PHILIPPINES. NOW A VERY IMPORTANT LAWYER HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL CARE OF NAFFAA, AND FOR HELPING PUT TOGETHER... BEING ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THAT WONDERFUL GLOBAL REUNION OF FILIPINOS HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO, HELD HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE MEMBERS OF MY PARTY. FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS MY HUSBAND MIKE ARROYO; MY PRESS SECRETARY TOTING BUNYE; I HAVE ANOTHER CABINET MEMBER HERE, SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS JOEY RUFINO; AND IF YOU HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS WHENEVER YOU ARRIVE IN MANILA, WE HAVE THE MANAGER OF THE NAIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ED MANDA.

SO, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE THE HEAD OF MY PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT STAFF, BUT HE'S GONE. HE LEFT ALREADY EARLIER. AND SO, I THANK AMBASSADOR DEL ROSARIO AND CONSUL GENERAL DELIA ROSAL FOR BEING PART NOW OF MY DELEGATION. AND TO ALL OF YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON.

MALUGUD KUNG CABALEN CAPANGPANGAN, PASALAMATAN CU PUNG LUBUS ING PAMANYATANG YU NGENING BENGI.

KADA KAYO NGA KAKAILYAK TI BANGIR NI MAMANG KO NGA ILOKANO GAPO PANGASINAN, AGYAMANAK KADA KAYO UMAY KAYO TATTA NGA RABI-I, RABI-IN ITATTA. NO, MALEMEN PAY, MALEM PAY.

SA AKONG MGA KAUBANANG TAGA-MINDANAO ASA AKO NIDAKO, DAGHANG SALAMAT SA INYONG PAG-ABOT KARONG GABI-I UNA.

KAG SA KASIMANWA SANG AKONG BANA NGA ILONGGO, SALAMAT GID NGA NAKAKADTO KAMO SA ATONG PROGRAMA SUBONG.

AT SA INYONG LAHAT -- DAHIL LAHAT NG PILIPINO AY MARUNONG MAG-TAGALOG, KAHIT IYUNG MGA NASA SAN FRANCISCO -- MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG WALANG SAWANG PAGTULONG SA MGA NANGANGAILANGAN SA ATING BANSA.

GAYA NANG SABI KO, KASAMA KO NGAYONG GABI IYUNG AKING KABIYAK NA SI ATTORNEY JOSE MIGUEL ARROYO. DAHIL NOONG ARAW PA, BINATA PA SILA, ANG PAMILYA NILA AY PARATING DITO. DITO NILA GINAGANAP ANG KANILANG BAKASYON. FAVORITE CITY NG AKING MOTHER-IN-LAW. SO, I THINK IT WOULD BE ACCURATE ALWAYS TO SAY THAT WE ALWAYS LEAVE OUR HEARTS IN SAN FRANCISCO.

NOONG UNANG GINAWA IYUNG AKING ITINERARY PARA SA APEC, TECHNICAL STOPOVER LAMANG ANG GINAWA NILA MULA SA SILICON VALLEY, DAHIL NANGGALING NA RAW AKO DITO NOONG ISANG TAON. AT SABI NILA MALAMANG IYUNG MGA TAGA SAN FRANCISCO PUPUNTA SA SILICON VALLEY. TAMANG-TAMA MARAMI NGA SA INYO NANDOON KAHAPON. KAYA LANG SINABI KO, GUSTO KONG MAKIPAG-USAP MULI SA ATING MGA NAPAKARAMING KAIBIGAN SA SAN FRANCISO. MARAMI SILANG GUSTONG SABIHIN SA AKIN. KAYA ONE MORE DAY, DOON TAYO SA SAN FRANCISCO. KAYA AKO AY NARITO NGAYON KASAMA NINYO. AT DOON NAMAN SA NARITO NGAYON, KAHIT NA
NANDITO KAYO NOONG ISANG TAON, AT DOON SA MGA NARITO NGAYON, KAHIT NANDOON KAYO KAHAPON, LALONG MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYO.

I WOULD LIKE TO GREET, ASIDE FROM MAYOR WILLY BROWN, TWO OTHER CITY MAYORS, BOTH FILIPINO CITY MAYORS AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THEM. THERE'S HENRY MANAYAN FROM MELPHITAS. YOU KNOW HENRY MANAYAN IS ON HIS LAST TERM LIKEMAYOR BROWN. AND WELL, HE'S BEEN SUCH A GOOD FILIPINO HERE IN SILICON VALLEY. HE WANTS TO BE A GOOD FILIPINO REPRESENTING PHILIPPINE INTEREST IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY NEXT TIME AROUND. I'D LIKE TO GREET THE OTHER CITY MAYOR, FILIPINO CITY MAYOR IN THE FILIPINO CITY OF CALIFORNIA BAY AREA AND THAT IS MAYOR MIKE GUINGONA OF DALY CITY.

I REMEMBER MIKE GUINGONA WAS THERE IN ONE OF MY MEETINGS WITH THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN DALY CITY WHEN I WAS A SENATOR. AND I WAS TELLING SOME OF YOU, SOME OF THE SAN FRANCISCO COMMUNITY ABOUT THE BILL THAT I HAD FILED THEN ON OVERSEAS VOTING. WELL, LOIDA IS RIGHT, I PREFER TO CALL IT OVERSEAS VOTING THAN ABSENTEE VOTING. BUT LIKE MANY OTHER OVERSEAS VOTING BILLS OR ABSENTEE VOTING BILLS -- WHATEVER YOU CALL THEM -- BEFORE I FILED MINE AND AFTER I FILED MINE, MY BILL AT THAT TIME DIDN'T EVEN PROGRESS BEYOND THE COMMITTEE LEVEL.

SO WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT, I CERTIFIED AS ONE OF MY FIVE MOST URGENT BILLS, THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL.

AND SO NOW I AM GLAD THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS IN SO MANY ADMINISTRATIONS, THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS JUST A FEW DAYS AGO. NOW, LET US PRAY THAT THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE CAN IRON OUT THEIR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS SOON. AND WHEN I GO BACK TO MANILA, I WILL CONVEY TO THEM YOUR OWN RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHAT THE FINAL VERSION SHOULD BE. AND AS SOON AS THEY RECONCILE THEIR CONFLICTING VERSIONS, I WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW WITHIN 24 HOURS.

THE OTHER BILL THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND HAVE BECOME CITIZENS IS THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL. AND THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF MY FIVE MOST URGENT BILLS THAT I TOLD CONGRESS ABOUT. IT HAS ALSO PASSED THIRD AND FINAL READING IN THE SENATE.

AND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II. LOIDA TOLD YOU THAT WHEN I SAW PRESIDENT BUSH, MY LAST PARTING WORDS TO HIM WAS "DON'T FORGET THE FILIPINO VETERANS." LAST YEAR, IN MY FIRST SHOT WHEN I MET HIM, MY FIRST WORDS WERE, "WE'VE BEEN YOUR PARTNER FOR SO LONG, DON'T FORGET OUR FILIPINO VETERANS." AND AT THAT TIME, PRESIDENT BUSH TOLD ME, "YES." HIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD REVIEW THE SERVICES AND BENEFITS FOR FILIPINO VETERANS. AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPS, THE VETERANS BILL, THE VETERANS HEALTH BILL WAS PASSED IN THE U.S. CONGRESS. IT WAS PASSED LAST JULY TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR U.S. FILIPINO VETERANS WORTH 65 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS. THE APPROPRIATION MEASURE IS NOW IN THE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE, IN THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS. UPON MY REQUEST, PRESIDENT BUSH HAS INDICATED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE VETERANS HEALTH BILL. THEREFORE, I ASK THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND ASK THEM TO URGE THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PUT THE BILL TO A VOTE. THAT SHOULD BE YOUR JOB NOW AS FILIPINO-AMERICANS VOTING FOR THEM.

MEANWHILE... THANK YOU . THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE FIVE PERCENT OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE AMERICANS. BUT 95 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE DO AND I REPRESENT THEM.

MEANWHILE, WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE VETERANS HEALTH BILL TO GET PASSED BY THE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ON THE EXECUTIVE SIDE IS GIVING VETERANS ASSISTANCE FOR THE PHILIPPINES IN THE AMOUNT OF 500,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR. AGAIN, FOR THE FIRST TIME, AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS IN SO MANY ADMINISTRATIONS. FURTHERMORE, THE FIRST 500,000 DOLLARS WILL BE GIVEN TO THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT THIS MONTH OF OCTOBER.

I THINK WE COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR, PASSING IT IN THE HOUSE AND GETTING IT INTO THE SENATE COMMITTEE IF NOT FOR THE GOOD WORK OF THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. SO, WE LAUD YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN BRINGING THE FILIPINO VETERANS BILL THIS FAR AT LAST.

WE ALSO LAUD THE INITIATIVE OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS HEADED BY LOIDA AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION IN FILING A PETITION FOR INJUNCTION TO STOP THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE U.S. CITIZEN REQUIREMENT FOR THE FEDERALIZED JOB OF AIRPORT SCREENERS. WE AGREE THAT EXPERIENCE MATTERS IN SECURING U.S. AIRPORTS AND PLANES. THOUGH THIS MAY BE AN INTERNAL ISSUE TO THE U.S., I HAVE ASKED AMBASSADOR DEL ROSARIO TO MAKE KNOWN OUR SENTIMENTS ON THE MATTER BEFORE THE APPROPRIATE U.S. OFFICIALS.

I AM HERE IN CALIFORNIA FOR THE SAME REASON I WAS IN MEXICO AT THE APEC LEADERS MEETING: TO FOCUS ON THE SECURITY AND ECONOMY OF THE PHILIPPINES. IN THIS INTERCONNECTED WORLD, OPENING A DOOR IN SILICON VALLEY CAN HELP OPEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOB CREATION IN THE PHILIPPINES.

WHETHER IT'S A FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL TERRORISM OR IMPROVING EDUCATION, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR PHILIPPINE CITIZENS.

IF YOU REMEMBER, WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT 21 MONTHS AGO, I INHERITED AN ECONOMY WITH 4 MILLION JOBLESS FILIPINOS AND A 40 PERCENT POVERTY INCIDENCE.

TODAY, DESPITE THE GLOBAL SLOWDOWN, DESPITE THE SLOWDOWN IN SILICON VALLEY WHICH IS OUR NUMBER ONE SINGLE EXPORT MARKET, WE HAD A HEALTHY ECONOMY THAT HAS DELIVERED ONE OF THE HIGHEST GROWTH RATES IN THE WORLD FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 2002. WE ARE ALSO TAKING STEPS TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR MACRO-ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT IN OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE OUR DEFICIT. AND IN THIS REGARD, WE BELIEVE THAT THE REVENUE ENHANCEMENT MEASURES BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE, AS WELL AS THE STRICT CONTROLS ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING THAT HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED WILL SUPPORT OUR SUCCESS ON THIS FRONT.

AS WE DO THIS, WE WILL FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE INDICATORS OF STRENGTH OF OUR DOMESTIC DRIVEN ECONOMY, SUCH THINGS AS:

GROWTH IN THE PHILIPPINES HAS BEEN FUELED THIS PAST YEAR BY AMONG OTHERS CONTINUED STRENGTH OF SERVICES AND A STRONG RECOVERY IN OUR INDUSTRIAL SECTOR. THE GROWTH IN THE SERVICES SECTOR HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY CONTINUED EXPANSION IN TELECOMS, TRADE AND PRIVATE SUCCESS. MAY I SAY THAT OUR REBOUND IN MANUFACTURING -- WHICH IS NEGATIVE LAST YEAR -- WAS A RESULT OF OUR REBOUNDING EXPORTS, AND SERVICES HAS GROWN AND HAS FUELED ALSO OUR ICT INDUSTRY. ANOTHER ONE OF THE SERVICES THAT HAS GROWN VERY FAST IS TOURISM. AND I THANK YOU, THE FILIPINO-AMERICANS FOR CONTINUING TO BE OUR BALIKBAYAN TOURISTS. ANOTHER SOURCE OF GROWTH THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN THE NON-BANK AND INSURANCE INDUSTRIES. THEY HAVE PUSHED THE FINANCE SECTOR TO POST THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. THE GROWTH IN INDUSTRIAL SECTOR HAS BEEN LED BY MANUFACTURING PARTICULARLY MANUFACTURED EXPORTS. PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION IS ON THE REBOUND. IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY STRONG. INFLATION IS AT A 15-YEAR LOW, SO WITH INTEREST RATES. AND WE HAVE INCREASING LEVELS OF REMITTANCES FROM OVERSEAS FILIPINOS, FROM YOU -- UP 39 PERCENT IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. WHAT YOU HAVE SENT YOUR RELATIVES HAS BOOSTED PERSONAL CONSUMPTION AND FUELED OUR DOMESTIC ECONOMY. LAST YEAR, YOU REMITTED A TOTAL OF 6 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS. THIS YEAR -- YES, THANK YOU. THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS ALONE YOU ALREADY REMITTED 4 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS. FILIPINO-AMERICANS MAKE UP ONE-THIRD OF OUR OVERSEAS FILIPINOS, BUT YOU BRING TWO-THIRDS OF OUR OVERSEAS REMITTANCES TO THE PHILIPPINES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. ON OUR PART, GOVERNMENT CONSUMPTION, IT HAS BEEN FLAT BECAUSE WE NEED FISCAL DISCIPLINE, AND WE ARE THEREFORE PERMITTING PRIVATE-SECTOR LED GROWTH. OUR EXPORTS WHICH HAVE FUELED OUR MANUFACTURING INCREASE, ARE UP. THEY HAVE GROWN BY 20 PERCENT.

WHEN I VISITED ANDY GROVE YESTERDAY, AND I TOLD HIM IN INTEL THAT OUR EXPORTS HAVE INCREASED 20 PERCENT FUELED BY OUR INCREASE EXPORTS TO SILICON VALLEY, HE SAID, "HOW SURPRISING BECAUSE SILICON VALLEY'S GROWTH HAS BEEN FLAT." BUT THE REASON WHY OUR EXPORTS HAVE GROWN 20 PERCENT, WHY OUR ELECTRONIC EXPORTS HAVE GROWN IS NOT BECAUSE THE TOTAL MARKET HAS GROWN BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE GOTTEN MORE MARKET SHARE FROM OTHER PRODUCERS.

OUR MAIN BATTLE IS TO WIN AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE. BUT BECAUSE OF THE WORLD AROUND US TODAY, THE WORLD OF THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, WE MUST ALSO SEEK PERMANENT NATIONAL STABILITY.

THUS, I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU THAT BECAUSE OF OUR AGGRESSIVE DRIVE AGAINST TERRORISM, DESPITE THE DESPERATE RESORT TO HIT AND RUN BOMBINGS, THE DOMESTIC TERRORISTS PARTICULARLY ABU SAYYAF ARE ON THE RUN. WE HAVE CAPTURED THE ZAMBOANGA BOMBERS. WE HAVE EVEN CAPTURED ONE OF THE PERPETRATORS OF THE BUS BOMBING IN MANILA.

WE HAVE CRUSHED AT LEAST FIVE KIDNAP-FOR-RANSOM SYNDICATES, AS A RESULT OF WHICH THE FILIPINO-CHINESE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS THE FAVORITE VICTIM OF THESE KIDNAP GANGS, TELLS ME NOW THAT ALL IS QUIET ON THE BINONDO FRONT.

THESE MACRO STATISTICS TRANSLATE ALSO INTO BENEFITS FOR THE POOR. THE PRICE OF RICE FOR THE POOR IS STABLE AT 14 AND 16 PESOS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU BUY IT. SOME 200,000 URBAN FAMILIES, URBAN POOR FAMILIES HAVE ACQUIRED THE RIGHT TO BUY THE LAND THAT THEY OCCUPY, SO THEY ARE NO LONGER SQUATTERS.

SCHOOLS ARE BEING BUILT IN BARANGAYS WHERE THERE USED TO BE NONE, THERE ARE 1,000 OF THESE TYPE OF BARANGAYS. AND MORE THAN 3 MILLION FILIPINO, POOR FILIPINO PEOPLE NOW HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE -- SOMETHING YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED HERE IN AMERICA. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS WERE ATTAINED DURING THE 21 MONTHS OF MY ADMINISTRATION.

FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, EVEN AS WE ARE RESOLVING THE TERRORIST THREATS IN OUR COUNTRY, I AM FOCUSED ON A TIGHTLY CONSOLIDATED EIGHT- POINT WORK PROGRAM:

THE FIRST IS TO STRENGTHEN OUR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES. THE CENTRAL BANK IS RELAXING ITS FINANCIAL DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR LOANS TO THEM, AND THE FIELD OFFICES OF THE DTI (DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY) ARE MANDATED TO CONCENTRATE THEIR SERVICES ON ASSISTING THESE SMEs WITH THEIR PROJECT PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO ACCESS BANK MONEY.

YOU CAN HELP THIS PROGRAM ESPECIALLY THROUGH YOUR ADOPT-A-BARANGAY BY PROVIDING A MILLION PESOS LIVELIHOOD FOR THE BARANGAYS THAT YOU HAVE ADOPTED, BECAUSE THAT WILL GO ALONG WAY. SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT USERS OF CAPITAL IN OUR ECONOMY. SO, UNTIL EXPORTS
REVIVE, OR UNTIL SILICON VALLEY RECOVERS, UNTIL THE WORLD ECONOMY RECOVERS, WE MUST BUILD UP DOMESTIC DEMAND. WE MUST GIVE THE POWER TO THE SMEs TO DO THEIR WORK EFFICIENTLY AS THEY DO WITH CAPITAL.

THESE GOALS REALLY ARE UPPERMOST IN MY WORK PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AS WE RESOLVE THE TERRORIST THREATS IN OUR COUNTRY.

THIS A TIGHTLY CONSOLIDATED WORK PROGRAM. I'M GIVING MY PERSONAL ATTENTION TO THIS FIRST, WHICH IS THE SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT:

TO STRENGTHEN OUR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IS THE FIRST;

THE SECOND PROGRAM IS TO JUMPSTART HOUSING. AND AGAIN, YOU CAN HELP BECAUSE YOU BUY HOUSES FOR YOUR FOLKS BACK HOME. HOUSING HAS THE BIGGEST MULTIPLIER AND THERE IS BANK MONEY FOR HOUSING -- THE CENTRAL BANK IS RELAXING THE REQUIREMENTS;

THE THIRD IS TO REDUCE TRANSPORT COSTS FROM MINDANAO TO LUZON;

THE FOURTH IS TO BEGIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL DECONGEST METRO MANILA;

THE FIFTH IS TO MARK UP THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE PCGG TO OUR FISCAL RESOURCES;

THE SIXTH IS TO MAKE MAKATI A SPECIFIC URBAN TOURIST DESTINATION FOR YOUR SAFE SHOPPING;

THE SEVENTH IS TO STIMULATE PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURE;

THE EIGHTH IS TO BEGIN THE COMPLETE STAFF WORK TO MAKE THE RECLAMATION AREA IN ROXAS BOULEVARD A TOURISM COMPLEX TO BE CALLED 'THE BAGONG NAYONG PILIPINO."

BUT NO PRESIDENT CAN BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC SINGLEHANDEDLY. I CAN DO THIS WELL ONLY IF I CAN COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF THE ALMOST 3 MILLION FILIPINO-AMERICANS ESPECIALLY THE EXTRA ACTVE FILIPINO-AMERICANS OF CALIFORNIA AND SAN FRANCISCO.

AND SO I ASK YOU, STAY WITH ME. EVEN AS YOU CONTINUE TO HELP BUILD THIS GREAT AMERICAN NATION, HELP ME BUILD A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC.

THANK YOU.

[TOP] [HOME]

PGMA's Speech during a Dinner with the Filipino-American Community of Hawaii (Tapa Ballroom, Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel Honolulu, Hawaii. USA -24 Oct 2002)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MARAMING SALAMAT, AMBASSADOR ALBERT DEL ROSARIO.

AND TO ALL OF YOU A WARM ALOHA!

WE'RE ALL VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU. OUR DELEGATION ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU: WE HAVE PRESS SECRETARY IGNACIO BUNYE. HE USED TO BE CONGRESSMAN AND CITY MAYOR OF MUNTINLUPA; HEAD OF THE PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT STAFF, SILVESTRE AFABLE; AND OF COURSE, YOU HAVE MET AMBASSADOR DEL ROSARIO AND YOU HAVE MET CONSUL GENERAL ROLANDO GREGORIO.

KASAMA KO NGAYONG GABI ANG AKING KABIYAK, SI ATTY. JOSE MIGUEL ARROYO.

AND MAY I GREET OUR OTHER GUESTS HERE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP OF HAWAII. OUR HONOREE WHOM WE HAVE CONFERRED THE HIGHEST AWARD THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT CAN GIVE, GOVERNOR BEN CAYETANO AND HIS LOVELY FIRST LADY, VICKY; WE MUST ALSO GREET OUR CHAMPION IN THE U.S. SENATE, SENATOR DAN INOUYE; ALSO A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SO-CALLED PHILIPPINE CAUCUS MADE UP OF THE FRIENDS OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE IN THE U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSMAN NEIL ABEILCROMBE; THE MAN WHO SENDS US ALL THOSE MARINES AND SEABEES IN OUR BALIKATAN EXERCISES, ADMIRAL THOMAS FARGO AND MRS. FARGO; THANK YOU ALSO MAYOR JEREMY HARRIS FOR YOUR VERY KIND WELCOME IN PROCLAIMING THIS DAY AS GLORIA ARROYO DAY; I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GREET LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MAZIE HIRONO; MR. NATHAN OSHIMA; THE HONORABLE STATE SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN OF THE STATE OF HAWAII; OUR SPIRITUAL LEADER HERE, BISHOP FRANCIS DE LORENZO; AND STILL VERY WELL KNOWN IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE HONORABLE GEORGE ARIYOSI, FORMER GOVERNOR OF HAWAII.

KADA KAYO NGA KAKAILYAK TI BANGIR NI MAMANG KO NGA MAYSA NGA ILOKANA GAPO PANGASINAN. NAIMBAG NGA RABI-I YO AMIN. AGYAMANAK KADA KAYO TI PANAG-RUGI YO TI PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY TI HAWAII IDI PAY 1906.

AMPU MALUGUD KUNG CABALEN CAPANGPANGAN, PASALAMATAN CU PUNG LUBUS ING PAMANYAUP YU CARENG CABELEN TAMO A PININSALA NING BULKANG PINATUBO.

SA AKONG MGA KAUBANANG TAGA-MINDANAO ASA AKO NIDAKO, DAGHAN SALAMAT SA INYONG LUNGSURANON UG MANGGILOY-ON NGA PROYEKTO SA MGA DAPIT SA MINDANAO.

KAG SA MGA KASIMANWA SANG AKONG BANA NGA ILONGGO, SALAMAT GID SA INYONG BULIG SA BISAYAS.

SA MGA TUGANG KONG BIKOLANO, DIOS MABALOS SA PAGTABANG NINDO SA MGA MAYONG SWERTENG TAO SA REHIYON BIKOL.

AT SA INYONG LAHAT, MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG WALANG SAWANG PAGTULONG SA MGA NANGANGAILANGAN SA ATING BANSA.

HAWAII IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT PERSONALLY TO MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF BECAUSE WHEN WE GOT MARRIED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, WE SPENT OUR HONEYMOON HERE IN HAWAII. AND THIS TIME, WHEN I WAS SCHEDULED TO COME HERE ON THE WAY TO APEC AND THEN THE BOMBINGS OCCURRED IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, I FELT THAT I SHOULD CANCEL MY TRIP AS I UNDERSTAND PRESIDENT PUTIN HAS CANCELLED HIS TRIP BECAUSE HE HAS A HOSTAGE SITUATION IN RUSSIA. I LEARNED THOUGH THAT TONIGHT'S AFFAIR WAS ALREADY SOLD OUT SO, THEREFORE ,I WOULD HAVE DISAPPOINTED YOU SO MUCH IF I HAD NOT COME. IT WAS A GREAT DILEMMA FOR ME BUT THE LORD SOLVED MY DILEMMA BECAUSE A FEW DAYS AFTER THE BOMBING IN ZAMBOANGA WE WERE ABLE TO CATCH THE PERPETRATORS OF THE BOMBING INCIDENT. AND SEEING YOU TONIGHT OH! I WOULD HAVE NEVER FORGIVEN MYSELF FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TO PAY HONOR TO YOU, TO PAY HONOR TO OUR LEADER, THE HIGHEST RANKING FILIPINO IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THROUGH YOU TO PAY HONOR TO ALL THE FILIPINO-AMERICANS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE FILIPINO-AMERICANS CONSTITUTE ONE-THIRD OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS, BUT YOU CONTRIBUTE TWO-THIRDS OF THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE REMITTANCES TO THE PHILIPPINES.

THE FILIPINO-AMERICANS REPRESENT THE BEST IN THE FILIPINO. THAT'S WHY YOU ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AMBASSADORS OF YOUR MOTHER COUNTRY. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN LIFE ARE TREMENDOUS. AND I AM PROUD OF ALL FILIPINO-AMERICANS, WHETHER WELL-KNOWN OR ANONYMOUS. I AM PROUD OF THE BEN CAYETANOS, THE GEORGE GARCIAS, THE LOIDA NICOLASES, BUT ALSO EQUALLY PROUD OF EVERY FIL-AM WHO HAS MADE AN INVESTMENT IN THIS NATION AND WHO SEEKS CLOSER RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE UNITED STATES.

THE FILIPINO WORKER HAS BECOME A PRESENCE AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE OF YOUR TALENT AND INDUSTRY. THE FILIPINOS, FOR INSTANCE, ARE KNOWN AS THE "MUSICIANS OF ASIA." IN FACT, BEN CAYETANO TOLD ME EARLIER THAT ACTUALLY THE FIRST FILIPINOS IN HAWAII WERE NOT THE SAKADAS OF 1906. THEY WERE PRECEDED BY SOME FILIPINO MUSICIANS WHO PLAYED HERE IN HAWAII. AND TODAY, WE HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL STAR, LEA SALONGA AND A CAST OF FILIPINO TALENTS, WHO ARE IMPRESSING AUDIENCES IN BROADWAY FOR THEIR SUPERB PERFORMANCES. LEA IS THERE STARRING IN 'FLOWER DRUM SONG' IN BROADWAY.

HERE ESPECIALLY IN HAWAII, LET ME PAY TRIBUTE NOT ONLY TO THE GREAT OUTSTANDING WELL-KNOWN FAMOUS FILIPINOS LIKE BEN CAYETANO BUT ALSO TO THE THOUSANDS OF NAMELESS BUT UNFORGOTTEN FILIPINOS WHO FIRST LANDED ON THESE ISLANDS NEARLY A CENTURY AGO.

THEIR STORY IS ONE OF HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE, WRITTEN IN SWEAT AND BLOOD OF THE SAKADAS FROM ILOCOS, CEBU AND OTHER PHILIPPINE PROVINCES. FOR YOU, I AM SURE IT INVOLVED A GREAT GRANDPARENT OR FOREBEAR WHO LEFT THEIR RUSTIC HOMETOWNS SEEKING A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

FOR BEN, WHOM WE HONOR TONIGHT, IT INVOLVED HIS OWN FATHER WHO CAME HERE IN 1928 TO WORK IN A SUGAR CANE FARM. THIS WAS LONG BEFORE THE TERM "OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKER" ACQUIRED ANY SIGNIFICANCE. YET, THE FILIPINOS OF TODAY, OF HAWAII LIKE MANY OF TODAY'S MIGRANT WORKERS IN SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, AT THAT TIME, LONG TIME AGO HAD TO FACE MISERABLE LABOR CONDITIONS, AN UNFAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT, UNFAIR TREATMENT AND HOMESICKNESS. THANK GOODNESS THIS IS NO LONGER TRUE HERE TODAY. ON THE CONTRARY, THE FILIPINO REIGN SUPREME IN HAWAII. BUT WE MUST NEVER FORGET THE LESSONS OF THE PAST AS WE FACE TODAY'S CHALLENGES.

ANYWHERE, OUR IDENTITY AND DIGNITY ARE IMPORTANT. AND I AM GLAD, AS WHAT THE VARIOUS SPEAKERS SAID TONIGHT, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PRACTICE MANY OF OUR CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS THAT HAVE FOUND ACCEPTANCE IN HAWAII. THESE HAVE BEEN PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT, SPREADING TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES, AND REINFORCED BY THE SUCCEEDING WAVES OF FILIPINO MIGRATION.

AS HAS BEEN SAID EARLIER TODAY, TOO THE YEAR 2006 WILL MARK THE CENTENNIAL OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE FILIPINOS IN HAWAII. I AM HAPPY TO LEARN THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE APPROVED THE CREATION OF THE FILIPINO CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION COMMISSION. THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE GREATNESS OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN HAWAII. WE, IN THE PHILIPPINES ALSO WANT EVEN MORE TO RECIPROCATE YOUR SACRIFICE AND HEROISM.

WHEN I WAS A SENATOR, I HAD FILED AN OVERSEAS VOTING BILL, BUT LIKE MANY OTHER OVERSEAS VOTING BILLS BEFORE ME AND EVEN AFTER ME FOR A FEW YEARS, MY BILL DID NOT EVEN PROGRESS BEYOND THE COMMITTEE LEVEL. SO, WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT, I CERTIFIED AS TWO OF MY FIVE MOST URGENT BILLS -- ONE, THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL AND TWO, THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL.

AND I'M HAPPY THAT MY EFFORTS ARE BEARING FRUIT. TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN ANNOUNCE SOMETHING TO YOU, THE SENATE AND THE CONGRESS SENT ME A MESSAGE TO SEND TO YOU, THE ABSENTEE VOTING BILL HAS PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF THE PHILIPPINE CONGRESS. NOW, LET US PRAY THAT THE CONFLICTING PROVISIONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS CAN BE IRONED OUT SO THAT THE DAY THEY IRONED IT OUT AND HAVE IT RATIFIED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAMBERS, WITHIN 24 HOURS I WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW.

THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL HAS LIKEWISE PASSED THIRD AND FINAL READING IN THE SENATE.

HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE HELP OF OUR CHAMPION SENATOR AND OUR MEMBER OF THE PHILIPPINE CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE. WE ARE WORKING FOR THE PASSAGE BY THE U.S. CONGRESS OF IMPROVED BENEFITS FOR FILIPINO WORLD WAR THE SECOND VETERANS.

FOR MANY YEARS, OUR FRIENDS IN CONGRESS WERE FILING THESE BILLS, BUT FOR MANY YEARS VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS WERE LIKE THE ABSENTEE VOTING BILL IN THE PHILIPPINES. LAST YEAR, WHEN I VISITED PRESIDENT BUSH, I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT IT AND HE PROMISED ME LAST YEAR A REVIEW OF SERVICES AND BENEFITS FOR FILIPINO VETERANS. THAT REVIEW IS NOW YIELDING RESULTS. THERE IS LEGISLATION PASSED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND BEING SPONSORED BY SENATOR INOUYE IN THE SENATE TO EXPAND BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE, COMPENSATION AND BURIAL BENEFITS FOR OUR FILIPINO VETERANS.

AS I SAID EARLIER, THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PASSED THIS VETERANS HEALTH CARE PROCUREMENT IMPROVEMENT ACT, WHICH ALLOWS A PACKAGE TOTALLING 65 MILLION DOLLARS FOR IMPROVING HEALTH CARE OF FILIPINO WORLD WAR THE SECOND VETERANS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES. AND THE SENATOR FROM HAWAII, DAN INOUYE IS THE SPONSOR OF THE ACCOMPANYING SENATE BILL. LET'S WISH HIM LUCK SO THAT THE BILL CAN BECOME A LAW.

MEANWHILE, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS GIVING VETERANS ASSISTANCE FOR THE PHILIPPINES IN THE AMOUNT OF 500,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR, AND THE FIRST PAYMENT OF 500,000 DOLLARS WILL BE MADE DURING THIS MONTH OF OCTOBER.

ALL THESE EFFORTS ARE EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH IN THE FILIPINOS WHO BRAVED THIS LAND AND WHO ARE REMEMBERED IN THE HEARTS OF ALL AMERICANS.

INDEED, THE PHILIPPINES HAS BEEN A PARTNER OF AMERICA IN ECONOMIC MATTERS, IN SECURITY MATTERS. THE PHILIPPINES IS A MEMBER OF THE GRAND COALITION AGAINST GLOBAL TERRORISM AND ACTIVE IN A REGIONAL EFFORT TO ORGANIZE A SPECIAL ANTI-TERRORISM PROGRAM IN THE ASEAN COMMUNITY.AS YOU KNOW TOMORROW, I WILL BE ON MY WAY TO MEXICO TO ATTEND THE 10TH ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION LEADERS SUMMIT IN LOS CABOS, MEXICO.

I SHALL JOIN TWENTY OTHER LEADERS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT BUSH, WHO ARE RESOLVED TO COLLECTIVELY REVERSE THE LETHARGY IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND PERHAPS BUILD MORE CONCRETE STEPS TO WORLD SECURITY AND PROSPERITY.

NGAYON NATUTUWA AKONG MAKAKAUSAP KO KAYO NANG MASINSINAN SA KAUNA-UNAHANG PANAHON KO NA MAKAPAGBISITA SA INYO BILANG PANGULO NG ATING BANSA. INIMBITA SANA AKO SA INAUGURATION NG PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY CENTER NOONG JUNE. PERO INDEPENDENCE DAY, KAILANGAN NANDOON AKO SA PILIPINAS. PERO NUNG NAKITA KO KANINA, "WOW! ANG GANDA. PINAKAMALAKI SA BUONG AMERIKA, SA BUONG MUNDO SIGURO. AT KASING GANDA NG PINAKAMAGANDANG COUNTRY CLUBHOUSE SA GOLF CLUB SA PILIPINAS."

A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AS YOU REMEMBER, I INHERITED AN ECONOMY WITH FOUR MILLION JOBLESS FILIPINOS AND A FORTY PERCENT POVERTY INCIDENCE.

AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF INTO THE PRESIDENCY, I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT FOR OUR COUNTRY TO OVERCOME SUCH TREMENDOUS ODDS, WE MUST BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC.

IN MY STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS LAST JULY, I HIGHLIGHTED TWO ESSENTIAL FEATURES THAT MARK OUT A STRONG REPUBLIC:

THE FIRST IS THAT THE REPUBLIC MUST STAND FOR THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN OF A POWERFUL MINORITY. A STRONG REPUBLIC EMPOWERS THE POOR, FEEDS THE HUNGRY, PROTECTS THE WEAK AND OPPRESSED, SHELTERS THE HOMELESS, AND SHIELDS THOSE IN THE MIDST OF PERIL. HENCE, A STRONG REPUBLIC TAKES CARE OF ITS PEOPLE AND THEIR FUTURE;

THE SECOND FEATURE OF A STRONG REPUBLIC IS THE CAPACITY, REPRESENTED THROUGH STRONG INSTITUTIONS AND A STRONG BUREAUCRACY, TO EXECUTE GOOD POLICY AND DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES -- THE THINGS THAT ONLY GOVERNMENTS CAN DO. GOOD POLICIES AND EMPOWERED INSTITUTIONS SPEED UP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENABLE SOCIAL REFORM.

UPON THESE TWIN CORNERSTONES, WE ARE BUILDING A STRUCTURE OF SHARED ETHICAL VALUES, A FIRM CONSENSUS TO SERVE THE COMMON INTEREST AND A COMMON VISION OF OUR NATIONAL FUTURE.

OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE. AND WE MUST ALSO SEEK PERMANENT NATIONAL STABILITY. OUR EFFORTS ARE BEGINNING TO BEAR SOME FRUIT. DESPITE THE DESPERATE RESORT TO HIT AND RUN BOMBINGS, DOMESTIC TERRORISTS, PARTICULARLY THE ABU SAYYAF, ON THE RUN. AND I HEARD THE PRAYER ABOUT KIDNAPPING, WE HAVE CRUSHED AT LEAST FIVE KIDNAP-FOR-RANSOM GANGS. AND THE PHILIPPINE CHINESE COMMUNITY ITSELF HAS SAID THAT ALL IS QUIET ON THE BINONDO FRONT.

INFLATION IS AT A 12-YEAR LOW, DRIVEN DOWN BY STABLE FOOD PRICES AND DECLINING POWER COSTS. INTEREST RATES ARE AT THEIR LOWEST IN 15 YEARS.

INTERNATIONAL CREDIT RATING AGENCIES UPGRADED US LAST YEAR, LAST JANUARY FROM UNSTABLE TO STABLE.

THIS IS NOT PAINTING A BRIGHT AND ROSY PICTURE. THIS IS THE TRUTH DESPITE WHAT THE MEDIA SOMETIMES REPORT. BECAUSE FIGURES TELL US THE STORY NOT PERCEPTION. THE REGIONAL GDP GROWTH FIGURE SHOW THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS THE BEST PERFORMING ECONOMY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND EVEN IF WE INCLUDE THE WHOLE ASIA LIKE CHINA THE PHILIPPINES IS THE THIRD BEST PERFORMING ECONOMY IN ASIA.

OUR FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY IS SUBSTANTIATED BY OUR BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE STABLE PRICES, 14 TO 16 PESOS NOW SINCE I STARTED MY ADMINISTRATION OF RICE FOR THE POOR. AND IT IS ALSO BOLSTERED BY THE FACT THAT MORE THAN 150,000 URBAN POOR FAMILIES NOW CAN BUY THE LAND THAT THEY ARE OCCUPYING. SCHOOLS ARE BEING BUILT IN BARANGAYS WHERE THERE USED TO BE NONE, SOME OF THEM THROUGH YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. AND HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR MORE THAN 3 MILLION DESTITUTE FILIPINOS. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS WERE ATTAINED ONLY DURING THE LAST YEAR AND HALF OF MY ADMINISTRATION. BUT NO PRESIDENT CAN BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC SINGLE-HANDEDLY. MY ROLE AS PRESIDENT IS TO SERVE AS CHIEF ARCHITECT, TO SEE TO IT THAT OUR PLANS AND BLUEPRINTS ARE CARRIED OUT ON TIME AND CORRECTLY.

BUT I CAN DO THIS WELL ONLY IF I CAN COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF THE MORE THAN 2 MILLION FILIPINO-AMERICANS, INCLUDING THE MORE 200,000 OR SO FILIPINOS WHO ARE LIVING HERE IN HAWAII.

AS YOU GOT TOGETHER TO BUILD THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY CENTER, AS YOU GOT TOGETHER TO PUT THIS LOVELY BANQUET TONIGHT, LET US GET TOGETHER 'BAYANIHAN' STYLE, EACH CONTRIBUTING A MEANINGFUL EMBELLISHMENT TO THE PLAN OF NATIONAL GREATNESS AND PROSPERITY.

THANK YOU, FILIPINOS IN HAWAII FOR CONTINUING TO BE FILIPINOS.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

[TOP] [HOME]

PGMA's Speech during the meeting with the Filipino Community in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (Ballroom, Westin Airport Hotel, Los Angeles, Califonia, U.S.A. - 25 Oct 2002)

MARAMING SALAMAT.

MARAMING SALAMAT, AMBASSADOR DEL ROSARIO. AND TO ALL OF YOU, GOOD EVENING TO ALL OF YOU.

MAY I GREET ALL OF YOU DEAR FRIENDS, KADAKAYO NGA KAKAILYAK TI BANGIR NI MAMANG KO NGA ILOKANO GAPO PANGASINAN, AGYAMANAK KADAKAYO NGA UMAY KAYO ITATTA NGA RABI-IN.

MALUGUD KUNG CABALEN CAPANGPANGAN, PASALAMATAN CU PUNG LUBUSING PAMANYATANG YU NGENING BENGI.

SA AKONG MGA KAUBANANG TAGA-MINDANAO ASA AKO NIDAKO -- OO, ILIGAN DAGHAN SALAMAT SA INYONG PAG-ABOT KARONG GABI-I UNA.

SA MGA KASIMANWA SANG AKON BANA NGA ILONGGO, SALAMAT GID NGA NAKADTO KAMO SA AKON PROGRAMA SUBONG.

SA MGA TUGANG KONG BIKOLANO, DIOS MABALOS ASIN MARHAY NGA BANGGUI.

AT SA INYONG LAHAT, MARAMING SALAMAT PO SA INYONG WALANG SAWANG PAGTULONG SA MGA NANGANGAILANGAN SA ATING BANSA.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY DELEGATION TO YOU. WE HAVE PRESS SECRETARY TOTING BUNYE, WHO SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE MET WHEN HE WAS MAYOR OF MUNTINLUPA AND THEN CONGRESSMAN OF MUNTINLUPA; AND THEN NOT HERE, SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE, IS THE HEAD OF MY PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT STAFF, SILVESTRE AFABLE. THERE YOU ARE. MAYBE HE HAS RELATIVES HERE AND HE'S SITTING WITH THEM OVER THERE; AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW OUR AMBASSADOR DEL ROSARIO. HE WAS ALSO HERE WITH ME LAST YEAR; AND THEN I THANK HIM FOR HIS WELCOME, CONSUL GENERAL JUN PAYNOR, WHO IS ALSO MY PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT FOR FOREIGN TRAVELS. KASAMA KO NGAYONG GABI MULI ANG AKING KABIYAK, SI ATTORNEY JOSE MIGUEL ARROYO. MAY I GREET THOSE WHO PUT THIS LOVELY TOWNHALL MEETING TOGETHER IN SUCH SHORT NOTICE, DOCTOR CARLOS MANLAPAZ, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE; DOCTOR BATONG MALAQUE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE VETERANS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA; DOCTOR LAMBERO, THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE; AND THE OTHER OFFICERS OF THE VARIOUS FILIPINO-AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS IN CALIFORNIA.

I'D LIKE TO GREET THE FILIPINO VETERANS AND ALSO MY FELLOW OLD GIRLS FROM ASSUMPTION -- THERE YOU ARE; AND THE VARIOUS THOUSANDS THAT ARE REPRESENTED BY THE OFFICERS HERE, THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN CALIFORNIA. I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

DAHIL NANGGALING NA AKO NOONG ISANG TAON -- NOONG UNANG GINAWA ITONG ITINERARY PARA SA APEC -- SUPPOSED TO BE TECHNICAL STOPOVER LAMANG DITO SA LOS ANGELES. NGUNIT... IYON NA, DAHIL SABI NILA NANGGALING NA RAW AKO RITO NOONG ISANG TAON. NGUNIT SABI KO, EH DOON PA NAMAN 'YON DADAAN SA LOS ANGELES NA HINDI MAKIKIPAG-USAP SA ATING MGA KASAMA DOON, PINAKAMALAKING FILIPINO COMMUNITY SA BUONG AMERICA. KAYA NARITO TAYONG LAHAT MULI, NARITO TAYONG LAHAT NA MAGKASAMA. AT SALAMAT NA KAHIT NA NARINIG NA NINYO AKO NOONG ISANG TAON, DUMALO NA NAMAN KAYO ITONG TAON NA ITO. THANK YOU.

MANY TIMES I HAVE SAID THAT OVERSEAS FILIPINOS SHOULD BE CALLED OVERSEAS FILIPINO INVESTORS BECAUSE YOU ARE THE BIGGEST INVESTORS OF THE PHILIPPINES.

THAT'S WHY WHEN I WAS A SENATOR, I HAD FILED AN OVERSEAS VOTING BILL. BUT LIKE MANY OTHER OVERSEAS VOTING BILLS BEFORE MINE AND EVEN AFTER MINE, MY BILL DID NOT EVEN PROGRESS BEYOND THE COMMITTEE LEVEL. SO WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT, I CERTIFIED AS TWO OF MY FIVE MOST URGENT BILLS -- ONE, THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL AND TWO, THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL.

AND I'M SO HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT MY EFFORTS HAVE BORNE FRUIT. OUR EFFORTS HAVE BORNE FRUIT. BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME, AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS IN SO MANY ADMINISTRATIONS, THE ABSENTEE VOTING BILL HAS PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS ON THIRD AND FINAL READING. NOW, LET US PRAY THAT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE CAN IRONED OUT THEIR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS SOON BECAUSE AS SOON AS THEY DO SO I WILL SIGN THAT BILL INTO LAW WITHIN 24 HOURS.

THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL HAS LIKEWISE PASSED THIRD AND FINAL READING IN THE SENATE. AND HERE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESOLUTION THAT THE VETERANS GAVE ME THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR, IT IS TRUE THAT EVERY TIME THERE IS A BILATERAL, THE VETERANS ISSUE IS ALWAYS PART OF OUR MAIN AGENDA. WE ARE WORKING FOR THE PASSAGE BY THE U.S. CONGRESS OF IMPROVED BENEFITS FOR FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

YOU ASKED ME TO DO THIS LAST YEAR. AND WHEN I WENT TO WASHINGTON, I TOOK IT UP WITH PRESIDENT BUSH. I TOOK IT UP VERY STRONGLY AND EMPHATICALLY. TINARAYAN KO PA NGA IYUNG VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.

AND PRESIDENT BUSH PROMISED ME LAST YEAR A REVIEW OF SERVICES AND BENEFITS FOR FILIPINO VETERANS. I'M ALSO HAPPY THAT THAT REVIEW IS YIELDING RESULTS. AGAIN, FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS IN SO MANY ADMINISTRATIONS, A BILL HAS BEEN PASSED IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO EXPAND BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE, COMPENSATION AND BURIAL BENEFITS FOR OUR FILIPINO WORLD WAR VETERANS TO THE TUNE OF 65 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS. THAT APPROPRIATION MEASURE WHICH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR ADVOCACY PASSED THE HOUSE IS NOW IN THE SENATE. SO LET 'S PRAY THAT THIS BILL CAN SOON PASSED THE SENATE.

MEANWHILE, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, ON THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL, ON THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS GIVING VETERANS ASSISTANCE FOR OUR VETERANS, WORLD WAR II FILIPINO VETERANS, WHO ARE IN THE PHILIPPINES IN THE AMOUNT OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR. AGAIN, FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS IN SO MANY ADMINISTRATIONS. THE FIRST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT RIGHT THIS MONTH OF OCTOBER.

IT IS AN UPHILL FIGHT, BUT WE ARE GETTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL AS YOU HAVE SEEN, AND LET US CONTINUE. THERE ARE MANY UPHILL FIGHTS WE HAVE TO MAKE BUT WE MUST CONTINUE.

FOR INSTANCE, OUR ECONOMY BACK HOME. I HOPE YOU STILL REMEMBER THAT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO, WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT, I INHERITED AN ECONOMY WITH 4 MILLION JOBLESS FILIPINOS AND A 40 PERCENT POVERTY INCIDENCE. THAT IS AN UPHILL FIGHT. AND AFTER A YEAR-AND-A- HALF IN THE PRESIDENCY, I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT TO OVERCOME SUCH TREMENDOUS ODDS, WE MUST BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC.

TO BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC, MY ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO GOOD GOVERNANCE. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE PRIMORDIAL REQUIREMENT IN THE DRIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT IS TO SET THE EXAMPLE AT THE TOP.

THUS, EVEN MY HUSBAND, MY VERY SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND, HAS ALLOWED HIMSELF NOT TO BE ABOVE THE LAW. THOUGH I CONSIDER INTRIGUES AGAINST HIM AS AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD, I HAVE GONE TO THE EXTENT OF ENCOURAGING HIM TO FACE SENATE INVESTIGATIONS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THERE ARE NO SACRED COWS IN MY ADMINISTRATION. THANK GOODNESS! BY LETTING THE INVESTIGATIONS GO WHEREVER ANY EVIDENCE MIGHT TAKE THEM, I THANK GOD THAT THE EVIDENCE INVARIABLY SHOWS THAT ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM ARE FALSE AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

BUT, BECAUSE MY HUSBAND HAS HUMBLED HIMSELF BY SUBMITTING TO SENATE INVESTIGATIONS, I HAVE ENHANCED MY MORAL AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE ANYBODY ELSE ANY SERIOUS ALLEGATION AND HOLD ANYONE ACCOUNTABLE IF CORRUPTION HAS BEEN FOUND TO TAKE PLACE IN HIS JURISDICTION.

LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT I AM WORKING DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT THE FILIPINO PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE PROFESSIONAL AND CLEAN GOVERNMENT YOU DESERVE, FOR YOU ARE STILL PART OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE EVEN IF YOU ARE HERE IN AMERICA.

FOR INSTANCE, OUR NEW E-PROCUREMENT PROGRAM IS SAVING BILLIONS OF PESOS AND MINIMIZING ANOMALIES.

MY PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-GRAFT COMMISSION IS INVESTIGATING A NUMBER OF BUREAU DIRECTORS, GOVERNMENT BOARD CHAIRMEN AND GOVERNMENT BOARD MEMBERS WHOM I HAVE ASKED TO GO ON LEAVE PENDING THE RESULTS OF THEIR INVESTIGATIONS. AND AS FOR CORRUPTION WITHIN THE COURTS, WHILE THERE IS SEPARATION OF POWERS IN OUR CONSTITUTION, WE ARE PROACTIVE IN PROSECUTING GRAFT AMONG STATE PROSECUTORS, AND WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE SUPREME COURT, WE ARE PROSECUTING ERRING JUDGES AS WELL.

LAST YEAR, I DECLARED THAT WE WILL MAKE CUSTOMS AND THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE SHOWCASES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GRAFT AND CORRUPTION. THIS IS STILL A CONTINUING EFFORT.

BUT I AM HAPPY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AS A RESULT OF OUR ANTI-CORRUPTION AND SYSTEMS' IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS IN THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE UNDER MY NEW BIR COMMISSIONER, PMA CLASS '70. WHERE'S THE PMA CLASS '70 HERE? OKAY, YOUR CLASSMATE WILLIE PARAYNO IS MY NEW BIR REVENUE COMMISSIONER.

AFTER ONE MONTH IN OFFICE, HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO MEET HIS REVENUE TARGETS, COLLECTING MORE THAN ONE-THIRD MORE THAN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO REVERSE MANY MONTHS OF LOW REVENUES WHICH HAD CAUSED OUR BUDGET DEFICIT TO SWELL. AND HE IS CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL MEET HIS TARGETS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AND EVEN MAKE UP FOR SOME OF THE SHORTFALL OF THE EARLIER PART OF THIS YEAR.

UPON THE CORNERSTONE OF A STRONG REPUBLIC, WE ARE BUILDING A STRUCTURE OF SHARED ETHICAL VALUES, A FIRM CONSENSUS TO SERVE THE COMMON INTEREST AND A COMMON VISION OF OUR NATIONAL FUTURE.

THESE GOALS ARE ALSO UPPERMOST IN MY WORK PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU. EVEN AS WE ARE RESOLVING THE TERRORIST THREATS IN OUR COUNTRY, I AM FOCUSED ON A TIGHTLY CONSOLIDATED WORK PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS:

THE FIRST IS TO STRENGTHEN OUR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES. AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR FROM CONSUL GENERAL JUN PAYNOR THAT MANY OF YOU ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONE TOWN, ONE PRODUCT, ONE-MILLION PESO LOAN FOR SMALL ENTERPRISES THAT WE ARE LAUNCHING OR WE HAVE LAUNCHED TO PUMP PRIME THIS DRIVE TO STRENGTHEN OUR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES AS A SOURCE OF DOMESTIC DEMAND IN OUR COUNTRY;

THE SECOND PROGRAM IS TO JUMPSTART HOUSING;

THE THIRD IS TO REDUCE TRANSPORT COSTS FROM MINDANAO TO LUZON;

THE FOURTH IS TO BEGIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL DECONGEST METRO MANILA;

THE FIFTH IS TO MARK UP THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE PCGG TO OUR FISCAL RESOURCES;

THE SIXTH IS TO MAKE MAKATI A SPECIFIC URBAN TOURIST DESTINATION FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPERS;

THE SEVENTH IS TO STIMULATE PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURE; AND THE EIGHTH IS TO BEGIN THE COMPLETE STAFF WORK OR TO COMPLETE THE STAFF WORK NEEDED TO MAKE THE RECLAMATION AREA IN ROXAS BOULEVARD ANOTHER TOURISM COMPLEX TO BE CALLED "THE BAGONG NAYONG PILIPINO."

OUR MAIN GOAL FOR ALL OF THESE AND FOR THE PROGRAMS I TOLD YOU ABOUT LAST YEAR IS TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE. TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE BUT WE MUST ALSO SEEK NATIONAL STABILITY. YES, TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE TO SEEK PERMANENT NATIONAL STABILITY.

THUS, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT TO YOU THAT BECAUSE OF OUR AGGRESSIVE DRIVE AGAINST TERRORISM, DESPITE THE DESPERATE RESORT TO HIT AND RUN BOMBINGS, DOMESTIC TERRORISTS PARTICULARLY THE ABU SAYYAF ARE NOW ON THE RUN. YES, THEY BOMBED TWO PARTS OF ZAMBOANGA, BUT WE HAVE CAPTURED THE ZAMBOANGA BOMBERS AND IDENTIFIED THE MASTERMIND OF THE LATEST BOMBING IN MANILA.

WE HAVE CRUSHED AT LEAST FIVE KIDNAP-FOR-RANSOM GANGS. AND THE FILIPINO-CHINESE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS THEIR FAVORITE TARGET HAS EVEN SAID THAT NOW ALL IS QUIET ON THE BINONDO FRONT.

THESE EFFORTS ARE BEGINNING TO BEAR SOME FRUIT EVEN IN OUR ECONOMY. INFLATION IS AT A 12-YEAR LOW, DRIVEN DOWN BY STABLE FOOD PRICES AND DECLINING POWER COSTS. INTEREST RATES ARE AT THEIR LOWEST IN 15 YEARS.

WE ARE RATED AS STABLE BY THE INTERNATIONAL CREDIT RATING AGENCIES. THE REGIONAL GDP GROWTH FIGURES SHOW THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS THE BEST PERFORMING ECONOMY TODAY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. AND EVEN IF YOU TAKE ASIA AS A WHOLE WHERE CHINA IS NUMBER ONE, THE PHILIPPINES IS THE THIRD BEST PERFORMING ECONOMY IN ASIA.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE POOR IN THE PHILIPPINES? WELL, FOR ONE THING IT MEANS: THE PRICE OF RICE FOR THE POOR IS STABLE AT 14 TO16 PESOS; IT MEANS THAT MORE THAN 150,000 URBAN POOR FAMILIES HAVE ACQUIRED THE RIGHT TO BUY THE LAND THAT THEY ARE OCCUPYING SQUATTERS NO MORE; IT MEANS THAT SCHOOLS ARE BEING BUILT IN BARANGAYS WHERE THERE USED TO BE NONE, ABOUT A THOUSAND OF THEM; IT MEANS THAT MORE THAN 3 MILLION POOR FILIPINOS NOW HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS WERE ATTAINED ONLY DURING MY ADMINISTRATION.

BUT NO PRESIDENT CAN BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC SINGLE-HANDEDLY. I CAN DO THIS AND DO THIS WELL ONLY IF I CAN COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF THE MORE THAN 2 MILLION FILIPINO-AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY THE 700,000 WHO ARE HERE IN LOS ANGELES.

AND SO, THOUGH I WAS HERE WITH YOU LAST YEAR, I AM HERE AGAIN WITH YOU TO ASK YOU: STAY WITH ME. HELP ME BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

[TOP] [HOME]

PGMA's Speech during the Plenary Breakfast at the APEC CEO Summit "A Conversation with Leaders" (Salon Cabo Real, Melia Los Cabos, Los Cabos, Mexico - 26 Oct 2002)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ES MAS FASIL PRONUNCIAR MI NOMBRE ARROYO. PORQUE SOMOS LATINOS ESTA MIEN CON LOS MEXICANOS.

FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN THE PHILIPPINES HOSTED APEC, THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE FEMALE APEC LEADER. TODAY, I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION NOW HAS STAFF GIFTED AND THOUGHTFUL WOMEN LEADERS LIKE PRESIDENT MEGAWATI AND PRIME MINISTER CLARK. AND I'M VERY HONORED TO SHARE THIS PLATFORM WITH THEM TODAY.

WE COME FROM THREE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WITH THREE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND THREE DIFFERENT SETS OF CHALLENGES. BUT WE SHARE COMMON COMMITMENTS TO PROSPERITY, TO DEMOCRACY AND TO PEACE.

WE WERE TOGETHER LAST YEAR IN APEC IN SHANGHAI. THAT SUMMIT TOOK PLACE RIGHT AFTER SEPTEMBER 11. AT THAT TIME IN THAT SUMMIT, WE ALL AGREED THAT THE ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11 WERE AN ATTACK NOT JUST ON THE UNITED STATES BUT ON ALL WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM AND TOLERANCE. AND IN THAT SUMMIT, WE ALL AGREED TO TAKE A STRONG STANCE AGAINST TERRORISM. AND WE DISCUSSED HOW TO PRIORITIZE OUR WORK IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THAT STRONG STANCE. WE MADE PLANS ABOUT AVIATION SECURITY, ENERGY SECURITY AND OTHER WAYS BY WHICH WE COULD PROMOTE SECURITY ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT.

MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THEN. SINCE THEN, THE TERRORISTS WERE KICKED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN. SO WAS THE HOST GOVERNMENT THAT WELCOMED THEM IN AFGHANISTAN.

IN MY OWN COUNTRY I SET TO CRUSH TERRORISM MILITARILY AND ECONOMICALLY. I CHALLENGED THE ABU SAYYAF RIGHT IN THEIR TURF AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE MADE GREAT SUCCESS. THEY USED TO BE THOUSANDS, NOW THEY ARE A FEW HUNDREDS. OF COURSE, A RIFLE SHOT HERE AND A BOMB THERE SUCCEEDS IN INSTILLING MORE FEAR. BUT NONETHELESS, I ASSURE YOU WE ARE MAKING HEADWAY.

HOWEVER, NONE OF THE SUCCESSES THAT WE HAVE HAD PREPARED US FOR THE OCTOBER ATTACKS, ESPECIALLY THE ATTACK ON THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF BALI. THAT ATTACK AND THE OTHER ATTACKS OF OCTOBER REMIND US THAT THIS WAR AGAINST TERRORISM IS GOING TO BE LONG, DIFFICULT AND BORDERLESS. AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE ALSO FEARING FOR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.

MY CONCERN IS HOW THE TERRORISTS HAVE SHIFTED OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM HOW TO WORK TO MAKE THE GLOBAL ECONOMY THRIVE. WE HAVE SHIFTED OUR EFFORT TO HOW TO SECURE OURSELVES AND OUR COUNTRIES. MY CONCERN ARISES FROM MY EXPERIENCE. THE EXPERIENCE OF MY COUNTRY SHOWS THAT SECURITY IMPEDES DEVELOPMENT AND CONVERSELY, POVERTY FEEDS EXTREMISTS WITH RECRUITS. THE TERRORISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE IN THAT SOUTHWESTERN CORNER OF OUR COUNTRY -- THE ISLAND OF BASILAN AND THE ISLAND OF SULU. NOT COINCIDENTALLY, THESE TWO PROVINCES ARE THE POOREST PROVINCES IN OUR COUNTRY WITH THE LOWEST HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX. THAT INDEED DEMONSTRATES HOW CLOSELY INTERLINKED IS THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM WITH THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY. AND IF WE NEGLECT THE ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE AT THIS TIME WHEN WE ARE SO CONCERNED WITH TERRORISM WE WOULD BE FEEDING ON TERRORISM BY PROMOTING HUNGER, DISEASE AND IGNORANCE.

SINCE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD IN OUR WORLD IN APEC AND EVERYWHERE ELSE A COALITION TO ERADICATE TERRORISM. IT HAS WORKED WELL. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS COALITION BUILDING WOULD WORK EQUALLY WELL TO ENSURE ECONOMIC SECURITY. FURTHER, IT CAN ALSO WORK EQUALLY WELL TO LIFT THE GLOBAL ECONOMY OUT OF LETHARGY.

THE KEY STEP IS TO BUILD TRUST ONCE AGAIN IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY. BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT? LET ME JUST COUNT TWO WAYS: FIRST, SECURITY. DEALING WITH TERRORISM REMAINS OUR MOST URGENT PRIORITY. AND OUR FIRST CHALLENGE IS TO DEAL WITH IT AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A SAFE AND SECURE WORLD. IN THE PHILIPPINES, WE PARTICIPATE IN GLOBAL EFFORTS AND WE ALSO WORK TO PROMOTE THIS COALITION AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL. FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OUR SISTER AND NEIGHBOR INDONESIA AS WELL AS WITH MALAYSIA WE HAVE AN ANTI-TERRORIST ARRANGEMENT. THIS ARRANGEMENT INCLUDES SHARING INTELLIGENCE, TIGHTENING BORDER PATROLS AND IF NEED BE JOINT PEACEKEEPING. I THINK WE SHOULD EXPAND THIS COALITION AND TAKE MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTION.

IN THE PHILIPPINES, TOO WHERE WE HAVE CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS -- ACTUALLY, WE ARE A CHRISTIAN NATION, A CHRISTIAN MINORITY IN A MUSLIM REGION, THE SOUTHEAST ASIA -- WE PURSUE BROADER INTER-FAITH DIALOGUES BECAUSE THE TERRORISTS WISH TO INSTIGATE A RELIGIOUS WAR. BUT WE MUST INSTEAD MAKE THIS AN OCCASION FOR RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING, ECUMENISM AND SOLIDARITY.

TERRORISM AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE CEOS, IMPACTS DIRECTLY ON BUSINESS. AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE TO REDUCE BORDER RESTRICTIONS WHICH ARE BAD FOR BUSINESS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROTECT THESE BORDERS AGAINST TERRORISM. THAT IS A GREAT CHALLENGE OF APEC. THIS CHALLENGE NEEDS A COMBINATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY AND CROSS BORDER COOPERATION.

LET ME NOW GO TO THE SECOND WAY BY WHICH I BELIEVE WE CAN RESTORE FAITH AND TRUST IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. AND THIS SECOND WAY USE TO ADDRESS THE PERCEIVED INEQUALITY IN RECEIVING THE BENEFITS OF INTEGRATION. WE MUST START WITH THE WTO. WE NEED TO REENGINEER THE WTO TO ASSURE THAT THERE IS A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. THAT THE RULES OF TRADING ARE NOT STOPPED IN FAVOR OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES WHO PREACH LIBERALIZATION TO THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ON THE ONE HAND, BUT PRACTICE PROTECTIONISM AGAINST THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ON THE OTHER.

IT IS OUR CHALLENGE IN APEC TO REENGINEER THE WTO, BECAUSE THE DOHA ROUND THAT WE ARE UNDERGOING OFFERS THAT OPPORTUNITY. APEC AS APEC IS A VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION IN THE SENSE THAT OUR COMMITMENTS ARE VOLUNTARY AND NOT TREATIES THAT ARE LEGALLY BINDING. BUT APEC IS VERY INFLUENTIAL IN THE WTO AND THEREFORE THE ROLE OF APEC SHOULD BE TO REINFORCE THE LEADERSHIP IN THE WTO AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DOHA ROUND IS TRULY WHAT IT IS BUILD AS A DEVELOPMENT ROUND.

ONE WAY WOULD BE TO INFLUENCE WTO TO COME UP WITH AN EARLY HARVEST OF RESULTS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE MOST NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

WHAT SHOULD THESE RESULTS INCLUDE? MAY I ENUMERATE: ONE, THE ELIMINATION OF HARMFUL AGRICULTURAL EXPORT SUBSIDIES; TWO, THE OPENING UP OF MARKETS FOR TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND OTHER PRODUCTS OF INTEREST TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SUCH AS TUNA AND TEXTILES; THREE, THE LIBERALIZATION OF SERVICES WHERE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CAN BENEFIT MOST INCLUDING LABOR MOBILITY IN SECTORS SUCH AS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION; AND FOURTH, THE ENHANCING OF CAPABILITY. THE ENHANCING OF THE CAPACITY OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRY-MEMBERS TO NEGOTIATE EFFECTIVELY, IMPLEMENT COMMITMENTS AND IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR PRODUCTS.

TO DO ALL THESE, WE DON'T EXPECT APEC TO FINANCE. WE DO NOT EXPECT APEC TO FINANCE ALL THESE CAPABILITY BUILDING. BUT WE DO EXPECT APEC TO USE ITS INFLUENCE TO TURN TO OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS AND TO TURN TO OTHERS THAT HAVE MANDATE FOR CAPABILITY BUILDING. AT MONTEREY, HERE IN MEXICO, SOME TIME AGO, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THAT SUMMIT AGREED THAT DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY GO HAND AND HAND. THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES PLEDGED NEW RESOURCES TO FIGHT POVERTY IN ORDER TO FIGHT TERRORISM. AND THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES PROMISED TO PUT THESE RESOURCES TO GOOD USE BY INSTITUTING REFORMS IN THEIR COUNTRIES AND ECONOMIES. THIS NEW APPROACH IS A HAND UP APPROACH RATHER THAN A HAND OUT APPROACH. AND IT RECOGNIZES THAT THIS IS NOT CHARITY BUT INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE. IT RECOGNIZES THAT TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO FISH RATHER THAN GIVING THEM THE FISH LEADS TO SUSTAINED PROSPERITY. HOWEVER, MONTHS AFTER MONTEREY WE HAVE YET TO SEE THESE RESOURCES COME TO THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. AND SO, I HOPE THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE DEVELOPMENT DIVIDE WILL MAKE GOOD ON THEIR MONTEREY PLEDGES.

WE NEED TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE GROWTH OF THE SMES. AS MY BELOVED SISTER AND NEIGHBOR PRESIDENT MEGAWATI SAID, IT IS A BIG PART OF LIFE IN INDONESIA. IT IS A BIG PART OF LIFE IN OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND THE PHILIPPINES AS WELL. SMES AND MICRO-ENTERPRISES PROVIDE A BUSINESS APPROACH TO THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY. IN MY COUNTRY, WE ARE DOING THIS, TOO WITH OUR ONE TOWN, ONE PRODUCT PROGRAM. AND IT SHOWS THAT IT CAN WORK.

I HOPE YOU, THE CEOS OF APEC, WILL LOOK AT INTEGRATING THESE SELF-HELP INITIATIVES IN YOUR BUSINESS PLANS. WE DO OUR SMES NOW WITH GREATER VIGOR IN THE PHILIPPINES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO RELY ON DOMESTIC EFFORTS TO STIMULATE GROWTH AND SAFETY NETS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT YET SURE OF THE RECOVERY OF OUR EXPORT MARKET.

BUT INDEED, A LOT OF SUPPORT WILL GO OUR WAY AND THE OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WAY IF THE U.S., JAPAN AND EUROPE CAN RECOVER. AND SO WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL RECOVER AND WE SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO FINALLY CARRY OUT THE POSTPONED REFORMS THAT MAY HAVE LED TO THE LETHARGY OF THOSE ECONOMIES. I MEAN, NOT THE REFORMS BUT THE POSTPONEMENT.

OUR REGION ESPECIALLY LOOKS TO JAPAN TO RESUME ITS TRADITIONAL ROLE AS THE ENGINE FOR GROWTH. WE, IN ASEAN, OF COURSE, ALSO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL ECONOMIC SECURITY. WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE ASEAN INTEGRATION A REALITY. AND WE HAVE TO BE OPEN TO NEW IDEAS ABOUT CREATING BUILDING BLOCKS FOR INTEGRATION. THUS, THE ASEAN COUNTRIES PURSUE REGIONAL AND BILATERAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS THAT WERE UNTHOUGHT OF MANY YEARS AGO. WE DO HAVE TO MINIMIZE THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF TERRORISM AND MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF INTEGRATION THROUGH GREATER COHESION IN TRADE, CAPITAL, LABOR AND SECURITY POLICY.

THE COALITION IN RESPONSE TO TERRORISM CAN AND MUST EXTEND TO A COALITION IN ECONOMIC RELATIONS. THE GLOBAL ECONOMY WILL BE ABLE TO PULL THROUGH IF WE APPROACH IT THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHING OUR FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM.

AND MAY I ASSURE YOU, THAT IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS AN ACTIVE PARTNER IN THE GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST TERRORISM, THE PHILIPPINES IS ALSO READY TO WORK WITH THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF ECONOMIC SECURITY AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR PEOPLES IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

THANK YOU.

[TOP] [HOME]

PGMA's Speech during a Dinner with the Filipino Community (Marina Ballroom, San Diego Marriot Hotel and Marina, San Diego, California, USA - 27 Oct 2002)

MARAMING SALAMAT.

MARAMING SALAMAT, AMBASSADOR ALBERT DEL ROSARIO.

CONSUL GENERAL AND MRS. PAYNOR, WHO IS NOT ONLY... AH, CONSUL GENERAL PAYNOR IS NOT ONLY CONSUL GENERAL OF THE LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO AREA, HE ALSO DOUBLES UP AS MY PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT FOR FOREIGN TRAVELS; GLENN BARROGA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ORGANIZING THIS EVENING TOGETHER WITH DITAS DIMANI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH; AND TO ALL OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE THAT ALSO JOINED TO ORGANIZE THIS EVENING, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING SUCH A GOOD INITIATIVE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GREET BISHOP SALVATORRE CORLEONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS; AND MAY I ALSO GREET THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS WHO WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY PROUD OF: CONGRESSMAN BOB FILMER; CONGRESSMAN RANDY CUNNINGHAM; CONGRESSMAN GARY ISAH AND CONGRESSWOMAN SUSAN DAVIS. I'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THESE ARE THE CONGRESSMEN AND CONGRESSWOMAN WHO INITIATED WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE PHILIPPINE CAUCUS IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR DICK MURPHY FOR THE KEY TO THE CITY. I'D LIKE TO GREET MRS. MURPHY, TOO AND MAYOR SHIRLEY HORTON. THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE. ALSO SUPERVISOR GREG CUP, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTRY OF SAN DIEGO. AT SA INYONG LAHAT, MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG WALANG SAWANG PAGTULONG SA MGA NANGANGAILANGAN SA ATING BANSA.

AT MALUGUD KUNG CABALEN CAPANGPANGAN, CARACAL KO. PASALAMATAN CU PUNG LUBUS ING PAMANYATANG YU NGENING BENGI.

KADAKAYO NGA KAKAILYAK TI BANGIR NI MAMANG KO NGA ILOKANO GAPO PANGASINAN, INCLUDING MAYOR MURPHY'S TWO ANGELS IN HIS OFFICE. AGYAMANAK KADAKAYO NGA UMAY KAYO TATTA NGA RABI-I TAN MASANTOS YA LABI ED SIKAYO AMIN.

SA AKON MGA KAUBANANG TAGA-MINDANAO ASA AKO NIDAKO, DAGHANG SALAMAT SA INYONG PAG-ABOT. WALAY TIGA-MINDANAO DIRI? AH, KAMO. DAGHAN SALAMAT SA INYONG PAG-ABOT KARONG GABI-I UNA.

KAG SA MGA KASIMANWA SANG AKON BANA NGA ILONGGO, SALAMAT GID NGA NAGKADTO KAMO SA ATON PROGRAMA SUBONG.

SA MGA TUGANG KONG BIKOLANO, DIOS MABALOS ASIN MARHAY NGA BANGGUI.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY SMALL DELEGATION TO YOU TONIGHT: PRESS SECRETARY IGNACIO BUNYE, WHO USED TO BE CITY MAYOR, TOO AND CONGRESSMAN OF THE CITY OF MUNTINLUPA; AND THE HEAD OF MY PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT STAFF IS SILVESTRE "YONGYONG" AFABLE; YOU HAVE MET, OF COURSE, AMBASSADOR DEL ROSARIO, WHO ALWAYS VISITS OUR CONGRESSMEN FROM THE SAN DIEGO AREA AND THE SURROUNDINGS, AND SO THEY HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS PHILIPPINE CAUCUS. AND I HAVE TOLD YOU EARLIER THAT CONSUL GENERAL JUN PAYNOR IS NOT JUST YOUR CONSUL GENERAL, HE IS MY PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT FOR FOREIGN TRAVELS. SO HE WAS WITH ME EVEN IN APEC. AT KASAMA KO NGAYONG GABI ANG AKING KABIYAK, SI ATTY. JOSE MIGUEL ARROYO.

MIKE AND I BRING YOU THE BEST GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES OF OUR FAMILY. NOT ONLY OF OUR FAMILY BUT ALSO OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE FILIPINO-AMERICANS HERE IN SAN DIEGO. FILIPINOS IN SAN DIEGO ARE TRULY PIONEERS. YOURS IS A STORY OF FORTITUDE AND HARD WORK. I LEARNED WHEN I WAS COMING HERE AND READING UP THAT THE ENLISTMENT OF FILIPINOS IN THE U.S. NAVY STARTED WITH THE RECRUITMENT OF NINE FILIPINOS IN 1903. DID I GET MY YEAR RIGHT, 1903? TO WORK AS STEWARDS AND MESS BOYS IN THE BEGINNING. I HAD TO ASK YOU BECAUSE WE ALWAYS THOUGHT IN THE PHILIPPINES THAT THE FIRST FILIPINOS IN THE U.S. WERE THOSE WHO WORKED IN HAWAII IN THE SUGAR CANE PLANTATIONS. BUT THAT WAS 1906 AND THIS IS 1903. SO YOU ARE THE FIRST FILIPINOS TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES. AND THEN FROM THE 1950S UP TO 1992 WHEN THE U.S. MILITARY BASES WERE CLOSED, MORE AND MORE FILIPINOS WERE RECRUITED TO JOIN THE U.S. NAVY THROUGH THE U.S. NAVAL BASE IN SANGLEY POINT, IN CAVITE. KAYA MARAMING CAVITE�O DITO, 'DI BA? LATER ON, AT THE U.S. NAVAL BASE IN SUBIC. THAT'S WHY THIS EXPLAINS WHY MOST OF YOU ARE FROM CAVITE AND ALSO FROM OLONGAPO IN ZAMBALES. ZAMBALES, YES. OLONGAPO, MY MACARAEG RELATIVES FROM OLONGAPO, YES. ZAMBALES, BATAAN AND THE NEIGHBORING PROVINCE THAT INCLUDES PAMPANGA.

MOST FILIPINO NAVY MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES SETTLED HERE IN SAN DIEGO AND IN OTHER U.S. SEAPORT CITIES, AND WENT ON TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN OTHER FIELDS. BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW... THERE'S NOW A NEW GENERATION. SO AFTER OUR NAVY MEN CAME DOCTORS, NURSES, HEALTH CARE WORKERS, ACCOUNTANTS, I.T. WORKERS AMONG OTHERS.

AND TODAY, FILIPINO-AMERICANS REPRESENT THE BEST IN THE FILIPINO. YOU ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AMBASSADORS OF YOUR COUNTRY. WHEN I WAS COMING THIS WEEK SOMEBODY ASKED ME, HOW CAN YOU HELP THE PHILIPPINES? YOU CAN HELP THE PHILIPPINES BY BEING AMBASSADORS OF OUR COUNTRY TO THE UNITED STATES. AND YOU ARE SUCH CREDIBLE AMBASSADORS BECAUSE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN LIFE ARE TREMENDOUS. I AM PROUD OF ALL FILIPINO-AMERICANS, WHETHER WELL-KNOWN OR ANONYMOUS.

TODAY, THE FILIPINO-AMERICANS, YOU, YOU CONSTITUTE ONE-THIRD OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS BUT YOU CONTRIBUTE TWO-THIRDS OF THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE REMITTANCES TO THE PHILIPPINES.

I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES THAT OVERSEAS FILIPINOS SHOULD BE CALLED OVERSEAS FILIPINO INVESTORS BECAUSE YOU ARE THE BIGGEST INVESTORS OF THE PHILIPPINES. THAT IS WHY EVEN WHEN I WAS A SENATOR, I HAD ALREADY FILED AN OVERSEAS VOTING BILL, BUT LIKE MANY OTHER OVERSEAS VOTING BILLS BEFORE I BECAME A SENATOR, AND OTHERS THAT WERE FILED AFTER IBECAME A SENATOR, MY BILL DID NOT EVEN PROGRESS AT THAT TIME BEYOND THE COMMITTEE LEVEL.

SO WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENTI CERTIFIED AS FIVE... AS TWO OUT OF MY FIVE MOST URGENT BILLS THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL AND THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL.

NUNG PAPUNTA AKO SA APEC FROM HERE DAPAT DIRETSO SA SILICON VALLEY DAHIL MAY MGA INVESTORS NA KAKAUSAPIN. SABI KO HINDI, DADAAN AKO SA SAN DIEGO KASI MERON AKONG GUSTONG IKWENTO ABOUT EFFORTS BEARING FRUIT FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS IN SO MANY ADMINISTRATIONS THE ABSENTEE VOTING BILL HAS PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS IN THE PHILIPPINES. NOW, LETS PRAY THAT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE CAN IRON OUT THEIR CONFLICTING VERSIONS SOON. BECAUSE AS SOON AS THEY DO SO I WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW WITHIN 24 HOURS.

KANINA NUNG NAG-POSING AKO SA MGA VETERANS, AND I'D LIKE TO GREET THEM. MERON ISA SA KANILA NAGTANONG SA AKIN, "EH 'YUNG DUAL CITIZENSHIP BILL, KUMUSTA NA?" I'D LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU THAT IT HAS LIKEWISE PASSED THE SENATE ON THIRD AND FINAL READING IN THE SENATE.

OF COURSE HERE LED BY YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND YOUR OTHER CONGRESSMAN AND CONGRESSWOMAN IN THE AREA IN THE PHILIPPINE CAUCUS, ALL OF US HAD BEEN WORKING FOR THE PASSAGE BY THE U.S. CONGRESS OF IMPROVED BENEFITS FOR FFILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

AND JUST LIKE THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL IN THE PHILIPPINES, HERE IN THE U.S., I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS, IN SO MANY ADMINISTRATIONS THE BILL HAS BEEN PASSED IN THE U.S. HHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE COMPENSATION AND BURIAL BENEFITS FOR OUR FILIPINO VETERANS TO THE TUNE OF 65 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS. AND YOU HAVE OUR SAN DIEGO CONGRESSMAN BOB FILMER AS THE PRINCIPAL AUTHOR TO THANK FOR. AND CONGRESSMAN CUNNINGHAM, CONGRESSMAN ISAH AND CONGRESSWOMAN SUSAN DAVIS BECAUSE IT WAS THE PHILIPPINE CAUCUS THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE BILL TO PASS THE U.S. CONGRESS. AND I KNOW THAT YOU IN THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE PHILIPPINE CAUSE.

THE APPROPRIATION MEASURE IS NOW IN THE U.S. SENATE. SO, LIKE I SAID ABOUT THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL AND PRAYING, LET'S PRAY NOW THAT THE BILL MAY SOON PASS THE SENATE.

MEANWHILE, AT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL, I HAVE INCLUDED VETERANS BENEFITS IN THE AGENDA OF EVERY BILATERAL I HAVE HAD WITH PRESIDENT BUSH. AND THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION IS GIVING VETERANS ASSISTANCE FOR THE PHILIPPINES IN THE AMOUNT OF 500,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR THE VETERANS HEALTH CARE IN THE PHILIPPINES. AGAIN, FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS IN SO MANY YEARS. AND I'M HAPPY TO LEARN THAT THE FIRST 500,000 DOLLARS WILL BE GIVEN TO THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT THIS MONTH OF OCTOBER.

I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS' BENEFITS. WHEN I WAS WITH PRESIDENT BUSH AT THE APEC SUMMIT YESTERDAY, I REMINDED HIM AGAIN ABOUT OUR FILIPINO VETERANS.

AT APEC , TOGETHER WITH 20 OTHER LEADERS INCLUDING PRESIDENT BUSH AND THE HEADS OF BIG ECONOMIES LIKE CHINA, RUSSIA, JAPAN, CANADA AND MEXICO AMONG OTHERS, WE RESOLVED COLLECTIVELY TO ADOPT POLICIES THAT WILL REVERSE THE DIRECTION OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AWAY FROM A CREEPING MARCH TOWARDS ANOTHER ECONOMIC RECESSION.

I HOPE YOU STILL REMEMBER THAT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO, I BECAME PRESIDENT, FIRST, I INHERITED AN ECONOMY WITH 4 MILLION JOBLESS FILIPINOS AND A 40 PERCENT POVERTY INCIDENCE.

AFTER A YEAR-AND-A-HALF IN THE PRESIDENCY, I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT TO OVERCOME SUCH TREMENDOUS ODDS, WE MUST BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC.

UPON THE CORNERSTONE OF A STRONG REPUBLIC, WE HAVE TO BUILD A STRUCTURE OF SHARED ETHICAL VALUES, A FIRM CONSENSUS TO SERVE THE COMMON INTEREST AND A COMMON VISION OF OUR NATIONAL FUTURE, THE GOAL TO FIGHT POVERTY AND WIN IT WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

IN APEC, ONE OF THE RICH COUNTRIES THERE SAID THAT 10 YEARS AGO THEY HAD A 40 PERCENT POVERTY INCIDENCE. AFTER 10 YEARS OF CONSTANT AND FOCUSED POLICY REFORMS ITS GONE DOWN TO 20 PERCENT. SO THEY COULD DO IT -- THAT'S CHILE -- WE CAN DO IT.

AND THIS GOAL IS UPPERMOST IN MY WORK PROGRAM FOR THE REST OF MY ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. EVEN AS WE ARE RESOLVING THE TERRORIST THREATS IN OUR COUNTRY, I AM FOCUSED ON A TIGHTLY CONSOLIDATED WORK PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WHICH I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.

THE FIRST IS TO STRENGTHEN OUR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES. THAT'S WHY EARLIER, WHEN ONE OF YOU ASKED ME HOW CAN YOU HELP THE PHILIPPINES, I SAID BE AN AMBASSADOR OF OUR COUNTRY TO AMERICA. BUT SECONDLY, I SAID WHEN YOU SEND YOU REMITTANCES SEND IT TO YOUR RELATIVES AS CAPITAL FOR THEIR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES;

THE SECOND PROGRAM IS TO JUMPSTART HOUSING. AND I MAY ASK YOU, TOO. AND IF YOU ASKED ME HOW YOU CAN HELP THE PHILIPPINES? PARTICIPATE IN THE PAG-IBIG PROGRAM. YOU HAVE IT, JUN HERE IN THE CONSULATE? BUY HOUSES FOR YOUR RELATIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GOOD HOUSING PROJECTS, AND THEY WOULD QUALIFY THE DEVELOPERS AND ALSO THE TAKE OUTS WILL QUALIFY IF THE HOUSES ARE ANYWHERE FROM OH! 15,000 PESOS TO 2 MILLION PESOS. SO YOU HAVE YOUR RANGE FOR WHATEVER HOUSE YOU THINK YOUR RELATIVES DESERVE;

MY THIRD WORK PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE TRANSPORT COSTS FROM MINDANAO TO LUZON;

THE FOURTH IS TO BEGIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL DECONGEST METRO MANILA;

THE FIFTH IS TO MARK UP THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE PCGG TO OUR FISCAL RESOURCES;

THE SIXTH IS TO MAKE MAKATI A SPECIFIC URBAN TOURIST DESTINATION FOR SHOPPING HOLIDAYS. IT'S VERY SAFE IN MAKATI, EASY TO SECURE;

THE SEVENTH IS TO STIMULATE PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURE;

AND THE EIGHTH IS TO BEGIN THE COMPLETE STAFF WORK TO MAKE THE RECLAMATION AREA IN ROXAS BOULEVARD A TOURISM COMPLEX TO BE CALLED "THE BAGONG NAYONG PILIPINO."

THIS WORK PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS IS A PART OF A BIGGER MEDIUM- TERM PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE.

BUT, IN LOOKING TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE WE MUST ALSO SEEK PERMANENT NATIONAL STABILITY.

THUS, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT TO YOU THAT BECAUSE OF OUR AGGRESSIVE DRIVE AGAINST TERRORISM, DESPITE THE DESPERATE RESORT TO HIT AND RUN BOMBINGS, DOMESTIC TERRORISTS PARTICULARLY THE ABU SAYYAF ARE ON THE RUN. THEY ARE HOLD UP, THE LEADERS, AND THE MAIN FORT ARE HOLED UP IN THE MOUNTAIN WHERE THEY WERE BORN TO BEGIN WITH, AN AREA WHERE SOLDIERS HAVE NEVER GONE BEFORE. WE ARE NOW INTO TWO MONTHS INTO A CAMPAIGN THAT IS CALLED "OPERATIONS END GAME". AND WE ASK YOUR PRAYERS, TOO THAT THIS END GAME WILL END VERY SOON. AND I'M SURE IT WILL BE, WITH THE VICTORY FOR THE PHILIPPINE ARMED FORCES. DAPAT NAMAN KASI 'YUNG DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR OPERATIONS NA PINILI KO SA ARMED FORCES AY SI SAMMY BAGASIT, ANAK NG ISANG BETERANO NATIN DITO, AYUN. KAYA MAGDASAL TAYO.

YOU HEARD ABOUT ZAMBOANGA BEING BOMBED. ALAM NINYO, NUNG NABOMBA 'YUNG ZAMBOANGA KINA-CANCEL KO SANA LAHAT NG BIYAHE, 'YUNG BUONG BIYAHE SA APEC AT LAHAT NA NG BIYAHE SA SIDE TRIPS. SABI NILA, PAPAANO MAKA-KANSELIN NAKABILI NA NG TICKETS 'YUNG MGA TIGA-LOS ANGELES. SO SABI KO, "NAKU! PAPAANO KAYA 'YON." BUT GOD SOLVED MY DILEMMA. WE CAPTURED THE ZAMBOANGA BOMBERS KAYA NAKAPUNTA AKO RITO. NABASA NINYO NA BINOMBA DOON SA MANILA ISANG BUS. WE'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED THE MASTERMIND OF THAT LATEST BUS BOMBING AND SO A MASSIVE MANHUNT IS OUT THERE AGAINST HIM.

AND TODAY, I JUST GOT A REPORT FROM FOREIGN SECRETARY BLAS OPLE THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS OFFICIALLY PLACED IN ITS AGENDA THE TERRORIST CHARACTER OF THE CPP-NPA. IN ADDITION, MOST OF THE EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY WILL INDIVIDUALLY SUPPORT A BID TO ENDORSE THE NPA AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS.

WE HAVE CRUSHED AT LEAST FIVE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS KIDNAP-FOR-RANSOM GANGS. AND EVEN THE PHILIPPINE CHINESE COMMUNITY, THE FAVORITE VICTIM OF THOSE GANGS HAVE SAID THAT NOW ALL IS QUIET ON THE BINONDO FRONT.

OUR CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM AND CRIME IS REINFORCED BY SOUND MACROECONOMIC POLICIES THAT HAVE KEPT OUR NATION AT AN EVEN KEEL. INFLATION IS AT A 12-YEAR LOW, DRIVEN DOWN BY STABLE PRICES AND DECLINING POWER COSTS. INTEREST RATES ARE AT THEIR LOWEST IN 15 YEARS. KAYA TAMANG-TAMA KUNG BIBILI KAYO NG TAHANAN PARA SA MGA KAMAG-ANAK NINYO.

INTERNATIONAL CREDIT RATING AGENCIES HAVE RATED US AS STABLE, WHEN BEFORE I CAME IN AS PRESIDENT THEY RATED US AS NEGATIVE. BUT SINCE LATE 2001 THEY HAVE RATED US AS STABLE.

AND THE REGIONAL GNP GROWTH FIGURES, OUR LAST FIGURES FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR SHOW A 5.2 PERCENT GROWTH RATE IN GNP THAT MAKES THE PHILIPPINES THE BEST PERFORMING ECONOMY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. ACTUALLY, 'YUNG GDP NATIN 4.8. NAGING 5.2 ANG GNP NATIN DAHIL 'YUNG DIFFERENCE 'YON ANG REMITTANCES NA PINAPADALA NINYO SA ATIN. THAT'S WHY YOUR REMITTANCES HAVE HELPED US GROW HIGHER THAN OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. IT'S YOUR REMITTANCES THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE SO WE BECAME THE BEST PERFORMING ECONOMY, OR THE THIRD BEST PERFORMING ECONOMY IN ASIA AND THE FIRST IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.

AND WE TRIED TO USE THIS PERFORMANCE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE LIVES OF THE POOR. THE PRICE OF RICE FOR THE POOR IS STABLE AT 14 TO 16 PESOS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU BUY IT. ABOUT 200,000 URBAN POOR FAMILIES HAVE ACQUIRED THE RIGHT TO BUY THE LAND THEY OCCUPY SO THAT NOW THEY ARE NO LONGER SQUATTERS. SCHOOLS ARE BEING BUILT IN BARANGAYS WHERE THERE USED TO BE NONE -- 1,000 OF THEM. AND MORE THAN 3 MILLION POOR FILIPINOS NOW HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS WERE ONLY ATTAINED DURING MY ADMINISTRATION.

BUT NO PRESIDENT CAN BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC SINGLE-HANDEDLY. I CAN DO IT AND DO IT WELL ONLY IF I CAN COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF THE MORE THAN 2 MILLION FILIPINO-AMERICANS INCLUDING THE 150,000 FILIPINO-AMERICANS HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

AND SO BEFORE I JOIN YOU FOR DINNER I ASK YOU, STAY WITH ME. EVEN AS YOU ARE HELPING BUILDING AMERICA HERE IN SAN DIEGO, HELP ME BUILD A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

[TOP] [HOME]

PGMA's Opening Statement during a Press Conference (Cypress Room, 2nd Level, The Westin Santa Clara San Jose, California, U.S.A. - 28 Oct 2002)

I'M HERE IN CALIFORNIA FOR THE SAME REASON I WAS IN MEXICO AT APEC LEADERS MEETING TO FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY AND SECURITY OF THE PHILIPPINES. IN THIS INTERCONNECTING WORLD, OPENING YOUR DOOR AT SILICON VALLEY CAN BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOB CREATION IN THE PHILIPPINES.

WHETHER IT'S A PART OF THE GLOBAL COALITION BY IMPROVING EDUCATION AT HOME, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF FILIPINO CITIIZENS.

THE APEC MEETING IN MEXICO UNDERSCORES A SIGNIFICANT NEW TREND AMONG NATIONS AND LEADERS, NAMELY THE RECOGNITION THAT WE MUST FIGHT GLOBAL TERRORISM HAND IN HAND WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY. AS I HAVE CHAMPIONED FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY PRESIDENCY, THE BEST ANTIDOTE TO TERRORISM AND POVERTY IS POLITICAL FREEDOM AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

AS A LEADER OF THE DEVELOPING NATION, I CANNOT ASSUME ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER. THAT'S WHY MY FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IN MY OWN SOIL IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE EFFORT TO BRING JOBS, EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO OUR PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK THIS LINK IS FINALLY BECOMING ACCEPTED BY DEVELOPED NATIONS. INCREASINGLY, YOU SEE A PLACE AT THE TABLE FOR FOCUSING ON ANTI-POVERTY AND ECONOMIC ISSUES TO A DEVELOPING NATIONS AS A SERIOUS COMPONENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. THIS IS EVIDENT AT THE RECENT APEC MEETING. THE MONTEREY CONSENSUS MEETING IN MEXICO LAST SPRING AND EVEN THE DOHA ROUND OF THE WTO, IN EACH INSTANCE, DEVELOPED COUNTRIES HAVE INCREASINGLY COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WE HELP FIGHT TERRORISM WE MUST HELP ALSO FIGHT THE HANDMAIDEN OF TERRORISM WHICH IS POVERTY. IT'S NO COINCIDENCE, THEREFORE, THAT I HAVE FOLLOWED MY APEC MEETING WITH A TRADE AND INVESTMENT TRIP HERE TO SILICON VALLEY.

I AM MEETING INTEL AND MANY OTHER HI-TECH LEADERS AND EVER TO ENCOURAGE GREATER INVESTMENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES. INTEL FOR ITS PART HAS ALREADY INVESTED A BILLION DOLLARS AND EMPLOYED OVER 6,000 FILIPINOS -- THAT'S MY IDEA OF A GOOD ANTI-TERRORISM PLAN.

SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS NOW.

[TOP] [HOME]