President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today spelled out in clear, simple language her hopes for the country, the legacy she will leave at the end of her six-year term, and her ardent desire for national reconciliation in her inaugural speech this morning at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park.

"Our nation must embrace a vision of economic opportunity, social cohesion and always an ever democratic faith. I offer my hand and I hope it will be taken with the same faith," the President said as she urged all to unite and help in the re-creation of the nation in the next six years.

"Unity is not measured by how many political parties are able to achieve the accommodation of narrow self-interest, rather it is achieved by the harmony of sincerity, of convictions based on our agreement on the basic requirements for achieving the national good," the President said.

The Chief Executive, the country’s 14^th President, enumerated her 10-point legacy after she steps down in 2010:

• I shall have created more than six million jobs, perhaps even more;
• Everyone of school age will be in school in an uncrowded classroom, in surroundings conducive to learning;
• I shall have balanced the budget by collecting the right revenues and spending on the right things;
• The network of transport and digital infrastructure on which my government embarked in the last three years will have linked the entire country;
• Power and water will be regularly provided to all barangays;
• Metro Manila will be decongested with economic activity growing and spreading to new centers of government, business and community in Luzon, in the Visayas and in Mindanao;
• Elections will no longer raise a single doubt about their integrity. The electoral process will be completely computerized;
• And long before that, peace will have come to Mindanao; and
• The divisive issues generated by EDSA I, II and III will also be just memories shared by friends from every side of those upheavals.

The President arrived at exactly 7:45 a.m. She came dressed in an Inno Sotto-recycled green, silk chiffon gown with a brooch emphasizing its elegant, flowing lines. Her only other jewelry were her earrings. She began her 20-minute inaugural address at 8:00 a.m. after a one sentence introduction by Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo.

Escorted by AFP Chief, Gen. Narcios Abaya, and the commander of the Philippine Navy honor guard, the President trooped the line before ascending the stage for her address. The skies were overcast with some drizzle before she arrived but the sky opened while she delivered her inaugural speech.

On the stage with her were Vice President Noli de Castro, former President Fidel V. Ramos, Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., Manila Mayor Lito Atienza other Metro Manila mayors who came with their wives, Executive Secretary Romulo, other members of the Cabinet, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, special envoys and other members of the diplomatic corps.

The President’s 20-minute speech was applauded 30 times.

"I come to you today with a mandate to govern by the clear call of the sovereign people. I pledge to bring you a pro-poor agenda that will lift up our poorest brothers and sisters, invest them with dignity, imbue them with hope," the President declared.

The President also pledged a government that "will live within its means and put every spare peso to real work," adding that she will reduce spending "where the government does not work and increase spending where a government can make a difference for the better."

"And while I am doing that, I will crack down on wasteful and abusive officials and influence peddlers. I pledge to collect taxes mandated by law even as I stop extortion masquerading as tax collection. And I pledge to do everything necessary to expand our economy, engage it in the world of commerce and advance the interests of our country and our people the world over," the President vowed with a passion.

But to achieve all these, the President stressed she needs the help of all.

"I can not do these all by myself. I need every Filipino to unite and cooperate with me to heal the wounds of yesterday. I need every Filipino to make the nation strong for the challenges of tomorrow," the President appealed in Tagalog.

She asked Congress to seize this moment in history to transform the nation with laws that modernize the country’s banking system, reform the bureaucracy, that strengthen the independence and honesty of judges, spur investment in the country and secure to the Filipino people "the promised blessings of democracy which are a life worth living, liberty worth having, happiness within everyone’s grasp."

"Now is the time to march forward as one. I seek your wisdom and I trust your commitment to the common good, to the swift actions you will take. And finally, I challenge myself and our government to line up to the highest standards of honesty and competence in the public service," the President said.

MAASIN CITY—Reelected Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Y. Lerias today echoed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s renewed call for unity and reconciliation in her inaugural speech as the 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines at the Quirino Grandstand this morning.

In a chance interview with the lady governor at the Capitol, Lerias also promised her province all-out support for the 10-point program of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration in the next six years.

"We will join her call to set aside partisan politics, we will enjoin all those who are not with us to join us in our effort to support the program of the national government. We will support her 10-point agenda and see to it that our strategies in the next few years will be for the good of the country. We must think as one and move as one nation," said the Governor-elect after listening to the President’s speech.

She also praised the Chief Executive changing not only the political landscape in the country but also reorienting the values of every Filipino.

Lerias also advised losing presidential bet Fernando Poe Jr., to stop questioning the election victory of the President and instead accept the unity and reconciliation offer of the government for the welfare of the people and the country.

"They (opposition) should all stop protesting and accept the President’s call for unity. I’m also making the same call that the time for politics is over. If we truly love our country then we should do our share to get things done. After all, in the end who will benefit from getting things done? All of us, it’s not only the opposition, it’s not only for us in the administration. No need for ego-tripping because our country has suffered enough from partisan politics," she added.

The Governor is also grateful and elated that Southern Leyte is one of the provinces the President will visit tomorrow after she is sworn into office for her fresh six-year mandate in Cebu City.

Preparations for the President’s visit here tomorrow is almost complete and the Southern Leytenos are eagerly awaiting the President whom they voted for in the May 10 polls.

The President will be the guest of honor for the 44th founding anniversary of the province and she’ll be presented with a Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution declaring her as "Adopted Daughter of Southern Leyte" to be held at the Sunken Garden in the Capitol Grounds.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this morning asked every Filipino to give his or her share to help her accomplish what she pledged to do in the next six years.

During her inaugural speech at the Quirino Grandstand as the country’s 14^th President at the Luneta, the President also challenged the business community "to rise to the occasion and embrace selfless nationalism, invest in our people and our country, instead of giving excuses for keeping your money abroad where it cannot put our people to work."

The President called on Congress "to seize this moment in history," adding that it is within its power to transform the nation with laws that will modernize the country’s banking system, reform the bureaucracy, strengthen the judiciary, and attract foreign investments.

The President’s 20-minute speech was applauded 30 times. Among those who applauded her short but lucid inaugural speech were high government officials, including former President Fidel V. Ramos, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., members of the diplomatic corps and special envoys sent by world leaders.

She also assured the nation that she has the mandate of the entire populace to govern for the next six years. "I come to you today with a mandate to govern by the clear call of the sovereign people," the President said.

The President also pledged to implement her pro-poor agenda "that will lift up our poorest brothers and sisters, invest them with dignity, and imbue them with hope."

Referring to the challenge of the government budget deficit, the President pledged "a government that will live within its means and put every spare peso to real work by reducing spending where government does not work and increase spending where government can make a difference for the better."

The President also vowed to crack down on wasteful and abusive officials and influence peddlers and to go after tax cheats as she vowed to collect taxes mandated by law and to stop extortion "masquerading as tax collection."

The President challenged the country’s young men and women "to play a role in the re-creation of our nation, some in honest public service, and most in productive, private endeavor."

CEBU CITY – City Mayor Tomas Osmena today said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo‘s 10-point agenda is not for her alone to accomplish but for each and every nation-loving Filipino.

The mayor said this in an interview an hour before he welcomed the President and Vice President Noli de Castro for the oath-taking ceremonies in front of the Provincial Capitol Grounds here.

"Let’s remind the people that when the President announced her 10-point agenda, it is not for her to accomplish, that is our assignment. We have to accomplish that 10-point agenda, not her," Osmena said.

Osmena likened the President to an orchestra conductor who does not play any instrument but only harmoniously wields a baton to accomplish a musical piece.

"And if no one follows the conductor, nothing will come out of that accomplishment. So I think there has to be a change in the way we think," he said.

Osmena said the President’s decision to have her oath-taking here is a step in the right direction and an indication that the government is putting importance on the significance of other parts of the country.

He said this kind of attention, just like when the President transferred the seat of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to Mindanao, would eventually result to the spilling out of government services even down to the barangays.

Osmena said they are most willing to do their share if and when the President gives them a particular undertaking or project under her 10-point agenda.

"We should not look at it as if Cebu is given preference, No, we are given more responsibilities. And we would take those responsibilities, that is our message to the rest of this country," Osmena said.

Simple. Direct. Concise.

That could very well describe the inaugural address of President Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo this morning as she bared her platform of government for the next six years during the short but meaningful rites at the Quirino Grandstand.

Clad in a green terno, the President was applauded 30 times in her 20-minute speech that embodied all she wants to accomplish under her fresh mandate. It included her 10-point agenda for her new term and a call for unity as well as a pledge to do her best in the service of the nation.

Speaking in a mixture of English and Pilipino, the President, among other things, bared her plans of reconciling the forces of EDSA 1, 2 and 3 as well as the automation of future elections.

Not even presence of a typhoon and the threat of rain could dampen the spirit of the more than 20,000 people who gathered at the historic Luneta to witness the inauguration of the country’s 14th President under the Fifth Republic.

Among those who braved the gusty winds and intermittent drizzles were Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., House Speaker Jose De Venecia and wife Gina, Senate President Franklin Drilon, members of the Cabinet, Metro Manila mayors led by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, members of the Senate led by newly-elected senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II, Jamby Madrigal, Ralph Recto, members of the House of Representatives and foreign dignitaries who were all seated at the center stage of the grandstand.

Vice President Noli de Castro arrived a few minutes ahead of the President who came in at exactly 7:45 a.m. She was accompanied by her husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, son Dato and his wife, Cacai.

A 21-gun salute from the Philippine Marines greeted the President’s arrival. She was given the traditional military honors before trooping the line with Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya

At the stage, the President was welcomed by the four members of the cabinet which included Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina and Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando.

The national anthem was sang by singer Sarah Geronimo. It was followed by an ecumenical prayer given by the religious leaders from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, El Shaddai, the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches and the Iglesia ni Cristo, and Islam.

Singers Jolina Magdangal and Mark Bautista along with the Ateneo Chamber Singers rendered the inaugural theme song entitled "Tayo Na" while young performer Dindi Larena narrated her own version of the song," Para Sa Inang Bayan," a special composition of Jessie Lucas.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo elaborated on her ten-point program she will bequeath as her legacy to the nation when she steps down six years from now in her inaugural address at the Quirino Grandstand this morning.

The President’s legacy includes the closure to the divisiveness generated by EDSA I, II, and III. "They will be just memories shared by friends from every side in those upheavals," she said.

The Macapagal-Arroyo government targets the creation of six to ten million jobs through government programs and projects, private sector investments, including entrepreneurship and home-based livelihood activities and agricultural development.

"I shall have supported three million entrepreneurs by giving them loans and helping them become good managers," the President said.

Loans to micro, small and medium enterprises will be tripled to enable them to expand their businesses and employ more people.

From January 2001 to December 2003, the Macapagal-Arroyo generated 2.182 million jobs.

"Everyone of school age will be in school in an uncrowded classroom, in surroundings conducive to learning," the President said on her thrust in education.

Some 22,000 classrooms were constructed since January 2001, 963 in barangays that previously had no schools.

To ensure quality of education for all, at least 3,000 school buildings shall be constructed and about 7,500 teachers shall be hired for 2004 alone.

"I shall have balanced the budget by collecting the right revenues and spending on the right things," she said.

The budget deficit in 2003 of P199.9 billion, which was 4.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), was P2.1 billion lower than targeted as the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs exceeded their collection targets by 7.3 percent last year.

From January to May 2004, budget deficit is P77.4 billion, 2.7 percent lower than the first semester target. Revenue collections were 12.5 percent higher than that for the same period last year.

Infrastructure projects have been implemented to bring development throughout the country. These include the roll on, roll off ferry system which has lowered transport costs and cut travel time between Luzon and Mindanao.

Potable water has been delivered to a total of 956,541 households or 4,689,210 individuals since December 2003. Some 4,408 barangays were energized from January 2001 to April 2004, achieving a 90.6 percent barangay energization level (38,010 out of 41,945 barangays).

Financial negotiations are on-going for the construction of the Clark-Subic-Tarlac Expressway. The President targets to develop Subic and Clark area as the best international service and logistic centers in the region.

The President said elections will no longer raise a single doubt about their integrity, pointing out that the election process will be completely computerized.

On peace negotiations, the government and the Moro National Liberation Movement have carried out the provisions of their 1996 peace pact. Now, the government has ongoing talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the National Democratic Front.

The talks with the MILF have resulted in a bilateral ceasefire in July 2003 that has held, the signing of an interim peace agreement on relief and rehabilitation of war-torn communities and a commitment from MILF to assist the government in isolating terrorist groups.

"The divisive issues generated by EDSA I, II, and III will also be just memories shared by friends from every side in these upheavals," the President said.

MAASIN CITY— Only a day after her inauguration, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is living up to her promise of work, work, and work.

After her inspection tour of government projects in Butuan City, the President is scheduled to fly here tomorrow to unveil the model duplex units to be given away to families hit by the mudslide tragedy in Southern Leyte last year.

This is clearly in line with her inaugural pledge of uplifting the life and welfare of the people over the next six years as the 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines.

The President is due to arrive here in Southern Leyte tomorrow morning. She will be welcomed by re-elected Governor Rosette Y. Lerias, provincial and local officials and residents who are all eagerly awaiting for the presidential visit.

Around 10 duplex houses will be awarded by the President to families hard-hit by the tragedy in Liloan.

Other units in the relocation sites of San Francisco and San Ricardo are nearing completion. They will also be awarded to recipients during the ceremony that coincides with the 44th Founding Anniversary of the province of Southern Leyte.

Aside from the "Oplan Bag-ong Panao" housing projects, the President will officially open to public the complete three major bridges in the province, which was jointly financed by the government of Gov. Lerias and the President’s Bridge Program.

CEBU CITY – Amid the very people that gave her a resounding mandate in the last elections, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took her oath as the country's 14th President at exactly 12 noon here today in a setting far different when she took over from deposed President Joseph Estrada in 2001.

In place of the EDSA 2 crowd that attended her oath taking three years ago was an assembly of ecstatic Cebuanos and guests that included more than a hundred foreign dignitaries. In lieu of the EDSA Shrine, the Cebu Provincial Capitol provided the backdrop to the historic rites that included full military honors.

Clad in an aquamarine terno the President arrived at the Capitol at 11:45 a.m., 10 minutes after the arrival of Vice President Noli de Castro. She was given arrival honors, including a 21-gun salute by soldiers in green uniforms adorned with yellow stripes, and white pants.

After trooping the line, the President stood on stage and waved to the Cebuano crowd which gave her a little more than a million vote lead over closest rival Fernando Poe, Jr. in the May 10 elections.

Actress Nora Aunor, who supported Ms Macapagal-Arroyo, sang the National Anthem. An ecumenical prayer followed.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, swore in Vice President Noli de Castro at 11:45 a.m. and Macapagal-Arroyo at 12 noon. A 21-gun salute honored the President as she signed her oath of office.

Elected as senator during her first try in politics in 1992, President Macapagal-Arroyo was re-elected senator in 1995 with nearly 16 million votes, the highest number of votes in Philippine history. She was elected vice president of the Philippines in 1998 with almost 13 million votes, also the largest mandate in the history of presidential or vice presidential elections

She was sworn in as the 14th President of the Philippines on 20 January 2001, also by Chief Justice Davide after the Supreme Court unanimously declared the position of President vacant, the second woman to be swept into the presidency by a peaceful people power revolution, now known as EDSA II.

The President, born in April 5, 1947, is the daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal, a descendant of Lakandula and fondly known as the "poor boy from Lubao" in the province of Pampanga; and Dr. Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal of Binalonan, Pangasinan, who were well known for their integrity and simple but dignified lifestyle.

During the presidency of Diosdado Macapagal, the Philippines was second only to Japan in economic progress in Asia.

President Macapagal-Arroyo upheld the high academic standards of her parents, graduating valedictorian of her high school class in Assumption Convent. She was consistently on the Dean's List during her two-year college stint at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where former US President Bill Clinton became her classmate.

She graduated magna cum laude from Assumption College with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce. She later earned a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of the Philippines.

BUTUAN City—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who took her oath today as the 14^th President of the country, plunges outright into affairs of governance when she flies in here tomorrow for a personal assessment of the progress of government projects in the Caraga region.

The President and her official entourage would be flying in from Cebu City where she spent the night following her oath-taking at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in what Malacanang described as "simple and austere" inaugural rites.

The presidential plane is expected to land at 7:45 a.m. at the Butuan City airport where local officials and supporters of Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo would greet her.

From the airport, the presidential convoy would motor to the Urios College where the President would address a gathering of students, local government executives and barangay leaders.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo would likely expressed her gratitude to the people of Butuan who gave her a clear advantage in the May 10 elections over her closest rival.

Caraga Public Works Regional Director Romeo Momo said the President has manifested her special concern for the Caraga by pushing for the socio-economic development of the people inhabiting the far-flung areas of the region, composed of the cities of Butuan, Surigao and Bislig, and the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte.

Later tomorrow, the President would fly to Maasin town in Southern Leyte for the inauguration of a mass housing project for families dislocated by the killer landslides that hit the town last year.

CEBU CITY -- The overcast sky cleared up and the sun showed its might in this Southern city as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took her oath of office as the 14^th President of the Republic of the Philippines.

The President, accompanied by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, and son Diosdado Arroyo, arrived in this Southern city on board a chartered Philippine Airlines flight Airbus 330 at exactly 10:45 a.m.

At the Mactan Airbase, the President was briefly received by her daughter Evangeline Lourdes "Luli" and son, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo "Mikey".

Wind was strong in Cebu City and since last night there had been occasional rainshowers. Organizers had said that rain-or-shine, the ceremonies would go on as planned.

Most of the city folk at the Provincial Capitol Grounds were seen ready with their rain gear but as soon as the President arrived at the venue, the sun shone and umbrellas were folded.

Vice President Manuel "Noli" de Castro, accompanied by his wife, Arlene Fatima de Castro and his family, arrived earlier on board a PAL Airbus 320, along with Cabinet members and other government officials. A separate aircraft ferried members of the diplomatic corps and the special envoys for the occasion.

Upon regrouping at the airbase, the First Family proceeded to and arrived at the Cebu Provincial Capitol at 11:45 a.m.

Upon arriving at the Capitol, the President was given arrival honors by the honor guard while a 21-gun salute was rendered. Avid supporter and movie actress Nora Aunor sang the Philippine national anthem while an ecumenical invocation followed.

The President was garbed in an aquamarine Filipiniana terno, a recycled dress, according to designer Inno Sotto.

Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., who is from Argao, Cebu, administered the oath of office of the President and the Vice President, with the latter going as first.

When it was the President’s turn, her family stood by her side.

At the stage that was bedecked with crimson red and yellow gold roses stood the President along with the First Gentleman, her children, her daughters-in-law Angela Montenegro and Victoria "Cacai" Manotok, and grandaughters Mikaela Gloria and Eva Victoria.

Among those also on stage were Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., and former President Corazon Aquino who wore an orange gown.

In her oath, the President said she solemnly swears to faithfully and conscientiously fulfill her duties as the Philippine President.

She also pledged to "preserve and defend the Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate herself to the service of the nation. So help me God."

The President moved on to sign the oath of office.

At this juncture, an estimate of five thousand people gathered at the front and sides of the Capitol Grounds, cheered her.

Officials of the national and local government, members of the diplomatic corps, including the special envoys were seated behind the President while other inaugural guests were at the side platforms of the stage.

The brief ceremonies took only 15 minutes.

Afterward, the President and Vice President proceeded to Shangri-La Hotel in Mactan, Cebu for the diplomatic reception or Vin d’honneur.

Over 100 foreign dignitaries, 18 of them categorized as special envoys, attended today’s inaugural of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Quirino Grandstand and in Cebu City and lent additional dimension to the legitimacy of her fresh six-year mandate.

Leading the list of foreign guests were Czechoslovakian First Lady Livia Klausova and Palau Vice President and concurrent Minister of Health Sandra Pierantozzi.

Other VIPs in the honor roll included Deputy Prime Minister Albert Shabangu of Swaziland, Deputy Prime Minister Suchart Joavisdha of Thailand, Senate President Javier Rojo of Spain, Foreign Minister Li Zhao Xing of China, United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Pincipi, Minister in Charge of International Affairs Fassi Fihri Taeib of Morocco.

Officials said a total of 113 special envoys arrived in Cebu City aboard a special plane to bear witness and added luster to President Macapagal-Arroyo’s oath-taking as the 14^th President of the Philippines.

During a call in Malacaņang Tuesday, President Macapagal-Arroyo thanked the special representatives of the United States, China and Japan which are the leading trading partners of the Philippines.

The Chinese foreign minister congratulated the Philippine leader for here victory in the May 10 elections, and conveyed the same message from Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The foreign delegates who came from all over the world also served as a testimony of the international community’s recognition of President Macapagal-Arroyo’s popular mandate, and a symbol of foreign government’s confidence that she would be a healing leader who could also push the national economy to greater heights.

CEBU CITY—United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi, the special envoy sent by US President George W. Bush to the President’s inaugural and oath-taking here, said the US expects to further strengthen relations with the Philippines under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s new six-year mandate.

Principi is the head of the US delegation which included Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, former top envoy to Manila and State Department Coordinator for Iraq Transition.

"President Bush sends his congratulations to the President," Principi said. Ambassador Ricciardone, meanwhile, stressed that US is "going to be here" for the Philippines.

"We’re with you before. We’re with you now. We’re gonna continue to support this country," Ricciardone said.

The members of the U.S. delegation include Admiral Thomas Fargo, Commander of the Pacific Command; Susan Ralston, Executive Assistant to the Senior Advisor to the White House; and George Drysdale, chairman and chief executive officer of Marsman-Drysdale Group.

President Bush earlier sent his congratulatory message to the President for her victory in the last May 10 elections.

In a statement, the White House said the Philippines has again demonstrated the strength of its democracy.

It also added that the US and the Philippines have long maintained deep bonds of friendship and that Washington has recognized the key role that the Philippines, under President Macapagal-Arroyo, has played in the global war against terrorism and in rebuilding Iraq.