President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has thanked Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka for Poland’s interest to do business in the Philippines, particularly in the mining industry.

The President said this in her toast remarks during the official dinner she hosted last night in honor of the visiting Polish leader at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall in Malacanang.

"I would like to see in the near future more Polish companies doing more business in the Philippines. For instance, I am happy with the interest of Poland in our mining industry," the President said.

She added she is also extremely happy that Poland is willing to put up a consortium to do the feasibility study and seek the financing for the upgrading and extension of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Main Line South up to Matnog, Sorsogon in the Bicol Region.

"I also thank Poland for the $140 million accommodation for the Philippines’ security, home defense and police equipment," the President said.

The Chief Executive also expressed her gratitude to the visiting prime minister for Poland’s hosting of the $100 million International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) being operated by Filipino entrepreneur Enrique Razon.

ICTSI is now on its second year of operation in Gdynia, Poland.

On the other hand, Belka said the first-ever visit of a Polish prime minister here is creating history in both countries’ bilateral relations, with Poland becoming a trustworthy partner of the Philippines in its growing involvement in Asia.

Notwithstanding geographical distance and being one of the largest countries in the European Union (EU), the prime minister said Poland shares President Macapagal-Arroyo’s view of the need of both countries for new markets, investments, trade, and modern ideas.

The visiting prime minister wished the President success in her tough choices to raise government revenues, balance the budget, and the initiatives to stop graft and corruption, among other reforms.

The Polish leader said he himself "do understand the pain of those critical choices."

His Excellency Prime Minister Belka; Madame Belka; Senate President Drilon; Speaker and Mrs. De Venecia; Secretary and Mrs. Romulo; Secretary Ermita; Philippine officials; members of the Diplomatic Corps; members of the Polish delegation; members of the business community; ladies and gentlemen:

The Republics of the Philippines and Poland maybe oceans apart but have a kinship in history, politics, religion and now business. As two predominantly Catholic countries, our links to the late Pope John Paul II are one of abiding faith and piety: One whom the Polish people loved so much but also one who loved the Filipino people so much. Pope John Paul II visited our nation twice, in 1981 and 1995.

On both occasions, the Pope was so moved to tears by the spontaneous outpouring of love and devotion by the Filipino crowds, five million people, the biggest in history. He was going to visit the Philippines for the third time but sadly, failing health and eventual passage from this earth precluded it.

Poland and the Philippines are also bound by glorious moments in the struggle for freedom. Filipinos fought for independence from colonial rule in 1898 and also restored democracy through a peaceful power revolution in 1986. Across the world, the world was witness to the unwavering courage of the Polish people during the Warsaw Gheto uprising in the spring of 1943. During the long and bitter cold war the Polish people also laid claim to their own version of people power as the heroic Lech Walesa and his Solidarity Union led a peaceful transition to democracy. Solidarity started its fight from the shipyards of Gdansk. And today Gdansk, which is now Gydnia, is where a Filipino entrepreneur, Mr. Ricky Razon operates a hundred million-dollar container terminal port.

I thank the Government of the Republic of Poland for hosting this Philippine company, and I would like to see in the near future, and so does his Excellency, Polish companies doing more business in the Philippines. For instance, I am happy that Poland is willing to put up a consortium to do the feasibility study and seek the financing for our railroad to Bicol.

I thank Poland also for the 140 million-dollar accommodation for our security and defense and police equipment.

For all of these great notes on the first visit of an Eastern European head of government to the Philippines, I wish to propose a toast to the continued good health and success of his Excellency Prime Minister Belka and Madame Belka; to the continued prosperity of President Aleksander Kwasnieski and the people of the Republic of Poland; and finally to the lasting friendship founded on mutual respect and productive endeavor.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated this morning Filipino painter Romulo Galicano, who won the prestigious Draper Grand Prize by the Portrait Society of America in Washington, DC on May 14, 2005.

Galicano presented to the President a compilation of his paintings and a photo of the winning 30" x 40" oil painting, titled "Eddie," at the Music Room in Malacaņang.

A resident of Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Galicano is the second Filipino who won the contest after the late painter Juan Luna, whose "Spolarium," which was painted 123 years ago, had also won recognition.

The Filipino painter, who bested 2,000 other painters from all over the world in this year’s Portrait Society of America awards, was also awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Portrait Society of America in 2004.

"This is one good news at this time…Filipino artists are really talented and at par with international artists," National Commission on Culture and Arts chairman Ambeth Ocampo said in an interview.

"Eddie," the man in the portrait is "a client," Galicano said.

A non-profit organization under a governing board of artists, the Portrait Society of America is dedicated to fostering and enhancing the practice, aesthetics and application of traditional, fine art portraiture.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally honored today in Malacanang 31 Filipino women in recognition of their outstanding achievements in their respective fields that significantly contributed to the advancement of Philippine culture and arts, and society at large.

The President presented to the honorees the "PAMA-AS: Gintong Bai Award" (Thank You Outstanding Women Leaders). The awards rites coincided with the Centennial Year of the Feminist Movement of the Philippines.

The awardees are: Fidela "Tita Dely" Mendoza Magpayo, Anita Linda, Mona Lisa and Gloria Romero (Cinema); Paz Cielo Belmonte and Corazon Iņigo (Dance); Gilda Cordero-Fernando, Genoveva Edrosa-Matute, Rosalinda Orosa and Azucena Grajo-Uranza (Literature);

Fides Santos Cuyugan-Asencio; Enestina Crisologo and Carmencita Lozada (Music); Amelia Lapeņa-Bonifacio, Rustica Carpio and Natividad Crame-Rogers (Theater); Rosario Bitanga, Araceli Limcaoco-Dans, and Anita Magsaysay-Ho (Visual Arts);

Sonia Santiago-Olivares (Visual Arts-Interior Design); Isabel Santos (Visual Arts-Costume Design); Sister Delia Coronel (Promotion of Intangible Heritage-Darangan Literature); Ana Maria Harper and Esperanza Bunag-Gatbonton (Conservation);

Rosario Mendoza Cortez, Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil and Gloria Santos (Historian); Estefania Aldaba-Lim, Leonora San Agustin and Sister Nieves Valdez (Museum); and Consuelo Paz (Promotion of Filipino Language).

"Yes, I can govern, and I am governing."

This was the emphatic answer of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to a question on whether she can still govern the country despite the political noise roiling her administration.

"Whereas our opponents can only sit down and raise controversies at the expense of the poor, because they seek to turn down our society. If they seek to turn down our society, that is their problem because we continue to work on governance and continue to work for the poor," she said.

In a speech on women empowerment and availability of microfinance funds during the mass oath-taking and awarding ceremonies this morning in Malacanang, the President unleashed her strongest tirade yet against those seeking to bring her and her administration down.

"Our opponents have no platform, they have no concrete and viable plan to help the poor," she said. "They only find the time to reverse the progress. This is the most cynical manipulation of hardworking and caring Filipinos."

The President organized the awards to give honor to women and the police – two very important sectors of society – whom she thanked for their outstanding work.

During her speech, the President talked about reforms and governance and how to reach the poor through her pro-poor program. She then lashed at critics who have no other business but to tear everything apart.

Some two million entrepreneurs have been beneficiaries of the microfinance program, borrowing P20 billion worth of loans in the last four years, according to the President.

Last Tuesday, the Land Bank of the Philippines and the National Development Corp. made available P600 million in fresh microfinance funds. Another P100 million was made available today by the National Livelihood Support Funds.

The government, the President said, has made some initial prioritizations in the implementation of the funds, majority of which will be distributed to the market vendors. Another big portion would go to the urban poor communities.

"The lending has already started and we will continue until we make a lasting impact on the families that live on the margins of poverty," she said.

The President ordered the People’s Credit and Finance Corp. to immediately do an information campaign on how to access the funds to the urban poor areas, women’s organizations, the police and business associations.

Philippine success in microfinance, one of President Arroyo’s 10-point legacy agenda to combat widespread poverty, has drawn recognition recently in London for having been a model for other countries.

"And so I ask you, the women leaders who took their oath of office today as well as the members of the police and leaders of the business community, please do not hesitate to sit down with Land Bank and the PCFC so that you can work out the conduiting mechanisms," she said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today presented awards to members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) whose outstanding performance of their duties were recognized by three separate and distinct searches.

The three organizations which launched the search for outstanding policemen were the Metrobank Foundation, the Zonta Club of Makati and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In the Metrobank Foundation’s search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS), four police commissioned officers and six non- commissioned officers, including a lone policewoman, comprised this year’s awardees.

The four commissioned officers-awardees were P/Supt. Benigno B. Durana, Jr., chief, Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) – NCR, PNP; P/Sr. Supt. Jefferson Descallar, commanding officer, 602 Mobile Company, PNP 6^th Regional Mobile Group, Police Regional Office 6; P/Supt. Alfred S. Corpus, Kamuning Police Station commander, Central Police District, NCR; P/Supt. Bernabe Balba, Cubao Police Station commander, EDSA, CPD, NCR.

The non-commissioned officers-awardees were P/Supt. Alexander Mabalot, chief clerk, Police Community Relations Branch, Zamboanga City Police Office; SPO4 Pascual delos Reyes, Intelligence Investigation Branch, Tarlac Provincial Office; PO3 Liza Jane Alteza, Women and Children Complaint Desk (WCCD) Investigator, Iriga City Police Station; PO3 Jigger Jimeno, Intelligence Operative, Regional Intelligence Investigation Division; SPO3 Antonio Bunda, chief, Investigation Detective Management Branch, Sultan Kudarat; SPO4 Dominador Escaro Jr., executive senior police officer, General Santos City Police Office.

The Metrobank Foundation’s COPS showcases the indispensable partnership between the police and the community in maintaining peace and order in the country.

The Chief Executive also handed out awards to the winners of the 2004 Search for the Heroes of Patrol 117, the Department of Interior and Local Government’s answer to the United States’ 911 emergency response number.

For the best police stations which responded to emergency calls, the winners were the Mandaluyong, Taguig and Butuan Police Stations; the best emergency medical response team, were the Quezon Provincial Mobile Group, the Padre Burgos Police Office, the National Disaster Coordinating Council, the Baguio City Fire Station, the Tuba (Benguet) Fire Station, and the Atimonan (Quezon) Police Station.

The best telephone operators (who took the emergency calls and promptly acted on them) were also commended. The awardees were Bernardo de los Santos, Loti Lachinebre, FO1 Eva Muņoz, FO1 Zunel Lopez and Sergio Lorrenzana.

The Hotline 117 Best Callers were Amboriso Javillenio, James Mark Nibea, Joel Palmillano, Alex Manalo and Adolfo Mandresa.

Ten women members of the PNP were also given recognition by the ZONTA Club of Makati. The Search, started in 2002, aims to establish a prestigious community recognition for 10 policewomen who have made outstanding contribution to the attainment of the overall mission and objectives of the police organization.

The TOPWP include PCInsp.Fe Quibol, PSInsp. Marilou Aboloc of the Women’s Crisis and Protection Center, PO3 Fe Polas of Baguio City Police Station for the Police Community Relations category.

PO3 Mayla Perla Gavina of Pangasinan Police Provincial Office and PO2 Yolanda Maberit of Palawan Police Provincial Office were the winners in the Investigation category.

PSInsp. Rhea Santos of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) won in the Intelligence category while SPO2 Erma Jabal, also of PACER, was the winner in the Special Operations category.

PCInsp. Sotera Macatangay of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Women and Children Complaint Office (CIDG-WACCO) won in the Administrative Management category.

Provincial governors from the Visayas said today President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo "won overwhelmingly in their areas."

In a joint statement signed by 15 governors from Regions 6, 7 and 8, they assailed attempts by "unscrupulous groups that seek to undermine the rule of law and negate our economic and social gains."

"We will not allow the votes of our people to be nullified by a few," the statement said.

Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Lerias, one of the signatories, said in a press briefing that the group refutes opposition claims that the President had cheated during the May 2004 Presidential elections.

"We consider the call for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation by some sectors to be unreasonable, baseless and detrimental to the best interest of the country," Lerias said.

"Please do not discount the people of Visayas and Mindanao. Mga Filipino rin kami (We are also Filipinos). We are now appealing to the people in Manila that it is time to unite at maawa kayo sa ating bansa (and have pity on our country)," Lerias said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today hosted a mass oath taking and awarding ceremony at Malacaņang’s Rizal Room.

The event, attended by appointees and awardees from both the government and private sectors, brought together the best and the brightest from the country’s police force and women’s groups.

The four civic service groups were the Inner Wheel Clubs of the Philippines Inc. (IWCPI), the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), the National Committee on the Centennial of the Feminist Movement of the Philippines (NCCFMP), and the Philippine College of Rotary Governors (PCRG).

Inducted IWCPI district officers were Elizabeth Sison-Tagle as district chair, Leonorda Santos, Jeatte Palabrica, Liza Elorde, Daisy Concepcion, Daisy dela Torre, Teresita Tumangan, Nenette Qua, Myrna Hallare, Raquel Sta. Ines, Vicky Magadia, Ely De Veyra , Aida Vera Cruz, Baby Golez, Tina Carlos, Tita Leabres, Rema Manzano, Carol Llanillo, Edna Ibrado and Sonny Camarillo.

The inducted PFA Board of Trustees for 2005 to 2007 were Samie Lim as chairman, Ma. Alegre Limjoco, Robert Trota, Manuel Siggaoat, Atty. Leo Dominguez, Virgilio Espeleta, Celestino Reyes, Jose Magsaysay, Rosemarie Lee, Vicente Padilla, Anthony Huang, Elizabeth Orbeta, Mildred Ramos, Ernesto Tanmantiong and George Yang.

The officers of the National Committee on the Centennial of the Femininist Movement of the Philippines who took their oath were Leonarda Camacho as chair, Myrna Yao, Merceditas Gutierrez, Emelita Almosara, Zonas Lozada, Marcelina Aurelio, Dulce Gozon, Rosario Bitanga, Ma. Imelda Gomez, Ana Maria Harper, Maria Eva Kalaw, Emily Marahombsar, Haja Putri Zorayda Tamano, Leonila Tecson and Justina Yu.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) led by Director General Arturo Lomibao presented today a Manifesto of Solidarity and Support to the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Rizal Hall in Malacaņang Palace.

"We are here, Your Excellency, to manifest our unwavering and solid support to your administration, our loyalty to the Constitution and to the laws of the land and our belief to the fundamental principle of the rule of law," Lomibao said as he read the manifesto.

A beaming President Arroyo gladly accepted the manifesto as she said, "Thank you, Gentlemen. Let’s carry on!"

The PNP Chief also submitted to the Chief Executive his "100 days" report.

The signatories of the Manifesto of Support represent the different organizations and associations of the PNP namely: the Police Retirees Associations, Inc. headed by its president and chairman, Police Director Guillermo Domondon, the Association of Chiefs of Police of the Philippines headed by Police Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, and the Police Cavaliers Association headed by P/SSupt. Rolly Announvevo.

Other signatories include members of the Police ROTC Graduates for Integrity, Morality and Order headed by Police Director Ele, the PNP Academy Association, Inc. headed by P/SSupt. Elmer Jamias and the Federation of PNP Accredited NGOs headed by Ely Bongabong and the Philippine National Police.

Lomibao said he and his colleagues had come to "renew their pledge of loyalty to the President" to dispel rumors that "recruitment activities to join an uprising against the government" were going on in the police and the military.