PGMA's Speech during a Meeting with the Filipino Community

Ballroom, Hotel Mariners Court Tokyo Japan (02 Dec 2002)
MARAMING SECRETARY BLAS OPLE SA IYONG PAGPAKILALA SA AKIN. AT GUSTO KO RIN
IPAKILALA SA ATING MGA KAIBIGAN DITO SA HAPON, MGA PILIPINO SA HAPON ANG
INYONG MAYBAHAY, SI MRS. SUSAN OPLE. NANDIYAN SIYA.

AT GUSTO KO RIN IPAKILALA SA INYONG LAHAT, ALTHOUGH NAGKASAMA NA TAYO NOONG
ISANG TAON, KASAMA KO RIN ANG AKING KABIYAK, SI ATTORNEY MIKE ARROYO;
DALA-DALA KO RIN NGAYON ANG AKING ANAK, SI LULI ARROYO;
ANG AKING ANAK AT ANG AKING MANUGANG, NA SI MIKEY AT SAKA SI
ANGELA ARROYO; SIYEMPRE GUSTO KONG BATIIN 'YUNG ATING
AMBASSADOR DITO SA HAPON AT NAGPAPASALAMAT AKO SA MAGANDA NIYANG
PAG-ORGANIZE NITONG ATING PAGBISITA DITO, SI AMBASSADOR SIAZON.
AT ALAM NIYO NAMAN SI AMBASSADOR SIAZON AY JAPANESE BY HEART DAHIL ANG
KANYANG MAYBAHAY AY HAPONESA, SI MRS. KAY SIAZON.

NANDITO RIN ANG ILANG AKING CABINET MEMBER. 'YUNG ILAN AY IPAPAKILALA KO
SA INYO, SI SECRETARY LITO CAMACHO KASAMA SI MRS. CAMACHO; SI
SECRETARY MAR ROXAS NA WALA PANG MRS.; SI SECRETARY
DANTE CANLAS; WALA YATA SI GOVERNOR BUENAVENTURA DITO NGAYONG
GABI. GUSTO KO RIN BIGYAN NG BATI ANG ATING SENADOR MULA SA MINDANAO, SI
NENE PIMENTEL; AT ISA RING CONGRESSWOMAN NA ANG PUSO RIN NIYA
AY NASA HAPON DAHIL ANG KANYANG KABIYAK DIN AY HAPON, SI CONGRESSWOMAN NENE
RAMIREZ-SATO; NARITO RIN SI CONGRESSMAN JING PARAS;
AT SAKA SI CONGRESSMAN ANTONINO ROMAN NG BATAAN;
NARITO RIN SI GOVERNOR TOMMY JOSON; AT SAKA SI GOVERNOR
CABALLERO AT SAKA SI MRS. CABALLERO NG COMPOSTELA VALLEY; SI
GOVERNOR PLAZA AT SAKA 'YUNG KANYANG MATRIARCH NG PLAZA FAMILY,
SI MRS. VALENTINA PLAZA NA NAKAUPO DOON, FORMER GOVERNOR; SI
MAYOR BOKING MORALES NG MABALACAT; AT SAKA YUNG NAG-AALAGA SA
INYO, SI SECRETARY PAT SANTO TOMAS.

MERON RIN TAYONG ILAN PANG MGA CABINET OFFICIALS NA NARIRITO, SI SECRETARY
TOTING BUNYE, ANG AKING PRESS SECRETARY; ISANG HAPON NA
MESTIZO DAHIL KASAMA 'YUNG KANYANG LOLO SA UNANG WAVE NG IMMIGRANTS FROM
JAPAN TO THE PHILIPPINES TO BAGUIO, SI SECRETARY YONGYONG HAMADA AFABLE;
SI SECRETARY JOEY RUFINO AT SAKA KANYANG MAYBAHAY SI CHING;
'YUNG TUMUTULONG SA ATIN NA AYUSIN 'YUNG MGA RED TAPE SA ODA SI
MAI JIMENEZ; INYONG SUGO, INYONG NAGLILINGKOD SA OVERSEAS
WORKERS WELFARE ADMINISTRATION SI VER ANGELO. SAAN SIYA? AT
SAKA GUSTO KO RIN BATIIN GALING SA OSAKA, SI CONSUL GENERAL ANTONIO
VILLAMAYOR.

AT SANA HINDI KO NA BABANGGITIN LAHAT NG PANGALAN NILA PERO PAPATINDIGIN KO
YUNG KASAPI NG PHILIPPINE BUSINESS DELEGATION, NANDOON SILA SA BANDA ROON.
NARIYAN DIN ANG PHILIPPINE MEDIA. KAYA SA INYONG LAHAT, SA
KANILA, SA INYONG MGA KABABAYAN MINAMAHAL KO, MERRY CHRISTMAS SA INYONG
LAHAT. WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTMAS PARTY.

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

KADAKAYO NGA KAKAILIAK TI BANGIR NI MAMANG KO, NAIMBAG NGA RABII
YO AMIN, KADWAN TI ABRAEÑON ASSOCIATION IN JAPAN, AGIAMAN KADAKAYO NGA
UMAY KAYO TATTA NGA RABII.

SA AKONG MGA KAUBANANG TAGA-MINDANAO ASA AKO NIDAKO UG ASA NAGIKAN SI
SENADOR NENE PIMENTEL, DAGHANG SALAMAT SA INYONG PAG-ABOT KARONG GABIUNA.

SA MGA KASIMANWA SANG AKONG BANA NGA ILONGGO, KAUPOD ANG ORGANIZATION FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF NEGROS IN JAPAN -- NGANO
KAMO, ORIENTAL O OCCIDENTAL? OCCIDENTAL. O, SALAMAT GID NGA NAKADTO KAMO
SA ATONG PROGRAMA SUBONG.

MGA BATANGUEÑO AT 'YUNG MGA KABABAYAN NI TOMMY JOSON, JAPAN
ASSOCIATION OF NOVO ECIJANOS. MALAKI ANG ATING NUEVA ECIJA
DELEGATION NGAYON AT NANDIYAN DIN SI PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT RENE DIAZ AT
SAKA MEMBER OF THE BOARD NG SAN MIGUEL, SI RICO FAJARDO.

BINABATI KO ANG IBA PANG MGA ASOSASYON AT SAMAHAN NG ATING MGA KABABAYAN NA
NARITO NGAYONG GABI. HINDI KO ALAM KUNG KUMPLETO ANG AKING LISTAHAN PERO
SA ALAM KO NANDITO ANG SAMAHANG PILIPINO, ISA SA PINAKAMALAKING
GRUPO NG FILIPINO SA HAPON. AT YUNG PHILIPPINE MEN'S LEAGUE,
'YUNG ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINO STUDENTS IN JAPAN; 'YUNG SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COUNCIL NG JAPAN, SALAMAT AT TUMUTULONG
KAYO SA PAGBIBIGAY NG "UNLAD KABAYAN AT TULOY ARAL" BUSINESS COURSES SA
ATING MGA OFW.

NARITO RIN DAW ANG FILIPINO CIRCLE FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROGRESS;
ANG OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORLD NET FOUNDATION -- AH, WALA. AH, NANDIYAN; ANG
ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINOS IN TOKYO; ANG CIRCLE OF FRIENDS;
ANG PHILIPPINE LADIES ASSOCIATION IN JAPAN; ANG
FILIPINO WIVES OF JAPANESE ASSOCIATION. DAPAT GAWIN NIYONG
MEMBER SI CONGRESSWOMAN SATO, HA? O, MEMBER SIYA; HAWAK KAMAY SA MAHAL NA
INA; OVERSEAS WORKERS ASSOCIATION; PHILIPPINE
DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY; 'YUNG KUMANTANG TEATRO KANTO; UNITED
FILIPINO GROUP OF YOKOHAMA; UNITED PHILIPPINE-JAPAN
ASSOCIATION; PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION FOR COMMON CAUSE;
KABAYAN-YAMATO; FILIPINO MARITIME NETWORK.

EL SHADDAI JAPAN CHAPTER; AKABANE SAMPAGUITA;
CHRISTIAN DIOCESE OF TRADITIONAL LAYMEN'S EVANGELIZATION;
KAPATIRAN; WOW! FILIPINO MISSIONARIES GROUP; MGA
KINATAWAN NG FILIPINO COMMUNITY MULA SA KANSAI AT OSAKA AREA.

AT SALAMAT ANG AKING IPINAAABOT, I AM THANKING THE ALL-JAPAN SEAMEN'S
UNION FOR THEIR BIG HELP ONCE AGAIN TONIGHT IN OUR PARTY HERE.

YOU KNOW, IN MANILA WE CONDUCTED THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYERS AWARD
JUST A FEW DAYS AGO. THE OUTSTANDING FOREIGN EMPLOYERS OF FILIPINOS WERE
HONORED FOR THEIR CONTINUED PREFERENCE FOR FILIPINO WORKERS AND SEAMEN, FOR
INSTALLING PROGRAMS THAT RAISED OUR OFWs PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE, AND
FOR PROVIDING EXTRAORDINARY ACTS OF ASSISTANCE AND AID TO OFWs IN TIMES OF
HAZARD OR DISTRESS. NINETY-THREE EMPLOYERS RECEIVED AWARDS. NINETEEN
RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL AWARD OF DISTINCTION. AND OF THE 19, NINE WERE
JAPANESE INCLUDING THE ALL-JAPAN SEAMEN'S UNION.
CONGRATULATIONS AT ARIGATO, ALL-JAPAN SEAMEN'S UNION.

PERO BINABATI KO RIN HINDI LANG KAYONG LAHAT PATI NA RIN ANG PHILIPPINE
EMBASSY LALO NA... LALO NA DAHIL BUKAS SILA NGAYON KAHIT SABADO.
NAALAALA NINYO KASI MARAMI KAYO NUNG MINSAN NA NARITO AKO 'YON
ANG ISANG IPINAGBILIN KO INOONG HULI AKO'Y NARITO. AT NATUTUWA RIN AKO NA
PATULOY ANG SERBISYONG MEDIKAL PARA SA MGA KABABAYAN NATIN DITO SA JAPAN,
SA PAKIKIPAGTULUNGAN SA IBA'T-IBANG ASOSASYON AT SAMAHAN.

AT NAIS KO RING PASALAMATAN ANG PHILIPPINE ASSISTANCE GROUP NA KAAGAPAY NG
ATING EMBAHADA SA PAGBIBIGAY NG REPATRIATION AT MEDICAL SERVICES
SA ATING MGA KABABAYAN DITO.

MY ADMINISTRATION IS DETERMINED TO BRING GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO OUR PEOPLE,
INCLUDING THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS. EVEN WHEN I WAS A SENATOR I ALREADY FELT
THAT WAY. THAT'S WHY WHEN I WAS A SENATOR, I FILED AN OVERSEAS VOTING
BILL, OTHER SENATORS DID TOO. SOME FILED BEFORE ME, SOME IN THE SAME
SESSION, SOME AFTERWARDS BUT LIKE MANY OTHER OVERSEAS VOTING BILLS BEFORE
AND AFTER MINE, AT THAT TIME WHEN I WAS SENATOR, MY BILL 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.

NOW, AT LAST, FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS, THE
OVERSEAS VOTING BILL HAS PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS. SALAMAT SA ATING
SENATOR AT MGA CONGRESSMEN. AND LET'S PRAY THAT THE HOUSE AND
THE SENATE CAN IRON OUT THEIR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS BECAUSE AS SOON AS
THEY DO SO I WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW WITHIN 24 HOURS.

AT BAGO KAMI UMALIS NG PILIPINAS, PINAG-ISIPAN NAMIN NILA SECRETARY PAT SANTO TOMAS KUNG ANO ANG MAGANDANG AGINALDONG MABIBIGAY SA INYO NGAYONG PASKO. AT
ETO, MAGLULUNSAD TAYO NG MGA PROGRAMA UPANG MAKAPUNDAR SA KINABUKASAN
NINYONG MGA PILIPINONG NAGTATRABAHO SA IBAYONG DAGAT HABANG PINAGAGANDA ANG
BUHAY NINYO AT NG MGA PAMILYA NINYO SA PILIPINAS. HAYAAN NINYONG IHAYAG KO
SA UNANG PAGKAKATAON NA TINALAGA KONG SUGO SA ATING MGA KABABAYANG NASA
IBANG BANSA ANG AKING MAHAL NA KABIYAK, SI ATTORNEY JOSE MIGUEL ARROYO.
SIYA NGAYON ANG AKING SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE OFWs. KAYA
LANG, MIKE, WALANG SUWELDO ITO (LAUGHTER) KUNDI ANG AKING PAGMAMAHAL.
TUTULUNGAN SI MIKE NG ISANG INTER-AGENCY TEAM NA ANG
MANGUNGUNA AY ANG DFA AT KASAMA ANG DOLE, HUDCC -- IYUNG SA HOUSING -- AT
SAKA SSS NA MAGDADALA SA ATING MGA BAGONG BAYANI NG PROGRAMANG TINATAWAG
NATING "KABAYANIHAN." AT DITO SA HAPON, INILULUNSAD ITONG PROGRAMANG ITO.

THE "KABAYANIHAN" SEEKS TO INSTALL AN INTEGRATED DELIVERY OF BASIC SERVICES
TO OFWs IN YOUR WORKSITE ABROAD AND ALSO AT HOME IN THE PHILIPPINES. UNDER
THIS PROGRAM, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO AVAIL OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

OWWA ON-SITE WELFARE SERVICES INCLUDING EXPANDED AND VOLUNTARY MEMBERSHIP
WITH OWWA.

DOLE/OWWA/POEA ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION CARD OR E-CARD SERVICES. THE
E-CARD IS THE ULTIMATE IDENTIFICATION CARD OF OFWs. WITH THAT E-CARD, IT
WILL NO LONGER BE NECESSARY FOR AN OFW TO FALL IN LINE AT THE POEA TO
OBTAIN AN OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
EXEMPTION FROM THE TRAVEL TAX AND THE AIRPORT TERMINAL FEE. SO, BY SIMPLY
PRESENTING THE E-CARD, YOU CAN HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS ALSO TO OWWA WELFARE
SERVICES, POEA PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS, AND EVEN DUTY FREE SHOP DISCOUNTS.
YOU CAN ALSO USE THIS AS A CREDIT CARD AND AS AN ATM CARD
FOR PHILIPPINE COMMERCIAL BANKS.

ANOTHER SERVICE IS HEALTH MAINTENANCE SERVICE THROUGH THE OWWA MEDICARE
PROGRAM.. THE OFW AND MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY WILL BE ENTITLED TO
BENEFITS OVER AND ABOVE THOSE WHICH ARE GRANTED BY PHILHEALTH.

ISA PANG SERBISYO, 'YUNG PAG-IBIG FUND. KANINA MASAYANG-MASAYA 'YUNG MGA
PAG-IBIG DESK DOON. DAMI RAW NG NABENTA NILANG HOUSING SERVICES.
THE DOLE AND THE PAG-IBIG FUND HAVE ALREADY SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF
AGREEMENT FOR THE JOINT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PAG-IBIG OVERSEAS HOUSING
PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO EXPAND PAG-IBIG MEMBERSHIP AMONG
OFWs AND PROVIDE YOU WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY YOUR OWN HOMES BACK HOME
BUT AT VERY AFFORDABLE MEANS. AND I'D LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE PAG-IBIG
FUND HAS REDUCED THE EQUITY REQUIREMENTS OF ITS HOUSING PROGRAM FOR
OFWs. KASI NUNG ARAW MALAKI ANG INYONG COUNTERPART. NGAYON,
ILILIIT NA RIN NG PAG-IBIG.

ISA PANG SERBISYO, 'YUNG SSS PROVIDENT FUND OR FLEXI-FUND SERVICES. ITO
AY PARA SA OFWs LAMANG, EXCLUSIVELY. IT WAS DESIGNED TO ENABLE YOU TO SAVE
YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY WHILE WORKING ABROAD. WHEN YOU INVEST IN THE
FLEXI-FUND AT A VERY AFFORDABLE COST, YOU ARE GUARANTEED CONTINUED EARNINGS
AFTER YOUR RETIREMENT. SO, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO INVEST IN THE FLEXI-FUND.
IT'S LIKE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT BUT WITH HIGHER INTEREST RATES. AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, YOU CAN WITHDRAW IT ANYTIME.

UMPISA SA ENERO 2003, MAGBUBUKAS NA ANG "KABAYANIHAN" NG SARILING WEBSITE
NA MAAARI NINYONG GAMITIN UPANG MAIPAABOT SA AKIN ANG INYONG MGA MUNGKAHI
KUNG PAPAANO HIGIT PANG MAPAPABUTI NG PAMAHALAAN ANG MGA SERBISYO PARA SA
INYO.

BUKOD NAMAN SA "KABAYANIHAN" -- NGUNIT SUPORTADO KO RIN -- AY ANG PROGRAMA
KUNG SAAN PUMAYAG SI BISE-PRESIDENTE TEOFISTO GUINGONA NA MANGUNA. ITO AY
BINUO NG OVERSEAS FILIPINO INVESTMENT BOND NA MAGBIBIGAY NG SERBISYO MEDIKO
AT SEGURO SA OFW, AT PABAHAY SA KATAPUSAN NG BOND. ANG PROGRAMA NIYA AYON
DITO SA TAGUIG ITATAYO ANG UNANG PABAHAY SA OFWs AY KASAMA RIN SA
PROGRAMA ANG PANUKALANG MAGNA CARTA FOR SEAFARERS.

GAYA NANG SABI NI AMBASSADOR SIAZON AKO, SAMPU NG AKING MGA KASAMAHAN AY
MULING NARITO THIS TIME SA ISANG STATE VISIT SA PAANYAYA NG EMPERADOR AT
EMPERADORA NG BANSANG HAPON. BUT I'M HERE FOR THE SAME REASON I CAME TWO
TIMES SINCE BECOMING PRESIDENT: TO FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY AND SECURITY OF THE PHILIPPINES.
WHETHER IT'S THE FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL TERRORISM OR IMPROVING OFFICIAL
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE
ECONOMY AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR PHILIPPINE CITIZENS.

IF YOU REMEMBER, WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT 20 MONTHS AGO, I INHERITED AN
ECONOMY WITH 4 MILLION JOBLESS FILIPINOS AND A 40 PERCENT POVERTY INCIDENCE.

TODAY, INSPITE OF THE GLOBAL SLOWDOWN, WE ARE AN ECONOMY THAT HAS
DELIVERED ONE OF THE HIGHEST GROWTH RATES IN ASIA. IN THE FIRST THREE
QUARTERS OF THIS YEAR, PHILIPPINE GDP GREW BY 4.1 PERCENT AND GNP --
WASN'T IT, DANTE -- 5 PERCENT? GDP WAS POWERED BY THE RECOVERY OF
INDUSTRY AND CONTINUED STRENGTHENING OF SERVICES. INDUSTRY GREW BY 3.8
PERCENT BECAUSE EXPORTS GREW BY 9.5 PERCENT, AND CONSTRUCTION IS ON THE
REBOUND. NCSO SAYS THAT CONSTRUCTION HAS REBOUNDED BY 25 PERCENT GROWTH.

SERVICES GREW BY 5.1 PERCENT BECAUSE OF THE EXPANSION OF TELECOMS, TRADE
AND PRIVATE SERVICES INCLUDING TOURISM. 'YUNG TURISMO NOONG OCTOBER ANG
KANYANG GROWTH RATE COMPARED TO OCTOBER LAST YEAR WAS 39.5 PERCENT OR 40
PERCENT KAHIT NA MAY BALI BOMBING. AT ISA PANG NAGPALAKI SA ATING
EKONOMIYA NGAYON YUNG FINANCIAL SECTOR MALIBAN SA BANGKO. IT HAS HOST
INCLUDING INSURANCE. IT HAS POSTED THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN FOUR YEARS.

PERO KUNG UMANGAT ANG ATING GDP NG 4.1 PERCENT, ANG ATING GNP AY UMANGAT NG
5. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR GNP AND GDP IS THE CONTRIBUTION OF OUR
OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS LIKE YOU. YOUR INCREASING
REMITTANCES HAVE BOOSTED CONSUMPTION GROWTH IN THE PHILIPPINES. NANUNUOD
AKO SA TV KAGABI, PINAPAKITA NILA 'YUNG MGA TIANGGE, 'YUNG MGA SHOPPING
AREAS, PUNUNG-PUNO NG NAMIMILI NG CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT NOVEMBER 30 PA
LAMANG -- AH, NO, NO DECEMBER 1. A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE MONEY YOU
SENT. LAST YEAR, YOU, THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS REMITTED SIX BILLION FOR THE
WHOLE YEAR. THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, YOU
ALREADY REMITTED FOUR BILLION. AND FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS, YOU
ALREADY REMITTED THE SIX BILLION THAT YOU REMITTED LAST YEAR. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

SABI KO SA INYO OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN ASIA TODAY.
IN FACT, IT IS SURPASSED ONLY BY THE INDUSTRIAL GIANTS -- CHINA AND KOREA
-- AND BY VIETNAM, WHICH STARTED FROM A MUCH LOWER BASE.

OUR INFLATION RATE IS LOW AT 2.7 PERCENT. RICE FOR THE MASSES IS PRICED AT
14 OR 16 PESOS PER KILO. AT PAG MAY NAGSUSUMBONG NA SA ISANG PALENGKE AY
WALA 'YUNG 16, AY AKO AY TINATAWAGAN KO AGAD ANG NFA. OUR INTEREST RATES
ARE LOW, KAYA PANAHON NGAYON MAGPAG-IBIG KAYO AT BUMILI NG BAHAY.
'YUNG 91-DAY TREASURY BILL HAS BEEN STEADY AT 5 PERCENT. THESE
RATES ARE AT THEIR LOWEST IN THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS. KAYA TALAGA 'YUNG
PAG-IBIG DOON DAPAT TALAGANG MASIGASIG ANG KANILANG SALES.

WE ARE ALSO TAKING STEPS TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR MACROECONOMIC
FUNDAMENTALS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT IN OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE OUR
DEFICIT. ANG CUSTOMS, ANG BIR, AT ANG BAGONG TINAYO KONG -- 'YUNG BIR AT
SAKA YUNG CUSTOMS -- 'YUNG BAGONG TINAYO KONG IYUNG ANTI-SMUGGLING
INTELLIGENCE AND INVESTIGATION COMMISSION, NA NGAYON AY PINUPUNO NG MGA
BAGONG COMMISSIONER AY KAILANGANG MAGTRABAHONG MASIGASIG. KASI ANG MENSAHE
KO SA ATING MGA KABABAYAN SA PILIPINAS NA UMIIWAS MAGBAYAD NG BUWIS AY
GANITO: "WHETHER YOU ARE BIG BUSINESS OR SMALL, FORGET THE ACCOUNTING
TRICKS, JUST PAY YOUR TAXES AND DUTIES OR SEE YOU IN COURT."
PERO KAYONG MGA OFW INCOME TAX EXEMPT KAYO, 'DI BA? KAYA TULUNGAN NA LANG
NINYO AKONG MANAWAGAN SA INYONG MGA KAIBIGAN SA PILIPINAS NA MAGBAYAD NG
TAMANG BUWIS.

WE ARE SUSTAINING A NO-NONSENSE DRIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION, INSULATING OUR
PROCEDURES BETTER FROM GRAFT, AND PUTTING GRAFT BUSTERS IN THE SENSITIVE
AGENCIES.

'YUNG PEACE AND ORDER SITUATION NAMAN IT HAS IMPROVED. ANG REPORT NG ATING
PULIS BAGO AKO UMALIS AY BUMABA NA NG 35 PERCENT ANG KIDNAPPING, DAHIL ANIM
NA SINDIKATO AY NABUWAG NA NATIN.

THE ADVERSE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT HAS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS OUR NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS.
NINE-ELEVEN, THE SUBSEQUENT WAR ON TERRORISM, AND THE LOOMING WAR IN IRAQ
HAVE ALL COMBINED TO DAMPEN THE WORLD ECONOMY. BUT EVEN BEFORE 9-11, ALAM
NAMAN NINYO, IN THE PHILIPPINES, WE WERE ALREADY WAGING A WAR ON TERRORISM.
YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE ABU SAYYAF WAS ABLE TO GENERATE AT LEAST 20
MILLION DOLLARS IN RANSOM FROM SIPADAN, LONG BEFORE 9-11, WHICH
STRENGTHENED THEIR CAPABILITY FOR TERROR. BUT WITH OUR DECISIVE RESPONSE
TO 9-11, WE GAINED FOREIGN ALLIES IN OUR WAR AGAINST TERROR, WHICH HAS
ENABLED US TO NEUTRALIZE THE NOTORIOUS ABU SABAYA LAST JUNE AND TO DEGRADE
THE ABU SAYYAF STRENGTH FROM THOUSANDS TO HUNDREDS.

NANANAWAGAN AKO NA IPAGPATULOY NINYO NA MAGDASAL PARA SA ATING PAMAHALAAN,
PARA SA ATING BANSA KAGAYA NG DASAL NI FATHER KANINA. ITULOY NINYO ANG
INYONG PAKIKI-ISA SA GOBYERNO UPANG LALONG TUMIBAY ANG ATING PAGKAKAISA SA
IISANG PAMBANSANG LAYON NA MAAHON ANG ATING BANSA MULA SA KAHIRAPAN.

NO PRESIDENT CAN BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC SINGLE-HANDEDLY. I CAN DO THIS
ONLY IF I CAN COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF THE MORE THAN 7 MILLION FILIPINOS
OVERSEAS.

YOU, THE FILIPINOS IN JAPAN, ARE PART OF THE WELLSPRING OF SUPPORT, THE
NETWORK OF FILIPINOS ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT I'M COUNTING ON.

NAGPAPASALAMAT AKO SA INYONG PAGMAMALASAKIT SA ATING KAPWA PILIPINO AT SA
ATING BAYAN. IPAGPATULOY NATIN ANG ATING MAGAGANDANG GAWAIN -- 'YUNG MGA
BINANGGIT KO KANINANG GINAGAWA NINYO -- ANG ATING PAGBUBUKLOD-BUKLOD.
SALAMAT AT NARITO KAYO KAHIT NA NANDITO NA KAYO NUNG ISANG TAON AT ITULOY
NATIN ANG ATING PAGKAKAISA.

SA INYONG LAHAT, MGA PILIPINO DITO SA HAPON, CONGRATULATIONS BECAUSE YOU
ARE GREAT AMBASSADORS OF THE PHILIPPINES. YOU ARE GREAT FILIPINO WORKERS.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

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