PGMA's Speech during the First Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day Celebration sponsored by the Chinese

PGMA's Speech during the First Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day Celebration sponsored by the Chinese - Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) and Inauguration Ceremonies of the "Filipino-Chinese Friendship Bridge" (North Bridge) and the "Manila-Beijing Friendship" Bridge (South Bridge)

President's Restaurant, Binondo Manila (07 June 2002)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH SECRETARY PEREZ.

MR. AW PENG LAM, PRESIDENT OF THE CHINESE-FILIPINO BUSINESS CLUB; MR. DANTE
GO, HONORARY PRESIDENT; HIS EXCELLENCY AMBASSADOR WANG; MAYOR ATIENZA;
CONGRESSMAN ANGPIN; CONGRESSMAN NIEVA; SECRETARY GOLEZ; MR. LIU AND THE
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BEIJING DELEGATION; MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE-FILIPINO
BUSINESS CLUB; OFFICERS OF THE CHINATOWN BARANGAY ASSOCIATION; LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN:

I CONGRATULATE THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE-FILIPINO BUSINESS
CLUB LED BY CURRENT PRESIDENT EMERITUS PETER YU AND PRESIDENT AW PENG LAM
FOR SPEARHEADING THIS SIGNIFICANT OCCASION. I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE LAST YEAR'S
CLUB PRESIDENT, MR. DANTE GO, FOR HIS HARD WORK IN PUSHING FORWARD THE
INITIATIVES OF THE CFBCI IN THIS PAST YEARS.

TODAY'S GATHERING IS SPECIAL BECAUSE WE ARE CELEBRATING THREE OCCASIONS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE CELEBRATING FILIPINO-CHINESE FRIENDSHIP DAY,
AND THIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCLAMATION NO. 148, WHICH, AS AMBASSADOR WANG
SAID, I ISSUED LAST JANUARY. SECOND, WE CELEBRATE TODAY THE FIRST YEAR OF
THE SIGNING OF REPUBLIC ACT 9139, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE
NATURALIZATION ACT -- AND I HOPE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE-FILIPINO
BUSINESS CLUB WILL PROPAGATE THIS LAW AND INVITE MANY OF THE CHINESE WHO
HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR A LONG TIME TO APPLY FOR FILIPINO
CITIZENSHIP. AND THIRD, WE MARK THESE TWIN OCCASIONS BY, AS MENTIONED
EARLIER, OFFICIALLY NAMING TWO UNNAMED BRIDGES HERE IN BINONDO AS THE
"FILIPINO-CHINESE FRIENDSHIP" BRIDGE AND THE "MANILA-BEIJING FRIENDSHIP"
BRIDGE.

MAY THESE TWO BRIDGES SERVE AS MONUMENTS TO THE ENDURING FRIENDSHIP AND
HISTORICAL TIES BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND THE FILIPINOS.

LONG BEFORE FERDINAND MAGELLAN LANDED ON OUR SHORES, THE CHINESE WERE
ALREADY HERE -- TRADING CERAMICS AND SILK FOR THE PEARLS OF SULU, THE
INDIGO OF MANILA, AND THE COTTON OF CEBU. WHEN THE SPANIARDS ESTABLISHED
THE GALLEON TRADE BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND MEXICO, THE BULK OF THEIR
CARGO CONSISTED OF LUXURY GOODS FROM CHINA WHICH HAD, BY THEN, BECOME
POPULAR ITEMS IN THE WEST. DURING THE SPANISH TIMES, THE STORES AND SHOPS
IN THE PARIAN OR CHINESE QUARTER, ALONG THE BANKS OF THE PASIG RIVER
OUTSIDE INTRAMUROS, SUPPLIED MOST OF THE ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES FOR LOCAL
RESIDENTS.

AS THE CHINESE EXPANDED THEIR COMMERCIAL PRESENCE IN THE COUNTRY THROUGH
THE CENTURIES, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ASSIMILATION SET IN. INTERMARRIAGES
BECAME SO COMMON THAT THE LATE SOCIAL SCIENTIST OTLEY BEYER SAID THAT
FILIPINOS ARE GENERALLY 10 PERCENT OF CHINESE DESCENT.

PERSONALLY, I FEEL A DEEP SENSE OF AFFINITY WITH THE CHINESE COMMUNITY. MY
HUSBAND, MIKE TUASON ARROYO AND HIS FAMILY, THE TUASONS, ARE OF CHINESE
ANCESTRY. I HAVE MENTIONED MANY TIMES THAT THEY ARE FROM THE LINEAGE OF
SON TUA, A CHINESE BUSINESSMAN GRANTED A SPANISH NOBILITY TITLE. THAT NAME
WAS EVENTUALLY, THE NAME SON TUA WAS EVENTUALLY HISPANICIZED TO TUASON.
AND SO THEREFORE I AM GLAD TO BE HERE IN MY HUSBAND'S ANCESTRAL COMMUNITY.

THERE IS SO MUCH FROM OUR COMMON PAST TO CEMENT THE BONDS BETWEEN OUR
PEOPLE. AND I AM GLAD THAT HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE CHINESE HAVE
EFFORTLESSLY ASSIMILATED THE FILIPINO CULTURE. THIS HAS ENRICHED OUR
LANGUAGE, TRADITIONS AND EVEN OUR VALUES AS A PEOPLE. BY STROKE OF GOOD
FORTUNE, THIS PROCESS HAS ALSO PREPARED US WAY IN ADVANCE FOR THE COMING
ERA OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND THE COMING OF CHINA INTO THE WORLD
TRADE ORGANIZATION.

THE STRONG PRESENCE OF THE CHINESE IN THE PHILIPPINES PAVED THE WAY FOR OUR
STRONG TIES WITH CHINA. SINCE THE 9th OF JUNE 1975 WHEN DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS WERE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES -- OUR RELATIONSHIP
HAS BECOME CLOSER AND DEEPER WITH EACHPASSING YEAR. AND I PERSONALLY AM PROUD THAT IN MY PRE-GOVERNMENT DAYS I
PLAYED A ROLE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR TWO
COUNTRIES, BECAUSE I WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER AND CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE
ASSOCIATION FOR PHILIPPINES-CHINA UNDERSTANDING WHICH WORKED FOR DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES.

DURING MY VISIT TO CHINA LAST YEAR, SEVERAL AGREEMENTS WERE FORGED, ONE OF
WHICH WAS THE SIGNING OF THE M-O-U BETWEEN CFBCI AND THE ALL-CHINA
FEDERATION OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE.

A COOPERATION AGREEMENT WAS ALSO SIGNED BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND THE CHINA COUNCIL FOR THE PROMOTION OF
INTERNATIONAL TRADE, GEARED TOWARDS THE INTENSIFICATION OF BILATERAL TRADE
BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

I AM ALSO VERY GRATEFUL THAT AS A RESULT OF MY VISIT TO CHINA LAST YEAR,
SPECIFICALLY MY TALKS WITH PREMIER ZHU RONGGI, WE ADOPTED A FLAGSHIP
PROJECT IN OUR DRIVE TOWARDS AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION FOUNDED ON SOCIAL
EQUITY, AND THIS IS THE FAMOUS CHINESE HYBRID RICE WHICH IS NOW BEING
PLANTED ALL OVER THE PHILIPPINES.

AS A RESULT OF THE M-O-U SIGNED IN CHINA LAST YEAR TO SET UP DEMONSTRATION
FARMS IN THE COUNTRY, CHINESE EXPERTS ARE SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE THIS MONTH TO
START THE PROJECT. THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT WILL SURELY REDOUND TO THE
UPLIFTMENT OF OUR FARMING COMMUNITIES IN THE RURAL AREAS.

IN RESPONSE TO AN EDUCATIONAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND CHINA,
THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION HAS ALREADY LINED UP EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE BILATERAL ECONOMIC-ACADEMIC RELATIONS IN
HIGHER EDUCATION. THESE INCLUDE LECTURESHIP PROGRAMS AND TRAINING OF
FILIPINO TEACHERS IN THE CHINESE LANGUAGE, AS WELL AS THE EXCHANGE OF
EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS BETWEEN THE CHED AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF
CHINA.

THE FUTURE OF PHILIPPINE-CHINA RELATIONS RESTS ON THE ABILITY OF BOTH OUR
PEOPLES TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR OUR COMMON GOALS UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL
GLOBALIZED REGIME. THESE GOALS WERE ARTICULATED IN THE APEC SUMMIT IN
SHANGHAI, IN MY VISIT TO BEIJING WHERE MANY OF YOU WERE WITH ME AND IN THE
ASEAN+3 SUMMIT IN BRUNEI LAST YEAR. IN THESE THREE MEETINGS, I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AGAIN WITH PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN AND EXCHANGE IDEAS AND
PROPOSALS SPANNING THE WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES IN REGIONAL SECURITY AND
DEVELOPMENT.

TODAY WE ALSO CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CFBCI TO THE GOOD AND
WELFARE OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.

I COMMEND YOUR INITIATIVES TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE IN
SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES, YOUR PLAN TO DONATE SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN
VARIOUS BARANGAYS AND YOUR BOOK DONATION PROGRAM FOR THE POOR IN THE
COUNTRYSIDE DESERVE OUR APPRECIATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

I ALSO COMMEND YOUR EFFORTS TO HELP MY ADMINISTRATION PROVIDE BETTER
SERVICES FOR INDIGENT FAMILIES THROUGH "OPERATION BROTHERHOOD," TO WHICH
YOU GENEROUSLY DONATED MONEY AND MEDICAL MISSIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF
INDIGENTS IN METRO MANILA.

I AM ALSO GLAD TO KNOW ABOUT THE INITIATIVE OF DANTE GO TO GATHER TOGETHER
THE HEADS OF OVER 100 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN BUSINESS
BROTHERHOOD AND FIRE FIGHTING. I AM CONFIDENT THIS WILL RESULT IN THE
FURTHER UNIFICATION AND SOLIDARITY OF THE VARIOUS GROUPS IN THE CHINESE
COMMUNITY.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK DANTE GO BECAUSE HE JUST ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT YOUR
GROUP WILL BE DONATING A MILLION PESOS TO ANY CHARITY OF MY CHOICE. AND I
WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS MILLION PESOS I WILL USE TO BE SEED
FUNDING FOR LOW-COST HOUSING LOANS AT 200,000 PESOS EACH FOR FIVE
WORKING-CLASS APPLICANTS.

WE MUST BE UNITED IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY. THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF
OUR COUNTRY IS TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE. TO
SUCCEED, I NEED YOUR HELP AND ASSISTANCE.

I REALIZE THAT POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMS WILL NOT SUCCEED IF CRIME
THREATENS THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CITIZENS. I AM AWARE THAT CRIMINALITY
REMAINS A CONCERN TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CFBCI; AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU
ARE DOING YOUR BEST TO HELP IN CRIME PREVENTION AND CONTROL.

THE CFBCI IS WORKING CONTINUOUSLY AND CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL ANTI-CRIME COMMISSION HEADED BY SECRETARY PEREZ IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF
KIDNAPPING. YOUR CLUB HAS DONATED 30 PATROL CARS TO THE PNP IN PREVIOUS
YEARS. THIS IS ON TOP OF YOUR DETERMINED EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH TIGHTER
LINKS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE FILIPINO-CHINESE BUSINESSMEN.

THE CFBCI'S EFFORTS TO RALLY METRO MANILA AGAINST DRUGS ALSO MERITS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. RECENTLY, MR. GO GOT TOGETHER NGOs, STUDENTS AND YOUTH
ORGANIZATIONS IN VARIOUS CHINESE-FILIPINO SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF
THE BIGGEST ANTI-DRUG RALLIES EVER HELD.

AND TODAY I AM HAPPY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I SIGNED INTO LAW THE NEW
ANTI-DRUGS LAW WHICH REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF DRUGS THAT ONE PERSON HAS BEEN
CAUGHT HOLDING IN ORDER FOR HIM TO BE CONSIDERED A PUSHER, AND WHICH ALSO
CREATED THE NEW PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

I ASSURE YOU THAT MY ADMINISTRATION WITH YOUR HELP IS MEETING THE PROBLEM
OF KIDNAPPING WITH MORE FOCUS AND COUNTER FORCE.

I AM MOTIVATING BOTH THE INCUMBENT AND THE INCOMING LEADERSHIP IN THE PNP
TO ELIMINATE KIDNAPPING IN METRO MANILA.

WE WILL IMPROVE THE ON-THE-GROUND CAPABILITY OF THE PNP. WE WILL HAVE A
MORE DISCIPLINED PROCESSING OF INTELLIGENCE. AFTER ALL WITH COUP THREATS
SUBSIDED, AD HOC SOURCES ARE NOW LESS NECESSARY.

IN MY VISIT TO LONDON LAST JANUARY, WE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH PRIME MINISTER
TONY BLAIR FOR SCOTLAND YARD TO HELP THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE IN
BUILDING UP ITS SKILLS AND CAPACITY TO FIGHT KIDNAPPING AND OTHER ORGANIZED
CRIMES. WE NOW HAVE SUCH A TRAINING PROGRAM IN PLACE, AND WE ARE WORKING
ON A SIMILAR ARRANGEMENT WITH THE HONG KONG POLICE.

I AM ALSO THANKFUL FOR CFBCI'S SUPPORT OF OUR ANTI-TERRORISM PROGRAM AND
FOR DONATING ONE MILLION PESOS TO THE SOLDIERS KILLED IN MINDANAO. YOU
KNOW, MORE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED THAN THE HOSTAGES THAT WERE EITHER
RESCUED OR THAT DIED ON THE WAYSIDE IN THIS BATTLE. SUCH COMMITMENTS AND
ACTIONS OF YOUR ORGANIZATION ARE NEEDED -- THEY ARE WHAT WE NEED TO GAIN
THE MOMENTUM TO MOVE FORWARD.

I AM DEEPLY SADDENED OVER THE DEATH OF EDIBORAH YAP AND MARTIN BURNHAM, WHO
WERE SLAIN IN AN ENCOUNTER BETWEEN OUR TROOPS AND THE ABU SAYYAF THIS
AFTERNOON AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF CAPTIVITY.

I COMMISERATE WITH THE YAP AND BURNHAM FAMILIES. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG AND
PAINFUL TRIAL FOR THEM, FOR OUR GOVERNMENT, FOR OUR COUNTRY. OUR SOLDIERS
TRIED THEIR BEST TO HOLD THEIR FIRE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE HOSTAGES. WE HAD
HOPED AND PRAYED FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN. GRACIA IS SAFE. THIS IS OUR
BLESSING. I PRAY FOR HER EARLY RECOVERY.

I SALUTE OUR TROOPS FOR THEIR FORBEARANCE AND COURAGE. I THANK OUR
AMERICAN MILITARY ALLIES FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE. THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
IS OUR FIGHT. IT IS THE FIGHT OF ALL MANKIND AGAINST EVIL. EVEN AS WE
SPEAK, EVEN WHILE THE BODIES OF EDIBORAH AND MARTIN AND WHILE GRACIA HAVE
ALL BEEN FLOWN ALREADY TO ZAMBOANGA SO THAT GRACIA CAN HAVE HER TREATMENT
IN THE HOSPITAL, THE FIERCE BATTLE IS STILL CONTINUING IN THE JUNGLES OF
SIRAWAY IN ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE.

THE TERRORISTS SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS. WE SHALL NOT
STOP UNTIL THE ABU SAYYAF IS FINISHED. I ASK OUR PEOPLE TO BE
VIGILANT ALWAYS.

DESPITE THE PROBLEM OF TERRORISM IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES, WITH GOD'S GRACE
AND THE HELP OF PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CFBCI, OUR ECONOMY HAS PULLED
THROUGH IN JUST ONE-AND-A-HALF YEARS.

WHILE THE ECONOMIES OF MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND TRADING PARTNERS SUFFERED
DECLINES LAST YEAR, OURS POSTED A 3.7 PERCENT GROWTH IN GNP, ONE OF THE
HIGHEST OUTPUT GROWTH RATES IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA.

AND IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, OUR GNP GREW NOT BY 3.7 PERCENT BUT
BY 4.9 PERCENT.

I THANK YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR HELPING ME TO ACCELERATE AND SUSTAIN THIS
GROWTH. YOU HAVE DONE MANY THINGS TO HELP ME INCLUDING MAKING A CALL
AGAINST POLITICAL BICKERING, IN LINE WITH OUR SHARED ASPIRATIONS.

I CALL UPON YOU, AND ALL OTHER SECTORS THAT SHARE OUR DESIRE TO IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF LIFE OF EVERY CHINESE-FILIPINO AND OF EVERY FILIPINO: LET US SET
ASIDE OUR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND INSTEAD CONCENTRATE ON OUR COMMON ASPIRATIONS FOR PEACE, FOR PUBLIC ORDER,
FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

THE PHILIPPINES WILL BE BRIGHT AND SECURE FOR US AND FOR OUR CHILDREN, IF
WE REMAIN UNITED.

MARAMING SALAMAT AT MABUHAY KAYONG LAHAT.

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