PGMA's Speech during a Meeting with the Filipino Community

PGMA's Speech during a Meeting with the Filipino Community

Ta-Jeen and Mdeklong Ballroom, Oriental Hotel Bangkok, Thailand (08 May 2002)

MARAMING SALAMAT SECRETARY REYES SA IYONG PAGPAKILALA SA AKIN. MABUTI IKAW ANG PINILING NAGPAKILALA SA AKIN KASI BALAK KO RING IPAKILALA SANA IKAW SA ATING MGA KAPWA FILIPINO BILANG ISA SA MGA BAYANI NG EDSA DOS, SI SECRETARY ANGELO REYES.

NASABI KO RIN 'YUN, SISIRAIN KO MUNA ANG PROTOCOL PARA MAKILALA PA RIN ANG ISA PANG BAYANI NG EDSA DOS, SI FORMER GOVERNOR CHAVIT SINGSON NG ILOCOS SUR.

NGAYON NAMAN MABALIK AKO SA PAGBATI NAMAN AT PAGPAPAKILALA MULI KUNG NAPAKILALA NA KANINA SA ATING MGA IBA'T-IBANG MGA KASAMA KO NA MGA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS NA NAGBISITA DITO SA ATING OFFICIAL VISIT. UNA SA LAHAT, SENATOR JOHN OSME„A, SENATOR FROM CEBU AND CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTE ON FINANCE OF THE SENATE.

ALAM PO N'YO KAGABI, KINIKWENTO KO KAY PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN IYUNG ATING KASAYSAYAN NG ATING BANSA, DALAWANG BANSA. NAGBIGAY AKO SA KANYA NG ISANG JAR, 16th CENTURY JAR MADE IN THAILAND AND FOUND IN A WRECK OFF THE COAST OF ZAMBALES, AT KINWENTO NA NONG 1521, SI PIGAPETTA -- IYUNG SUMULAT NG DIARY NG BYAHE NI MAGELLAN -- SINABI N'YA NA MAY MGA SIAMESE BOATS NA NAGPUPUNTA DOON SA CEBU. KAYA MABUTI KASAMA KO ANG ATING SENATOR FROM CEBU DAHIL S'YA AY ISANG SIMBOLO NG PAGKAKASAMA NG THAILAND AT PILIPINAS FOR THE LAST MANY, MANY CENTURIES.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE CONGRESSWOMAN FROM QUEZON CITY NANETTE CASTELO-DAZA, ISA SA PINAKABATANG CONGRESSWOMAN SA ATING BANSA -- SIMBOLO NG ATING BAGONG HENERASYON, ANG 21st CENTURY GOVERNANCE NG ATING BANSA. NANDITO RIN IYUNG CONGRESSMAN NG AKING PROBINSYA, CONGRESSMAN OCA RODRIGUEZ. CONGRESSMAN NAMAN NG PROBINSYA NG AKING MISTER NA SI MIKE ARROYO, CONGRESSMAN MONICO FUENTABELLA OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL. NANDITO RIN MULA SA MINDANAO AT SIYA AY NAG-IIMBITA NG MGA MAGDADALO SA MINDANAO BUSINESS CONFERENCE DOON SA KANYANG PROBINSYA, GOVERNOR OF SURIGAO, SI GOVERNOR LYNDON BARBERS. AT MAYOR DIN DOON SA CEBU, MARAMING ASUKAL ANG THAILAND, ITONG LUGAR DIN N'YA AY MARAMING ASUKAL SA BOGO, CEBU, SI MAYOR CELESTINO MARTINEZ III.

OF COURSE, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE SONIA BRADY, YOUR NEW AMBASSADOR; AND THOUGH YOU'VE ONLY KNOWN HER FOR 10 DAYS WHICH MEANS YOU HAVEN'T REALLY KNOWN HER AT ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU HAVE FIVE STAR GENERALS IN THE MILITARY, YOU HAVE FIVE STAR AMBASSADORS IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE AND SHE IS ONE OF THEM.

KANINA NAKILALA NINYO YATA SI SECRETARY DICK GORDON NG TOURISM; SI SECRETARY CITO LORENZO NA TUMUTULONG SA AKIN NA MAKAHANAP NG ISANG MILYONG TRABAHO SA AGRIKULTURA; SI SECRETARY LITO SARMIENTO NA TUMUTULONG SA AKIN NA MA-MODERNIZE ANG ATING AGRIKULTURA; SI SECRETARY YONGYONG AFABLE, MARAMI S'YANG PWESTONG HAWAK SA AKING GOBYERNO -- PRESS SECRETARY, SPOKESMAN, HEAD OF THE PMS, ... AND OUR SENIOR UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SI LARRY BAJA. AT GUSTO KO RING BATIIN IYUNG MGA TAGA-PHILIPPINE EMBASSY DAHIL MARAMI KAYONG TRABAHONG GINAWA PAGHAHANDA SA BIYAHENG ITO.

AT GUSTO KO RING BATIIN IYUNG IBA'T-IBANG MGA PILIPINO NA NARIRITO KUNG PWEDENG BANGGITIN KO IYUNG MGA PANGALAN NG IBA'T-IBANG MGA LIDER NA NAG-ORGANIZE NITONG AFFAIR NA ITO -- SI GINOONG ALVIN NADAL, ANG PANGULO NG ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINOS IN THAILAND. BATANG-BATA PA, NAALALA KO TULOY IYUNG MGA PREDECESSORS MO DITO, MGA FILIPINO COMMUNITY LEADERS NOON, NANDOON NOONG ARAW, NANDITO BA SI ROY NAVARRO? SILA ROY NAVARRO, SILA RAMON DEL ROSARIO, IYUN ANG MGA NANDITO NOONG ARAW, NOONG GENERATION KO AND AFTERWARDS. NGAYON ANOTHER YOUNG MAN HERE; SI MS. VICTORIA ..., ANG PANGULO NG ASSOCIATION OF CHANGMAI -- CHANGMAI ANG BAYAN NI PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN; SI ART NIEVA SA PATAYA; SI NEIL BATEA SA PHUKET; SI BERNADETTE REYES ..., ANG PANGULO NG LADIES GROUP; SI JESS BALLESTEROS NG FILIPINO GOLFERS CLUB, SI AUREO DACANAY NG BOWLERS LEAGUE; SI CAMILA JOSE-LIM NG TENNIS ASSOCIATION; ROY VELARIO NG FILIPINO ASSOCIATION NG ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, KUNG SAAN DIN YATA NANDOON IYUNG AMA NG ATING SPEAKER KANINA, HINDI BA? SI KA DANTE, YOUR FATHER IS ALSO FROM AIT? YES. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO GREET ALSO OUR YOUNG MAN KA DANTE WHO HAS NOT FORGOTTEN THE PHILIPPINE ROOT; SI LOLITA PAMARAN SA TEACHERS GROUP; SI FATHER ALLAN NG RELIGIOUS SECTOR -- KASAMA NA SA RELIGIOUS SECTOR IYUNG MGA MADRE NG ASSUMPTION, NANDIYAN SILA, SI SISTER STELLA, HOW NICE TO SEE YOU; SI LITA TUASON, IYONG MUSICIANS GROUP -- SILA ANG PIONEER OVERSEAS FILIPINOS SA BUONG MUNDO, 1950s, 1960s, NANDITO NA SILA. AT IYUNG FILIPINO STAFF NG IBA'T-IBANG ORGANS NG UNITED NATIONS BASED DITO SA BANGKOK, BINABATI KO RIN KAYONG LAHAT.

KAYA SA INYONG LAHAT, MAGANDANG UMAGA.

AT NAPAKASAYA AKONG MAGKAROON NG PAGKAKATAON NA MAKASAMA KAYO NGAYON, DITO SA AKING KAUNA-UNANG PAGKAKATAON NA MAGBISITA SA THAILAND BILANG PANGULO NG PILIPINAS.

AND AS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD EARLIER BY AMBASSADOR BRADY, WE HAVE MORE THAN 5,000 FILIPINOS ALL OVER THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND. AND MANY OF YOU CONSIDER THAILAND YOUR SECOND HOME AND YOU MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE THAI SOCIETY BUT YOU ALSO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY. FILIPINO EDUCATORS -- KAYA MERON TAYONG EDUCATION ASSOCIATION DITO -- FILIPINO EDUCATORS ABOUND IN MANY THAI SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING. IYUN NGANG AMA NI KA DANTE AY NANDOON SA AIT. DITO SA AKING PAGBYAHE NGAYON, IYUNG SECRETARY OF HEALTH AY LUMAKI RAW SA FILIPINO TEACHERS SA KANYANG ESKWELAHAN SA ST. JOSEPH.

AND FILIPINO MUSICIANS HAVE BEEN PROUD TO WORK WITH THAI ENTERTAINERS. SABI KO NGA KAY PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN KAGABI, MARAMI KAMING MGA FILIPINO MUSICIANS DITO. HE SAID, "YES". SABI N'YA SA LAHAT NG MGA MAGAGALING NA HOTELS AND CLUBS NANDOON ANG MGA FILIPINO. SABI KO SILA ANG AMING ORIGINAL OFWs. SABI KO, OO, AND HE SAID, "YES, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE IN FACT ALREADY DECIDED TO LIVE HERE." MERON PA S'YANG BINANGGIT, TONY AGUILAR, SABI N'YA NA DITO AT IYUNG ANAK RAW N'YA AY ISANG KILALANG-KILALANG MUSICIAN DIN.

OUR OWN BUSINESS EXECUTIVES ARE WELL POSITIONED IN PRESTIGIOUS COMPANIES. BINANGGIT KO NGA IYUNG MGA KILALA KO SA MGA NAKARAAN, SINA ROY NAVARRO AT SAKA RAMON DEL ROSARIO, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY ROY NAVARROS AND RAMON DEL ROSARIOS IN THIS GENERATION OF FILIPINOS IN THAILAND. FILIPINO EXPERTS HELP MAN THE ORGANS OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. FILIPINO RELIGIOUS MISSIONARIES RUN CHARITY HOMES FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED AND ALSO TEACH THE YOUNG.

OUR OWN TECHNICAL PEOPLE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WORKERS ARE RESPECTED IN YOUR OWN FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION.

SO, WE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST EXPATRIATE COMMUNITY IN THAILAND, BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE FOREIGN GROUPS IN THE KINGDOM. KAYA, CONGRATULATIONS SA INYONG LAHAT.

BILANG MGA PROFESSIONALS, MALAMANG WALA KAYONG MASYADONG PROBLEMA BILANG OFW, SO TO SPEAK. BUT NONETHELESS, I AM AWARE THAT THERE ARE STILL CERTAIN DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED BY SOME OF OUR PEOPLE HERE.

AND I AM COUNTING ON OUR EMBASSY, ESPECIALLY OUR NEW AMBASSADOR TO THAILAND, SONIA BRADY, WHO WAS, I SAID, IS ONE OF THE BEST AMBASSADORS IN OUR FOREIGN SERVICE TODAY, TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE SO THAT OUR FILIPINO WORKERS, PARTICULARLY OUR WORLD-CLASS MUSICIANS, WILL BE ACCORDED SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING, THE SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU DESERVE BY THE THAI GOVERNMENT.

AT THE SAME TIME, I AM GLAD TO LEARN THAT THE VARIOUS FILIPINO ASSOCIATIONS WHO ORGANIZED THIS AFFAIR HAVE DONE A GREAT DEAL TO BUILD THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN THAILAND. I THINK, THE FACT THAT A YOUNG MAN WHO CAME TO THAILAND WHEN HE WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD STILL FEELS FILIPINO TODAY CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY REMAINS A COMMUNITY.

AND BILANG INYONG PANGULO, SA NGALAN NG LAHAT NG INYONG KABABAYAN SA PILIPINAS, PINUPURI KO KAYO SAPAGKAT SA PAMAMAGITAN NG INYONG HUSAY SA PAGTATRABAHO, INAANGAT NINYO ANG PAGKATAO NG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO. NAPAMALAS NINYO SA MUNDO NA ANG PILIPINO AY DAPAT IPAGMALAKI AT HANGAAN.

SA BUONG DAIGDIG, NARARAMDAMAN NG MGA BANSA, NG MGA MAY PUHUNAN AT MGA MAGULANG ANG MALAKING TULONG NG MGA PILIPINO, NG MGA DAKILANG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO MAGING TRABAHO NINYO AY NASA HOTEL, NASA PABRIKA O NASA OPISINA. KAYA NALALAGAY SA ISIP NG MGA DAYUHAN NG BUONG MUNDO NA ANG PILIPINAS ANG TAHANAN NG DAKILANG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO.

TINATANAW NG PAMAHALAAN NG PILIPINAS AT NG TAONG-BAYAN NG PILIPINAS NA NASA PILIPINAS ANG KONTRIBUSYON NG OVERSEAS FILIPINOS SA EKONOMIYA AT KABUHAYAN NG PAMBANSA.

SA INYONG MALAKING TULONG NAGPAPASIGLA SA EKONOMIYA AT NAGTUTULONG SA KAUNLARAN NG BANSA.

SA IBABAW NG MAGANDANG REPUTASYON NA BINIBIGAY NINYO SA ATING BANSA BILANG TAHANAN NG DAKILANG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO, MILYUNG-MILYONG KABATAAN ANG NAG-AARAL O NAGTATAPOS NG EDUKASYON SA INYONG TULONG.

GAYA NG SABI NI KA DANTE, SANA BAWAT PILIPINO AY NAG-AARAL. AT TOTOO 'YUN, SINISIKAP NGA NATIN NA, KASI LIBRE YUNG GRADE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL PERO NAGBABAYAD NG MISCELLANEOUS FEES, SINISIKAP NATING MATANGGAL YUNG MISCELLANEOUS FEES; AT MAY MGA BARANGAY, 1,600, NA WALA PANG PAARALAN SO KAHIT NA LIBRE WALA NAMANG PAARALAN, MAHIRAP MAG-ARAL NAMAN 'PAG WALANG PAARALAN. NAGTATAYO NG MGA PAARALAN DOON.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO DO ALL THIS, NAGPAPASALAMAT ANG MGA PILIPINO DOON DAHIL SA TULONG NG OVERSEAS FILIPINOS, MARAMING NAKAKAPAG-ARAL.

AT LIBU-LIBONG BAGONG BAHAY ANG NAPAPATAYO AT NAGKAKAROON NG BAGONG BUHAY TULOY IYUNG NAGPAPATAYO NG BAGONG BAHAY DAHIL MARAMI SA PINAPADALA NINYO AY GINAGAMIT DIN PANGTAYO NG BAHAY.

DAHIL SA INYONG TULONG AY NAKAPAGLUNSAD TAYO NG MARAMING NEGOSYO -- MAGING SMALL BUSINESS SA BUONG BANSA -- DAHIL MARAMI SA PINAPAUWI NINYONG PERA AY GINAGAMIT NA PUHUNAN NG INYONG MGA KAMAG-ANAK. AT ANG MATAGUMPAY NA NEGOSYO NA NAPAPATAYO SA ATING BANSA DAHIL SA INYONG REMITTANCES AY ISANG MALAKING HALIGI NG ATING EKONOMIYA.

ALAM N'YO, HALIMBAWA, MERON TAYONG TINATAWAG NA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX. YAN AY SUKAT NG HINDI LANG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT KUNG HINDI HUMAN DEVELOPMENT NA NGA -- NANDOON YUNG LITERACY RATE, PER CAPITA INCOME AT SAKA YUNG LONGEVITY RATE. NIRA-RANKING NATIN IYUNG MGA PROBINSYA NG PILIPINAS IN TERMS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. AT WELL, NOT SURPRISINGLY, IYUNG MGA PROBINSYA NG CENTRAL LUZON KAGAYA NG PAMPANGA AT SAKA BULACAN, NANDOON, SIYEMPRE MARAMING INDUSTRIYA; IYUNG MGA PROBINSYA NG CALABARZON AY NANDOON, SIYEMPRE MARAMING INDUSTRIYA -- CAVITE, LAGUNA, BATANGAS. NGUNIT NAKAKAGULAT KASAMA DOON YUNG ILOCOS NORTE, YUNG ABRA. AT TINANONG BAKIT? KASI IYUNG PINANGGAGALINGAN NG MGA NAKAKAPAG-ARAL, MALUSOG DAHIL SAPAT ANG PAGKAIN AT MATAAS ANG INCOME AY YUNG OVERSEAS FILIPINOS. KAYA 'PAG ANG ISANG LUGAR AY MARAMING OVERSEAS FILIPINO NA TIGA-ROON, MATAAS ANG KANILANG HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX.

SUMIGLA ANG MARAMING BARANGAY, BAYAN, LUNGSOD AT PROBINSIYA SA KONTRIBUSYON NG MGA OVERSEAS FILIPINOS. AT MARAMI DOON, NAGPATAYO NA NG NEGOSYO, NAGING MAGANDA ANG ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. DOON NGA SA LAOAG, 29 BANKS ANG NANDOON SA DAMI NG MGA REMITTANCES NG MGA ILOKANONG OVERSEAS. KAYA ANG LAOAG AY NET LENDER -- MARAMING PUMAPASOK NA DEPOSIT, MARAMI NAMANG HUMIHIRAM DOON PINAPAHIRAM SA ILANG IBANG LUGAR.

KAYA, ITO ANG BUNGA NG TRABAHO NG DAKILANG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO NA TAUN-TAON NAGPAPADALA NG SIX BILLION DOLLARSSA PILIPINAS. BIRO N'YO PINAKAMALAKING INVESTMENTS SA PILIPINAS, FOREIGN INVESTMENT, AY FIVE BILLION DOLLARS -- IYUNG SHELL SA MALAMPAYA. AY YUNG FILIPINOS, SIX BILLION ANG PINAPADALA SO EVERY YEAR, YOU GIVE, YOU SEND TO THE PHILIPPINES, YOU INVEST IN THE PHILIPPINES MORE THAN THE BIGGEST SINGLE FOREIGN INVESTOR IN OUR COUNTRY. KAYA KAYO AY MAJOR ECONOMIC INVESTORS SA ATING BANSA.

KARANIWAN ANG TAWAG SA PILIPINONG NASA IBANG BANSA AY OVERSEAS WORKERS. PALAGAY KO DAHIL SA MGA NAKWENTO KO MAS BAGAY NA ANG DAPAT ITAWAG SA OVERSEAS FILIPINOS AY HINDI OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS KUNG HINDI OVERSEAS FILIPINO INVESTORS DAHIL HINDI NINYO NAKAKALIMUTAN MAG-INVEST SA ATING BANSA.

KAYO AY MGA OVERSEAS INVESTORS NA ARAW-ARAW NAMUMUHUNAN SA KAUNLARAN NG ATING BANSA. PINUPUHUNAN NINYO ANG INYONG "PRODUCTIVE YEARS" ALANG-ALANG SA ATING BAYAN. KAYA SALUDO AKO, SALUDO ANG KAPWA PILIPINO N'YO SA INYO.

AT DAPAT LAMANG SUKLIAN NG BANSA ANG INYONG TULONG.

SA AKING STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS NOONG ISANG TAON, JULY, SINABI KO NA ISANG MALAKING PRAYORIDAD NG ATING GOBYERNO ANG PAGPASA NG ABSENTEE VOTING BILL PARA SA GANOON ANG MGA OVERSEAS FILIPINOS AY MABIGYANG KAPANGYARIHAN NA MAKABOTO AT MAKAPILI NG MGA MAMUMUNO SA ATING PAMAHALAAN. KAKAPIRMA KO LANG ANG CERTIFICATION AS URGENT NG PANUKALANG BATAS NA ITO. PINIRMA KO ITO AS URGENT DAHIL NAKATAPOS NA SA SECOND READING SA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. KAYA PANAHON NA MAGPIRMA AS URGENT KAYA SAMAHAN NINYO AKONG MAGDASAL PARA PUMASA NA ITO AT MAGING BATAS NA.

THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY WILL, FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, CONTINUE TO BE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON OVERSEAS-WORKER REMITTANCES. ISANG BANSANG KASING-UNLAD NA NAUNA SA ATING UMUNLAD NOONG 1970s, SILA RIN MARAMI SILANG OVERSEAS THAI WORKERS.

GAYA NG SABI NI KA DANTE, PITONG MILYONG PILIPINO ANG NAGTATRABAHO SA IBAYONG DAGAT. AND SO, ON THE BASIS OF THIS AND OF THE NATION'S HUMANITARIAN RESPONSIBILITIES TO ITS PEOPLE WHEREVER YOU ARE, OUR GOVERNMENT IS WORKING DOUBLY HARD TO STRENGTHEN OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS' PROTECTION.

FOR INSTANCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS FLOATING "BAGONG BAYANI BONDS." HAVE YOU DONE THAT ALREADY, LARRY? TO SUPPORT A NEW PACKAGE OF HIGH SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO OFWs. AND THE "BAGONG BAYANI BONDS" WILL RAISE FUNDS TO ENABLE YOU, THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS, TO MOBILIZE YOUR SAVINGS TO BE INVESTED IN VARIOUS PROJECTS LIKE HOUSING PROGRAMS BACK HOME. ITO ANG ISANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT TINANGGAP KO YUNG PANUKALA NI VICE PRESIDENT TITO GUINGONA NA GAWIN KONG UNDERSECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS NG DFA SI SIXTO ROXAS -- NA KAYO NA MARAMING MGA FINANCIAL EXECUTIVE DITO, KILALA N'YO SI SIXTO ROXAS, IYUNG NAG-ESTABLISH NG INVESTMENT BANKING SA ATING BANSA. LATER ON IN HIS RETIREMENT FROM GOVERNMENT, HE DID MANY BOND FLOATATIONS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS. KAYA, ITO SIGURO MAPAPAIRAL NIYA ITONG ATING BOND FOR OFWs.

WE ALSO HAVE A HOUSING PROGRAM FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINOS UNDER THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPING COORDINATING COUNCIL. THIS IS PART OF OUR GOAL TO PROVIDE 100,000 HOUSING UNITS A YEAR FOR WORKERS, AND THESE WORKERS NEED NOT BE WORKERS WORKING IN THE PHILIPPINES BUT WORKERS WORKING ABROAD BECAUSE YOU SEND HOUSES, MONEY FOR HOUSES FOR YOUR FOLKS BACK HOME.

WE HAVE ALSO SCRAPPED THE REQUIREMENT FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINOS TO FILE AN INCOME TAX INFORMATION SHEET, AND WITH THAT WE HAVE LIFTED THE PENALTY FOR NON-FILING.

WE STRENGTHEN BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH COUNTRIES HOSTING LARGE NUMBERS OF FILIPINOS. KASAMA NA RITO ANG THAILAND.

TONIGHT, IN FACT, I WILL HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THAILAND. THE FIRST TIME I MET HIS MAJESTY WAS WHEN I WAS STILL A TEENAGER, WHEN MY LATE FATHER, PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL, HOSTED THE KING AND QUEEN DURING THEIR MAJESTY'S STATE VISIT TO MANILA IN 1963.

IN MY STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS LAST YEAR, I CITED THE SERIOUS CHALLENGES FACING THE PHILIPPINES.

THE ECONOMY I INHERITED WAS VERY WELL DESCRIBED BY OUR YOUNG MAN KA DANTE -- STARK AND DAUNTING. AT THAT TIME, WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT I INHERITED FOUR MILLION JOBLESS FILIPINOS. AND THIS FOUR MILLION MEANT A RISE IN POVERTY INCIDENCE TO 40 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION. THE BUDGET I INHERITED WAS A BUDGET THAT THREATENED TO BALLOON TO 225 BILLION PESOS. AND SO I THOUGHT, HOW DAUNTING. WE NEED TO HAVE COMMON SENSE TO ADDRESS THIS.

TRABAHO. EDUKASYON. SARILING TAHANAN. PAGKAIN SA BAWAT MESA. THIS WAS, AND IS, IN COMMON SENSE AND PLAIN TALK, THE CORE OF MY VISION.

I ALSO URGED EVERYONE LISTENING TO MY STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS TO SET ASIDE BICKERING AND POLITICKING FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR. SA HALIP NG ALITAN, HININGI KONG ISANG TAON TAYONG MAGTULUNGAN SA IKABUBUTI NG TAONG-BAYAN. DAHIL KUNG ARAW-ARAW, KAHIT NA ANO NA LANG, DAKDAK NANG DAKDAK AY YUN ANG SINUSULAT SA PERYODIKO, ANG PERYODIKO NAMAN SA PILIPINAS AY ENGLISH LANGUAGE, EH DI SYEMPRE NAAABOT SA INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION.

TO SUCCEED, OUR NATIONAL AGENDA MUST REVOLVE AROUND FOUR COMPONENTS -- APAT NA ELEMENTO NG PAKIKIBAKA SA KAHIRAPAN.

THE FIRST IS AN ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY OF FREE ENTERPRISE APPROPRIATE
TO THE 21st CENTURY. PAGNENEGOSYO UPANG DUMAMI ANG TRABAHO.

THE SECOND IS A MODERNIZED AGRICULTURAL SECTOR FOUNDED ON SOCIAL EQUITY. AT PARA NGA DOON, MERON AKONG PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER NA NAGO-OVERSEE NG IBA'T-IBANG MGA AHENSYANG MAY KINALAMAN SA AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION, AT IYUN NA NGA AY SI LITO SARMIENTO. PALALAGUIN ANG KITA AT ANI NG MARALITANG TAGABUKID.

THE THIRD COMPONENT IS A SOCIAL BIAS TOWARD THE DISADVANTAGED TO BALANCE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN. PAGKALINGA SA MGA BAHAGI NG LIPUNAN NA NAIIWAN NG KAUNLARAN.

AND THE FOURTH COMPONENT IS TO RAISE THE MORAL STANDARDS OF GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY. MORALIDAD SA GOBYERNO AT LIPUNAN BILANG SALIGAN NG TUNAY NA KAUNLARAN.

DIFFICULT AND DAUNTING AS WAS THE ECONOMY I INHERITED. THE NEW YORK INCIDENT FURTHER CHANGED THE GLOBAL MOOD. WORLD BUSINESS CONDITIONS BECAME MORE UNCERTAIN.

BUT DESPITE THE STARK ECONOMY THAT I INHERITED, AND THE UNCERTAIN WORLD BUSINESS CONDITIONS, IN 2001, THE FIRST YEAR OF MY ADMINISTRATION, WE MADE PROGRESS.

AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR, OUR EFFORTS HAVE NOT YET PAID OFF BUT THEY ARE STARTING TO PAY OFF: GROWTH IS RESPECTABLE -- 3.7 PERCENT GNP GROWTH RATE IN A SEA OF ECONOMIES WITH NEGATIVE GROWTH; INFLATION IS AT ITS LOWEST IN THE LAST 15 YEARS; PRESYO NG BIGAS HINDI NAGPAPALIT; PRESYO NG PASAHE, HINDI NAGPAPALIT; PRESYO NG GALUNGGONG, HINDI NAGPAPALIT. KAYA TINITINGNAN NATIN YUNG PRESYO NG MGA BILIHING PINAKA-IMPORTANTE SA KARANIWANG TAONG-BAYAN. AND WATCHING ALL OF THAT HAS HELPED BRING THE INFLATION TO 3.6 PERCENT, LOWEST IN 15 YEARS.

UNEMPLOYMENT, WELL I INHERITED FOUR MILLION UNEMPLOYED. IN THE PAST YEAR, WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE TO JOB 1.5 MILLION ADDITIONAL FILIPINOS. SO, THAT OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WENT DOWN FROM 11.3 PERCENT TO 10.3 PERCENT -- STILL AT DAUNTING NUMBER AS FAR AS I'M CONCERN. THAT'S WHAY I SAID, IT STARTING TO PAY-OFF, I HASN'T PAID-OFF BECAUSE IF YOU STILL HAVE 10.3 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT THAT'S STILL VERY BIG.

INTEREST RATES ARE AT THEIR LOWEST IN HISTORY; THE PESO IS STABLE. USUALLY A STRUGLING ECONOMY MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN A STABLE CURRENCY AND LOW INTEREST RATES. LIKE IF IT WANTS TO STABILIZE ITS CURRENCY LIKE FOR INSTANCE IN THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION 56 PESOS TO THE DOLLARS AND YET INTEREST RATES ARE GOING, WHAT, 36%? THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO FIGHT ONE OR THE OTHER LAST YEAR, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD WORK ON STABILIZING THE PESO, SO THEY RAISED THE INTEREST RATES SKY HIGH, THEY STILL COULDN'T STABILIZE THE PESO. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE ADMINISTRATIONS WHERE YOU SEEK TO REDUCE INTEREST RATES, BUT THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO LET THE EXCHANGE RATE RUN AWAY. BUT NOT IN THE PHILIPPINES TODAY. WE HAVE A STABLE EXCHANGE RATE AND LOW INTEREST RATES. THIS COMBINATION IS BEDROCK EVIDENCE OF SOUND ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS AND A CORRECT ECONOMIC POLICY.

WE ACHIEVED THIS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, BY PUTTING OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER. AND AS A RESULT, OUR CREDIT RATINGS ARE IMPROVING.

NEXI, JBIC, THE WORLD BANK, THE IMF, THE ADB, J.P. MORGAN, GOLDMAN SACHS, FITCH, MOODYS, AND STANDARD AND POORS HAVE ALL ENDORSED OUR ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS, AND OUR INTERNATIONAL CREDIT RATING HAS BEEN UPGRADED FROM NEGATIVE TO STABLE. THIS IS BEING REFLECTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKET, WHERE THE SPREADS IN THE MARKET FOR OUR ISSUES ARE GROWING NARROWER AND NARROWER BY THE DAY. BUT OF COURSE THERE ARE STILL MANY DAUNTING CHALLENGES AHEAD.

WHAT ARE OUR GROWTH SECTORS FOR THE FUTURE? I HAVE IDENTIFIED TOURISM AS ONE OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT CAN CREATE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY. YOU HAVE SEEN THAT HERE IN THAILAND. IN 1997 WHEN THAILAND WAS AFFLICTED IN A CRISIS THAT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE OTHER PARTS OF THE REGION, HOW DID THAILAND STRATEGIZE ITS RECOVERY? BY PUSHING TOURISM AND IT SUCCEEDED. WE ARE DETERMINED TO GET A SHARE OF THAILAND'S TOURIST ARRIVALS THAT PEAKED AT ALMOST 10 MILLION LAST YEAR. THE CHALLENGE IS HOW TO CONVINCE THESE VISITORS COMING TO THAILAND TO FLY ANOTHER THREE HOURS EASTWARD TO GAIN AN EXPERIENCE OF FILIPINO HOSPITALITY.

WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED THE WORK IN THIS DIRECTION. DICK HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT: WE HAVE ENGAGED THAILAND IN A "TWINNING PROGRAM," IN WHICH THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL BE PROMOTED AS A SINGLE TOURIST DESTINATION TO MARKETS IN EUROPE, THE AMERICAS, AND OCEANIA. THE PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND THE TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND HAVE PRODUCED POSTERS AND BROCHURES THAT JOINTLY PROMOTE THE TWO COUNTRIES. PHILIPPINE AND THAI TRAVEL AGENTS AND TOUR OPERATORS HAVE ALSO AGREED -- AND THEY WILL BE SIGNING TODAY -- ON MARKETING STRATEGIES THAT WILL MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS FROM THE PROGRAM.

NANANAWAGAN DIN AKO SA INYONG LAHAT NA SUMALI AT MAKIBAHAGI SA TOURISM "VOLUNTEER 12" PROGRAM KUNG SAAN ANG MGA PILIPINO SA IBAYONG DAGAT AY HINIHIKAYAT NA MAGPAPUNTA NG ISANG TURISTA SA PILIPINAS.

I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO BE OUR AMBASSADORS OF GOODWILL AND TO MAINTAIN OUR FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE THAI GOVERNMENT AND THE THAI PEOPLE.

THE DAYS AND MONTHS AHEAD WILL STILL BE FILLED WITH DAUNTING CHALLENGES. ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL CREDIT RATING AGENCIES HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT US, ALL OF THIS LOWERING OF THE INTEREST RATE, LOWERING OF THE INFLATION RATE, DECENT GROWTH RATE, STABLE PESO, ALL OF THIS MUST BE TRANSLATED INTO MORE JOBS, MORE FOOD, MORE SCHOOLING FOR OUR PEOPLE. BUT I DO NOT FEAR AS LONG AS I HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.

KAYA MULI, SALAMAT NA MAPAPAGMALAKI KAYO NG PILIPINAS SA MGA KONTRIBUSYONG GINAGAWA NINYO SA THAI SOCIETY. SALAMAT DIN NA HABANG NAGKO-CONTRIBUTE KAYO SA THAI SOCIETY, TULOY PA NINYONG PINAPAANGAT ANG EKONOMIYA NG ATING BANSANG PILIPINAS. IPAGPATULOY PO NINYO ITO SANA DAHIL KAILANGAN KO KAYO.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

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