PGMA's Remarks during the brunch with the caravan contingent |
Baybay Beach, Roxas City, Capiz (1 April 2003) |
| BECAUSE WE SHALL
ENSURE THAT OUR OFWs ARE GIVEN PROPER ATTENTION HERE, IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE THEY ARE. WE
HAVE TO CLOSE RANKS WITH OUR REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN DOING OUR BEST TO
CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. AT THE SAME TIM,E WE MUST SUSTAIN FIRM DOMESTIC MEASURES BASED ON PUBLIC VIGILANCE AND SELECTIVE QUARANTINE. BUT I APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC TO REMAIN CALM AND BE INFORMED AND COOPERATIVE IN FOLLOWING CLOSELY THE PROCEDURES AND SAFEGUARDS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY OUR HEALTH AUTHORITIES. I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE ADVISORIES OF THE DOH ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS AND THAT YOU WILL GET IT IF YOU HAVE CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEBODY WITH THE SYMPTOMS. BUT OTHERWISE, EVEN AS YOU'RE VIGILANT, YOU SHOULD REMAIN CALM AND SOBER. FOR INSTANCE, AMONG ALL OF US HERE, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HERE IS EXHIBITING THE SYMPTOMS OF SARS. BUT EVEN IF AREN'T I PICK TO BE WITH THE OTHER, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US REALLY HAVE TO BE AFRAID. SO, WE REALLY HAVE TO BE INFORMED AND CALM. SO, FOLLOW CLOSELY THE PROCEDURES AND SAFEGUARDS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY OUR HEALTH AUTHORITIES. THAT'S WHY I DON'T LIKE TO CALL IT BUT PRECISELY BECAUSE OF VIGILANCE, IT IS SELECTED QUARANTINE. EVERYBODY IS RIGHT AWAY TESTED, AND SO FAR... LAHAT. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD ADVERTISE OURSELVES AS HEALTHY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE. WE SHOULD BE PROUD THAT THE W.H.O. SAYS, WE DON'T HAVE, BECAUSE THAT SHOWS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TAKING GOOD CARE OF THE PREPAREDNESS AND THE VIGILANCE. THIS IS ONE 'COME ON' -- YOU CAN COME TO THE PHILIPPINES AND STAY HEALTHY -- COME VISIT THE PHILIPPINES. THE ONES WHERE THE HOLIDAY IS ON A THURSDAY OR FALLS ON A WEDNESDAY, IT WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO A MONDAY. AND IF IT IS A THURSDAY, WE'LL HAVE IT TO A FRIDAY, TO MAKE IT A THREE-DAY. BUT WE ARE NOT ADDING NEW DAYS, WE ARE ONLY TRANSFERRING THE HOLIDAY TO MAKE IT A THREE-DAY WEEKEND. FOR INSTANCE, BATAAN DAY WILL BE THE FIRST ONE. BATAAN DAY OR VETERANS DAY IS APRIL 9 ALL THE CEREMONIES WILL BE DONE ON APRIL 9, BUT THE HOLIDAY WILL BE ON APRIL 7, AND THAT IS A LONG WEEKEND. IN CAPAS TO INAUGURATE THE NEW MEMORIAL BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER THE DEATH MARCH WAS FROM BATAAN TO CAPAS. WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN CELEBRATING IN BATAAN, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A MEMORIAL ALSO IN CAPAS WHERE MANY OF OUR HEROES DIED. |