PGMA's Speech during the Launching Ceremony of Bayaning Tulong sa Bayaning Kawal Program

PGMA's Speech during the Launching Ceremony of Bayaning Tulong sa Bayaning Kawal Program

Ceremonial Hall, Malacanang (21 Sept 2003)

Thank you very much, Secretary Romulo.

And of course, Atty. Antonio Meer, thank you for spearheading Bayaning Tulong sa Bayaning Kawal.

General Narciso Abaya, General Camiling, the other representatives of the major service commanders, members of the Cabinet-- we have here Roy Golez, Mai Jimenez, Ed Ermita, Ging Deles, Dinky Soliman.

The other representatives of the various components of this coalition put together by Attorney Meer, may I just mention some of them -- Mrs. Maria Elena Forbes, Atty. Jay Castro, Atty. Gina Heraldez, Atty. Boy Lazatin, , Ishmael Benado, Karen Tañada. And earlier, Atty. Meer acknowledged Mayor Aro Mendoza. And I'd like to greet my father's dear friend, Joe Villegas.

Today is an important day in our country. Today we remember a day that must never happen again - the declaration of martial law in the Philippines.

The scars of the nightmare that followed for forty years after that date -- September 21, 1972 -- are still apparent in our national life. And I'm glad that, as enunciated by Atty. Meer, the silent majority is reawakening to the call of democracy, as it did in EDSA one and EDSA two.

Our people's relentless defense of democracy has not retreated an inch. And I thank you for that.

But the soldiers' loyalty and courage have been tested not only by these great events but soldiers everyday make the supreme sacrifice so that communities may thrive in peace and development.

Kailangan harapin natin paminsan-minsan itong mga epidemya ng tsismis at spekulasyon, ngunit ang katotohanan ay buo ang sandatahang lakas mula sa pinakamataas hanggang sa mga pinakailalim na kinatawan ng ating mga enlisted personnel na narito ngayon -- mula sa mga batang opisyal hanggang sa mga retiradong heneral na kinakatawan ni General Ed Ermita at ni General Nes Isleta itong araw na ito.

Ang mga retiradong heneral, mga pangulo ng kanilang mga organisasyon, ang mga bata at nasa gitnang mga opisyal, maging sa mga mataas na opisyal ay nagbigay ng walang alinlangang suporta sa chain of command, nagpahayag ng suporta sa chain of command, at ako ay naniniwala sa kanila.

It is incumbent upon our people to give soldiers the faith, confidence, respect and support they need to perform their duty.

That's why I thank the coalition of the various foundations and civic organizations and historic clans who responded to the call of Atty. Meer. We have the Malvar families, the Rizal family, the Philippine Jaycees, the U.P. Alumni , the Sigma Rho, the ABS-CBN Foundation, the Ahon movement, the SM foundation among others. To you I say, yours is also an act of heroism in behalf of our republic.

Ang mga sundalo ang nag-aalaga sa seguridad ng ating bansa, nagpapanatili ng katahimikan sa kanayunan, at nagbabantay sa ating demokrasya.

Ganyan na lang kabigat ang kanilang responsibilidad kaya naman kailangang dugtungan natin ang kabayanihan nilang ibinibigay para sa ating bansa. As already presented by Admiral Mayuga long before the Oakwood caper, we had taken several steps to bring the AFP into the 21st century in terms of doctrine development, material and benefits, the men and women in uniform.

But just as important as these benefits is the moral support that can only spring from the sincerity of people like those in this hall today. And in behalf of the soldiers I thank you for that. Indeed, the pressure and stress that bear upon our soldiers does not only come from the nature of their job -- as described by ed Ermita, as described by Atty. Meer -- sometimes this is aggravated by the feeling that their sacrifices are not appreciated.

It is in this light that I appreciate your noble gesture, which is even more meaningful because it is being extended from the descendants of the foremost soldiers and martyrs of our republic -- Malvar, Bonifacio, Rizal.

Now that the Oakwood mutiny is behind us, it is time to refocus on pushing our country forward. We must now direct our people's energies away from too much poison politics and towards what else we must do to sustain peace and development, solidarity and progress.

Thank you once again for this project, and I appreciate that we are all joining together -- government, citizens -- to continue to show our soldiers that we respect them, and love them, and appreciate their work in defending our democratic way of life.

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

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