Carlos P. Garcia's Inaugural Address

8th President of the Philippines
Delivered on December 30, 1957 at the Luneta Grandstand, Manila

My fellow Countrymen:

In the sober exercise of your constitutional prerogative as a free people, you have elected me President of the Philippines. With humility and deep gratitude, I accept your mandate, and God helping, I shall not fail you.

With my oath of office goes my solemn pledge of dedicated service to the nation. Invoking the gUidance of Divine Providence and the memory of my illustrious predecessors, I take upon myself the tremendous responsibilities of national leadership with the courage and fervor inspired by the warm national unity in dedication and devotion to country. But I must confess, in all candor, that the best and the utmost I can give in the service of the people will avail us little, unless I receive the understanding, faith, and support of my countrymen. In every momentous time of our history our people have given their full measure of support to our leaders. As I assume national leadership in answer to your summons on a day consecrated by the supreme sacrifice of Rizal, I pray for one gift — the heart of the Filipino people. In return I give you mine.


In the spirit, therefore, of that covenant of the hearts between the people and their chosen leader, I face the future aglow with hope and confidence. Together we will meet our common problems and difficulties. With the singleness of purpose, together we will overcome them.

As a people, we prize highly the moral and spiritual values of life. But the realities of the moment have made us more preoccupied with economic problems chiefly concerning the material values of national life.

It is a strange paradox that while the basic articles in our fundamental economy are rice and fish, we are not self-sufficient in both from time immemorial. We have gone into extensive plans and schemes In industrialization, foreign exchange and similar matters, but we have not given sufficient thought or incentives, nor have we done enough to provide for the fundamental need of national life — foodstuff. In the midst of abundant natural resources for rice culture and fish production, we still have to import from abroad a substantial part of the supply to meet these absolute and irreducible necessities of life. Thus, in case of a blockade as dramatically shown in the last World War, this can be a serious weakness in our national defense. What happened in the last World War with tragic consequences to our army and our people should spur us to the high resolve never again to neglect this essential side of our economy.


It is, therefore, imperative that we lose no time and spare no effort in reorienting our national economic policies toward doing first things first. We must first produce here, by and for ourselves, enough to provide for the fundamental needs of life — food, shelter and clothing. The country now has the natural resources, the means and the modern know-how to do it. We only lack the will to do it. Let us summon then from the spiritual reservoir of the nation the collective will and determination to make our country self-sufficient in foodstuff, shelter, and clothing. Our freedom must be nourished from the weafth of our own soil and by the labor of our own manhood. This is the key policy of this administration in the field of economics. To this I give my heart and hand.


There has developed of late some apprehension arising out of the austerity measures adopted by the administration to arrest further deterioration of our international reserves. I hasten to tell the nation that while the present financial situation calls for sober and realistic reappraisal of our policies and actions, there is no real cause for alarm. There has been no dissipation of our dollar reserves. But in our overeagerness and enthusiasm to push forward our industrialization program, we transgressed the ethernal laws of measures and proportion. As a retribution, reality now constrains us to restore the correct proportion between dollar reserves and industrialization, and also between these reserves and bond issues and other form of public borrowing. To achieve this end, it behooves us to submit temporarily to measures of austerity, self-discipline, and self-denial. We have to sacrifice for the larger good of the greatest number. Nonetheless, we must continue our industrialization program with daring courage. Let us not forget, however, that discretion is still the better part of valor. Our mistakes should not make us weaker in spirit. Rather, recognition of these should inspire us to strengthen our dedication and with the proper rectifications made, we shall carry on stronger in faith and confidence, and with clearer vision.


In light of our experience, it has been dramatically pointed out that a well-balanced agro-industrial economy is the best for the country. Rice is still the center of gravity of our agricultural economy, as steel is of industrial economy. On these two basic factors, we build our agroindustrial economy. We have to step up the tempo of establishing the agricultural industries to utilize with th least delay the abundant natural resources which a bountiful Divine Providence has endowed us. We have the land, the climate and other favorable natural conditions to produce ramie, cotton and other fibers to feed our textiles industries with raw materials. We have the land and natural conditions to produce raw rubber to provide a steady supply of raw materials to our rubber and tire industries that minister to a nation on wheels. We have abundant flora and fauna for supplying the materials of drug and chemical industries.

And now what resources have we for our industrial economy? We have some of the world's biggest iron deposits and abundant coal and manganese to provide the raw materials for the basic steel industry rightly called the mother of 101 other industries. To complement this, it is definitely known that the bosom of our Earth contains unlimited mineral oil deposits to turn the wheels of industry and the propellers of prosperity. We have the natural hydroelectric resources which can be harnessed, as a number of them already are, to supply cheap industrial power. The power harnessing program will be kept up with increasing momentum to realize our desire for rural electrification.

With all these elements at our command and with our youth rapidly acquiring the needed industrial technology and with the increasing demand for machinery and other steel products for our industrialization, it has become imperative for us to build soonest the steel industry. Out of the womb of the steel industry, we hope to generate here the machinery for the entire Philippine agroindustrial structure. Out of steel, we will create the sinews of the nation.


But, fellow countrymen, iron is only one of our principal mineral resources. We have practically all minerals used by the present civilization, ferrous, non-ferrous, and mineral oils. The mining industry, therefore, has the potentiality of becoming the premier dollar-earning industry of the Philippines. This administration commits itself to giving all possible incentives and support to private enterprise which may invest and work to make mining the biggest of industries. The broader motivating spirit of modern Filipino industrialists is no longer money profit first, but rather the joy of creativeness and the exultation of the soul derived from the consciousness of having contributed to human happiness. May this spirit forever grow!


This administration is fully aware of the difficulties in financing our ambitious industrialization program. We have realized that our dollar reserves can no longer continue with the double role of providing for the normal requirements of our foreign trade and the tremendous financing of our industrial and economic development. The time has come to provide separate development funds to attend exclusively to the economic development and release our international reserves of this burden. I am fully convinced that we can generate development funds from sources, other than taxes and the proceeds of our present exports. Development loans can be liqUidated by the same industries they are intended to sustain.

An essential aspect of the program rhave outlined, if we are to achieve optimum results, is the role of scientific and industrial research. No industry of any importance in the world today can afford to exist without it. That is our serious deficiency that we must immediately correct through collaboration of government and private enterprise.


My predecessor, the late President Magsaysay, opened not only the halls but the very heart of Malacañang to the people. To the common man, especially the needy, the forsaken and the victims of injustice, Malacañang symbolizes hope, faith, and justice. Under my administration, Malacañang will remain such a symbol. This Government will carry on dispensing social justice and protecting human rights. I expect every department to share in the great task of fortifying the faith of our people in their Government by bringing the Government closer to the people in terms of service and love.


This administration will continue the vigorous prosecution of the social amelioration program. We give a higher premium to this social service program to demonstrate to our masses that in freedom and by democratic processes we can achieve peace, prosperity, and happiness. The Social Security Act, for instance, which gives to non-government wage earners insurance protection against sickness, disability, old age, death, and unemployment, will be fully implemented.


Moreover, a large portion of the funds which this Act will generate will be channeled to selected sound investments to promote the general well-being, thus making the people investors and participants in the country's economic destiny. The individual economic security assured to the beneficiaries of this Act will buttress the collective economic security of the nation. The Social Security System is protection to labor and provision to capital.


The Government will continue its low-cost housing projects and its land redistribution and resettlement program. We shall exert greater effort so that more of our poor will eventually acquire homes and lands that they can call their very own. Home-and-landowning citizens possess not only a sense of stability and contentment but also the practical patriotism to live for, and if necessary, die for home and country. For upon the face of the patriot must have shone first the firelight of home.

We have a high stake in the health, strength, and vitality of our people. So we shall pursue our health development activities especially in the barrios and other rural areas. Only a Vigorous, healthy, educated and aspiring people can build a strong and enduring Republic.


I once more reaffirm the determination of this administration to preserve and enhance our historic relations of friendship with the United States based on equality, mutuality of interest, and community uf ideals. Tested in the crucible of war no less than in the sacrifices for peace, our partnership with the noble American people will long live vibrant in the hearts of our two peoples rather than in the pages of our treaties. Of course, it would be naive to assume that no differences will ever exist between the two peoples. Differences do exist now and others may arise in the future. But in a spirit of fellowship and mutual understanding there can be none that cannot be adjusted on the basis of justice and equality to the satisfaction of each other's interest.


In the face of grave threats to world peace and security, it is our solemn duty to strive with other free countries for strengthening the United Nations and make it a more effective instrumentality for peace. We have entered into a number of agreements with America, including a mutual defense treaty, and have associated with freedom-loving states in the SEATO in an effort to meet those threats on a regional level. We know that the United States, as the recognized leader of the free world, is resolved with all her might and resources to maintain peace and freedom and democracy. The Philippines will discharge her humble share in the indivisible responsibility of preserving world peace and freedom. I hope that our Western allies in the SEATO will see eye to eye with us on the need for strengthening further the fabric of this regional defense organization and the capability of their Asian allies to meet subversion or open aggression.


We will preserve our friendship with Spain and the Latin-American Republics with whom we are tied by indissoluble cultural; spiritual, and historical bonds. To our Asian friends, we reiterate the good neighbor policy which we wish would prove mutually fruitful and beneficial.

In this nuclear age, we must realistically admit that the defense of small countries like ours, to be effective at all, must be linked with the common defense of the free world. Nevertheless, the primary responsibility for the defense and security of our country and territorial integrity is still ours. It behooves us, therefore, to bring up to modern standards, within the limits of our resources and, we hope, with the assistance of our friends and allies, the major services of our defense organization. Only those can remain free who are worthy of it. Freedom must be constantly deserved. Our heroic heritage consecrated by the blood and sacrifices of our heroes and martyrs assures me that the program for the modernization of our defenses will receive your warmest support. On this momentous day, let me pay warm tribute to the Filipino soldier whose bravery and patriotism established firmly the Philippine Republic upon the rock of national unity and liberty.


But deeper and more enduring than our preparations for defense is our hope and desire for world peace — a just, honorable and lasting peace. The Philippines stands squarely behind every sincere plea and effort for a stop to the armaments race that is leading the nations of the world to material and moral bankruptcy. World peace based on a "balance of terror" maintained by a relentless contest in the development of increasingly more devastating nuclear weapons is a danger-fraught situation only one spark away from a cataclysmic explosion leading inevitably to one end — the total de£truction of civilization. This administration will therefore tirelessly support any sincere effort toward the removal of all means to wage war through total disarmament of all nations and ultimately toward the removal of all causes of war by channeling the tremendous resources now spent for destructive purposes to fighting misery, poverty, disease, and criminality the world over and bring about the climate and moral regeneration for world peace.

The education of the youth, being essential to the progress of the nation and to the preservation of the freedom we have won, will receive increasing attention from the administration. I believe in preparing the youth of the land intellectually and morally for the responsibilities and leadership they have to assume later in life. Since our economic development is the center of our common effort at this juncture of our national life, the education of our youth should henceforth lay emphasis on science, industrial, and agricultural technology.


But with all our preoccupation with the national well-being, we cannot afford to neglect the moral and spiritual aspects of our national life. Together with the increasing material abundance, we need to strengthen our moral fiber. Our spiritual virtues must be constantly fortified. A nation does not live by bread alone, and no profit is gained in strengthening its economy if in doing so it loses its soul. The ruins of once mighty empires now buried under the dust of oblivion constantly remind us that material progress, unless based on a foundation of morality, eventually destroys itself. It is my firm conviction that the character of the nation anchored on the Rock of Ages is still our best answer to the challenge of Communistic ideology.


In this connection, I serve notice that the war against graft and corruption will continue with unabated zeal, without fear or favor. Dishonesty and inefficiency in public service will be dealt with firmly but justly. By the same token, honesty, and efficiency should be rewarded generously. In dealing with these things, I intend to use· preventive measures to minimize, not abolish, punitive measures.


These are what I envision for our country during the next four years. For their realization, I invoke once again the united cooperation and support of the Filipino people. Again, I reverently invoke the aid of the Divine Creator, Infinite Fountain of all blessings, that we may have unity where we have been divided, that we may have faith and courage where we have faltered and weakened, that we may be given light and vision where we have walked in darkness, that we may have love where we have been selfish, and that we may achieve lasting peace, prosperity, and happiness for the people.

President Aquino's (PNoy) First 100 Days Speech

PNoy's first few months of administration has been marked by soaring confidence and high trust ratings based on various surveys conducted during the period. However, the Quirino Grandstand hostage fiasco, which resulted in the deaths of Chinese tourists due to mishandling by both police and local authorities, somehow tempered his administration's glowing 'accomplishments." Towards the latter part of his first 100 days, a debate on the reproductive health policies by PNoy's administration looks likely to split the country. The Catholic church of this largely catholic country intends to impose its moral and religious precepts into state policies as far as the reproductive health of the Filipinos are concerned.  Read on countrymen on his speech and see if you give him credit for his essayed accomplishments.

Below is a transcript of PNoy's address highlighting his accomplishments for the first 100 days of his administration. The speech is in Filipino. 

Message of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
On The First Hundred Days of his Administration

[October 7, 2010, La Consolacion College, Manila]

Maraming salamat po, maupo po tayong lahat.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, members of the Cabinet, our host led by Sister Imelda, honored guests, fellow workers in government, mga minamahal ko pong kababayan, magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

Ang basehan po ng demokrasya ay mayroon po tayong mga politiko na naglalahad ng kanilang plataporma. Ang nanalo po ay obligadong ipatupad ang platapormang ipinangako.

Isandaang araw po ang nakalipas, nagpanata ako sa taumbayan: Hindi ko tatalikuran ang tiwalang kaloob ninyo sa akin. Ang nakalipas na isandaang araw ang magsisilbing tanda ng ating pong paninindigan.

Malalim at malawak po ang mga problemang minana natin. Nag-ugat ito sa isang gobyernong parang tatlong matsing na nagbingi-bingihan, nagbulag-bulagan, at gumawa ng sariling katotohanan.

Mali po ito. Ngayon, mayroon na po kayong gobyernong handang makipag-usap at magsabi ng totoo; handang makinig sa makabuluhang usapan; handang iangat ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso ukol sa mga isyung makaaapekto sa ating lahat, at maging sa mga darating na henerasyon.

Ang natamasa po natin ngayong unang isandaang araw ng ating panunungkulan: Mayroon na po kayong gobyernong hindi kayo binabalewala o inaapi.

Bumalik na po ang kumpyansa sa ating bansa. Tumatatag ang ating ekonomiya, at dahil dito, lumalago ang kaban ng ating bayan. Ang lahat ng inani at aanihin pa natin mula sa pinatibay na ekonomiya ng ating bansa, ibinabalik naman natin sa taumbayan upang tuluyan na tayong makaahon sa kahirapan. Binibigyan natin ng katuturan ang paggastos. Walang pisong dapat nasasayang.

Halimbawa po ang mga itinalagang opisyal sa mga GOCC. Naroon po dapat sila para pangalagaan ang interes ng taumbayan. Noon pong nakaupo sila doon, nilabag nila ang Memorandum Order 20, na pinirmahan noon pang Hunyo 2001. Inatupag po nila ang sariling interes na nagdulot ng pinsala sa interes ng taumbayan: nakakuha sila ng kung anu-anong mga bonus at allowance.

Ipinatutupad naman po natin ang Executive Order No. 7 na nagsususpinde sa lahat ng pribilehiyong iyon. Idiniin lamang po natin ang dapat naipatupad pa noong 2001. Sa isang kumpanya lang po tulad ng MWSS, ang napigil nating mahulog sa bulsa ng bawat opisyal ay umaabot na sa dalawa’t kalahating milyong piso kada taon. Siyam po ang miyembro ng Board nila, at sa MWSS lamang po iyan. At ilan po ang mga GOCCs, GFIs, at mga ahensyang sakop ng EO No. 7? Isandaan, dalawampu’t dalawa (122) mga ahensya at kumpanya.

Nariyan din po ang nangyayari sa mga kontrata tulad sa NAIA 3. Isipin lang po natin, tatlong administrasyon na ang dinaanan nito. Pang-apat na kami. Tumagal na po nang husto ang kasong ito, may mga pinaslang pa dahil dito. Kundi dahil sa mga tapat na nagmamahal sa bansa tulad nina Justice Florentino Feliciano at Justice Meilou Sereno, baka wala na ring pinatunguhan ang kasong ito. Sila po ang mga tunay na bida sa kaso, ngunit death threats pa po ang ibinayad sa kanila. Tila ba nagkulang sa aruga ang nakaraang gobyerno. Ngayon pong alam nilang suportado sila ng mga kapwa nila nasa tuwid na landas, naresolba na po nila ang kontrata. Kung natalo po ang gobyerno natin rito, 990 million dollars ang nalagas sa ating mga pondo. 43.5 bilyong piso ang perang nailigtas nila at natin. Higit pa rito, mapapakinabangan na natin ang airport sa lalong madaling panahon.

Kung naaalala po ninyo, pinahinto natin itong negotiated contracts ng DPWH; pinarebid natin ito. Ginawa lang po natin kung ano ang tama, napigil na po natin ang paglustay ng 934.1 million pesos, at lumalabas na kung susunod tayo sa tamang proseso ay nasa 600 million pesos lang ang dapat gastusin sa mga proyektong ito. Nabalik po ang pera sa kaban ng bayan na kung pinahintulutan natin ang maling sistema ay natapon na naman sanang muli. Hindi lang po sa mga kalsada: sa DOTC, pinigil natin ang pagwaldas ng isang bilyong piso. Sa Department of Agriculture, 30 million at least ang natipid sa isang proyekto lang na bibili tayo ng spectrometer na gusto sanang doblehin ang presyo.

Doon po sa Department of National Defense, ang dinefend po ang pag-purchase ng mga helicopter na tila overspecified para paburan ang isang kumpanya lang. Sinisiyat ito. Itinabi na muna natin. Ang gastos na 3.6 billion ay hindi pa po nangyari.

Lahat po iyan naibalik natin sa kaban ng bayan.

Mayroon pa po. May proyektong inaprubahan ang dating administrasyon, huhukayin daw nila ang Laguna de Bay para palalimin ito. Ang sabi raw dadami ang isda. Mas makakaiwas daw sa baha. Mas madali daw makakaikot ang mga bangka at mga ferry service. Tatanggalin din ang pollutants doon sa Laguna de Bay. Ang tanong ko, saan ililipat ang lupang hinukay? Ang tatanggalin sa Laguna de Bay ay itatambak lang din pala sa ibang bahagi ng Laguna de Bay. At magkano naman po ang uutangin ng gobyerno para sa prebilihiyong ito? Konti lang daw po : 18.5 billion pesos lang naman po. At pareho rin ang kuwento: Tila hindi na naman dumaan sa tamang proseso ang pag-aapruba sa kontrata. Hindi natin dadaanin sa madaliang hokus-pokus ang proyektong ito. Pag-aaralan natin ito nang husto at sisiguraduhing hindi masasayang ang pondong gagamitin para rito.

Idadagdag ko lang po: ito po ay ni-review natin last week. Isipin po ninyo: hanggang ngayon, mayroon pa rin humihirit.

Napansin n’yo po ba, pati ‘yung weather forecasting gumanda? Napansin n’yo po ba na hindi na paulit-ulit ang mga mensahe ng PAGASA? Ngayon po, nakatutok na at mas malaman ang mga weather bulletin natin. Ang dating intermittent rainshowers across the country, ngayon, sasabihin na uulan sa ganitong lugar nang mga ganitong oras, delikadong lumabas para sa mangingisda at iba pa.

Tama po na hindi pa kumpleto ang equipment natin. Pero ngayong nagsimula na po tayong magtrabaho, kakaunti na lang ang kulang na kagamitan. Maling sistema at maling palakad ang nanligaw sa pagtataya ng panahon. Ang mga update dati na dumarating kada anim na oras, kada oras na ngayon kung dumating. Marami po tayong binago sa PAGASA, at kasama na po rito ang bulok na sistema.

Nakita naman po natin ang katakut-takot na problemang minana natin, pero hindi po tayo natinag. Naisaayos at naisasaayos na natin sa loob ng isandaang araw ang hindi nagawa ng dating administrasyon sa loob ng tatlong libo, apat na raan, apatnapu’t walong (3,448) araw.

Hininto na po natin ang pagkatagal-tagal na sistema kung saan itinuloy nang itinuloy ang mga proyekto na walang sumisiyasat kung angkop ba o kung may katuwiran ba ang mga ito. Isinulong po natin ang zero-based budgeting. Ang sabi po namin, isa-isahin natin iyan. Kung hindi po mapatunayang may saysay ka pa, tigil na ang ginugugol ng bansa sa iyo.

Ang mga Agriculture Input Subsidies na lalo lamang nagpapayaman sa mayayaman na habang binalewala ang mga mahihirap; ang mga programa tulad ng Kalayaang Barangay at Kilos-Asenso na hindi naman inilatag nang malinaw kung ano ang prosesong dinaanan, at kung saan napunta ang pera—inilipat po natin ang kanilang mga pondo tungo sa mga programang napatunayan nang makakatulong sa taumbayan.

Humigit-kumulang na 11 bilyong piso pa po ito na magagamit at mapapakinabangan nating lahat.

Sa edukasyon, kalusugan, at pag-ahon sa kahirapan po natin itinutok ang pondong natipid natin. Mula 175 billion pesos, umangat ang budget ng DepEd sa 207.3 billion pesos. Gugugulin po ito upang makabuo ng 13,147 na bagong classroom, at ng sampung libong bagong teaching positions. Sa DoH, umangat mula sa 29.3 billion pesos ang budget papuntang 33.3 billion, upang mapatatag ang unang-una, ang National Health Insurance Program. Sa DSWD, lagpas doble na po ang budget, galing 15.4 billion pesos papuntang 34.3 billion pesos.

Ang punto po natin dito: Walang maiiwan. Hindi po tayo papayag na yayaman ang iilan habang nalulunod sa kahirapan ang karamihan.

Kaya nga po natin pinatatag ang Conditional Cash Transfer Program. Salbabida po ito para sa mga nalulunod nating kababayan upang makapunta na sila sa pampang ng pagkakataon at pag-unlad. Lampas doble po ang bilang ng mga pamilyang matutulungan ng conditional cash transfers, mula isang milyong pamilya sa ngayon, tungo sa kabuuang 2.3 million na pamilya sa 2011.

Patuloy po ang ating tema ng pagbibigay ng lakas sa taumbayan. Dahil na rin po sa panunumbalik ng tiwala sa gobyerno, nabiyayaan ang KALAHI-CIDSS program ng dagdag na 59.1 million dollars—halos tatlong bilyong piso—mula sa World Bank. Sa programa pong ito, dadami pa ang komunidad na magkakaroon ng kuryente, kalsada, at malinis na tubig—mga proyektong ang taumbayan mismo ang nagpaplano at nagpapalakas.

Paulit-ulit po nating ididiin: trabaho ang pangunahing agenda ng ating administrasyon. At marami pong magandang balita ukol dito.

Ang papasok na pera sa ating bansa mula sa mga foreign investors ay aabot sa 2.4 billion dollars, at iyon ay pang-umpisa pa lamang. Direkta po itong magbibigay ng 43,600 na trabaho sa mga Pilipino. Simula pa lamang po iyan: Kung hindi natin sila padadaanin sa butas ng karayom, makukumbinsi pa po silang magnegosyo rito, at madadagdagan pa ang mga trabahong nalikha.

At manganganak pa po ng manganganak ang mga trabahong ito. Halimbawa, sa call center, kailangang panggabi ang trabaho. Kailangang magbukas ng kapihan, ng fastfood, ng mga convenience store. Hindi bababa sa dalawandaang libong bagong trabaho ang malilikha pa—kahit hindi ka marunong mag-computer, may pagkakataon ka sa dagdag na mga trabahong ito.

Trabaho din po ang idudulot ng mga Public-Private Partnerships na patuloy nating isinusulong. Nagtayo na po tayo ng PPP Center, kung saan ang mga gustong makilahok sa pagbabago ay mapapasailalim sa tapat, malinaw, at mabilis na proseso. Mula sa pagpapahaba ng mga LRT Lines, hanggang sa pagpapatayo ng bagong paliparan na tutulong sa turismo, hanggang sa mga eskuwelahan na itatayo sa buong sambayanan, magsisimula na po ang bidding para sa mga ito sa loob ng mga susunod na buwan.

Kinikilala na ng pandaigdigang merkado ang pagtatag ng piso. All-time high po ang ating Gross International Reserves na umabot na sa 52.3 billion dollars noong ika-dalawampu ng Setyembre. Ang dati-rati ay parang imposibleng maabot ng Philippine Stock Exchange Index na 4,000, nalampasan na po. Kahapon lamang po, all-time high na naman ang inabot ng ating Philippine Stock Exchange Index na umabot sa 4,196.73 points. Ipinapakita nito ang kumpiyansa sa ating ekonomiya sa ating mamamayan at sa atin pong pamahalaan. Kabilang na po ang ating PSE sa mga best-performing stock market sa buong Asya. At habang lumalakas ang piso at lumalago ang ekonomiya, steady lang naman po ang mga presyo ng ating mga bilihin. Handang-handa na po tayo talaga sa pag-unlad.

Lahat po ito nagawa natin dahil nakasandal ang gobyerno sa inyong tiwala. At umaapaw na rin po ang tiwalang iyan sa buong daigdig.

Dalawang ulit na pong nag-apply ang Pilipinas para sa Millenium Challenge Corporation Grant. Sa unang tatlong buwan lang po ng administrasyon natin napaaprubahan ito. Ang sa kanila lamang po, aminado silang hindi natin maiwawasto agad ang lahat ng problema, pero naniniwala silang patungo na tayo roon. Sabi nila, gusto namin kayong matulungan para maabot ang inyong mga pinapangarap, heto ang 430 million dollars.

Ididiin ko lang po: dalawang beses nag-apply, ni-reject sa loob nang hindi bababa sa siyam na taon, tayo po sa tatlong buwan, inaprubahan.

Pati po ang mga international organization tulad ng OECD, tinanggal na tayo sa listahan ng mga bansang kumukupkop ng mga tax evader. Maaari na tayong makakuha ng impormasyon na makakatulong sa paghuhuli sa mga tax evader na isinasagawa ng BIR.

Dahil na rin po sa panibagong tiwalang nangingibabaw sa pamahalaan, dumadami ang mga tumutulong sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng mga tip tungkol sa katiwalian. Sumasaksi sila sa maling pangyayari, para makatulong sa ating paghahabol ng demanda. Halimbawa, sa bagong-tayo na Pera ng Bayan website, isa-isa nang lumilitaw ang mga taong makatutulong sa atin upang tugisin ang mga smuggler at tax evader.

Ibinabalik ng mga hakbang na ito ang kumpiyansa ng daigdig sa Pilipinas. Nagkakaisa nang muli ang ating lipunan, at ang nanatili na lang na parang sirang-plaka na paulit-ulit ang reklamo ay ang mga gustong manumbalik sa poder upang ituloy ang kanilang ligaya na nagmumula sa ating pagkakaapi.

Sila na nga ang nagdulot sa atin ng mga problemang pinapasan natin ngayon, sila pa ang may ganang bumanat nang bumanat sa atin. Papansinin ba ninyo sila? Magpapalinlang ba kayong muli?

Hindi po kami nagbibiro sa pagtahak sa tuwid na landas. Kayong mga mali ang palakad at pinipinsala ang mga kababayan natin, ginagarantiya ko sa inyo: may taning kayong lahat.

Ito pong mga problemang pinangako nating solusyonan, tatlong buwan pa lang nakikita na ninyong nabubuo ang solusyon. At ang inyong tiwala po ang pundasyon ng lahat ng ating naabot sa loob lamang nitong tatlong buwan ng ating panunungkulan.

Mula pa noong kampanya, ibinato na po sa atin ang lahat ng puwedeng ibato sa loob at labas ng Revised Penal Code. Pati po ang buhok ko ginawa nilang isyu. Palagay ko ho dahil siguro binata pa tayo, hindi na tayo binigyan ng honeymoon. Payag po si Sister Imelda diyan. Gusto talaga tayong gibain ng mga taong nais mapanatili ang lumang sistema, kung saan para silang mga dambuhalang buwayang nagpapakasasa sa kaban ng bayan.

Binabatikos lang naman po tayo dahil may iilan na naghahanap ng paraan para magpatuloy ang siklo ng mali. Alam din naman po nila ang tama, hindi pa nila maatim gawin. Mayroon po talagang mga nag-aambisyon na makabalik sa poder, nag-aambisyon na panatilihin ang sistemang sila lang ang nakikinabang, mga kapit-tuko sa puwesto na nakikinabang sa lumang sistema—mga taong gusto lamang ituloy ang kanilang ligaya, habang binabalewala naman ang sakripisyo ng taumbayan.

At tayo naman po: tuloy na tuloy ang laban. Hindi po tayo titigil.

Kung mayroon po tayong pagkukulang, ito marahil ay ang hindi nating naging kaugalian na ipamalita ang mga tagumpay na atin pong nakamit. Mas binigyan nating halaga ang paghahanap ng mga paraan na makatutulong sa ating mga kababayan. Kitang-kita naman po ng taumbayan ang resulta ng ating pagtatrabaho. Talagang nakagagalak ng puso itong satisfaction rating na seventy one percent. Natural po, sa inyo ang tagumpay na ito—sa bawat Pilipinong nagtitiwala at nakikilahok sa ating agenda ng pagbabago.

Ang patuloy ko pong panata: Hindi tayo titigil. Habang dumarami tayo sa tuwid na landas, dumadali naman po ang tungkulin nating itama ang mali.

Hinding-hindi po tayo titigil sa tuwid na landas. Unti-unti na pong natutupad ang ating mga pangarap.

Maraming salamat po. Magandang umaga sa lahat.