MANILA — In what could be her shortest Independence Day speech ever, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed today to pursue her people-before-politics policy of governance and keep the country firmly on the path of economic reform and fiscal discipline.
In her 511-word speech heavily laced with prayer for peace and national unity, the President dressed in a pretty cream barong pants ensemble said her people-first administration policy would focus on a strategy that is “pro-growth, pro-trade (and) pro-investment.”
“Inaasahan ng taumbayan ang katatagan sa pulitika at reporma sa ekonomiya. Inaasahang ituloy natin ang landas na inuuna ang taumbayan kaysa pulitika,” the President said during the celebration of the 109th anniversary of Philippine Independence at the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park in Manila this morning.
Saying that Filipinos owe it to their ancestors to unite and strive harder to give everyone a comfortable life, the President said that “ang pagsulong ng ating ekonomiya, ang tuloy-tuloy nating pag-asenso, ito ang susi sa ganap nating kalayaan, ang pag-ahon ng mamamayan sa pang-aapi ng kahirapan kaya ang tema ng ating pagdiriwang ay Sama-sama Tayo Tungo sa Pag-asenso!”
“Kung nakipaglaban noon ang ating mga bayani upang matamo ang kalayaan, nararapat lamang na ipagpatuloy natin ang kanilang dakilang layunin upang mapalaya ang sambayanan mula sa kahirapan
“Kaya tutukoy tayo, ang ating administrasyon sa mga stratehiyang pro-growth, pro-trade at pro-investment na nakakatulong iahon ang ating taumbayan mula sa kahirapan”
She stressed that “hindi lalago ang isang bansa kung hindi mamuhunan sa taumbayan at sa bansa. Ito ang tanging landas tungo sa prosperidad at pagligtas sa kahirapan.”
To successfully protect the freedom that they have enjoyed since 1898, the President asked the Filipino people to join her in prayer to God to let peace and excellence reign in the land:
“Ipagkaloob Niyo po sa amin ang kapayapaan at kagalingan sa aming lupain.”
The President also implored the Almighty to look kindly on every government leader and servant: “Kahabagan Mo ang lahat ng mga namumuno at naglilingkod sa aming pamahalaan. Mahabag po Kayo sa mga namumuhunan, mga mangangalakal at, higit sa lahat, sa mga manggagawa…”
“Kahabagan Niyo po ang lahat ng mga maysakit, mga naghihikahos, ang mga natutukso, ang mga makasalanan ang lahat po ng mga nangangailangan,” she said.
She also thanked God for the countrys natural resources, and for the freedom that the Filipinos now enjoy, as she prayed for the Lords protection of the people against “sakuna, pagkaduhagi at digmaan.”
“Ingatan Niyo po ang buhay ng mga pamilya sa aming bansa Ingatan po Ninyo kami sa lahat ng kapahamakan, bagkos ay mamuhay kami at pumanaw sa buhay na ito ng kalugud-lugod sa Ama na nasa langit. Amen,” the President said.
The President arrived at exactly 7 a.m. for the flag-raising ceremonies at the Rizal National Monument where she was given full military honors by a company of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets.
She trooped the line escorted by Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr.. Two soldiers clad in Katipunero uniform later carried the wreath of white blooms which the President laid on a suspended platform at the foot of the Rizal Monument.
The bugle was then sounded, followed by the AFP Bands rendition of the native ditty, “Dalagang Pilipina.”
A helicopter rained down a conffetti of red and white rose petals on the Luneta during the 20-minute ceremony at the Rizal Monument.
The helicopter later dropped square-shaped pieces of blue, red and yellow-colored papers — the color of the Philippine flag — on the crowd during the Independence Day celebration at the Quirino Grandstand.
The Parada kicked off with a grand military parade of members of the various services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), followed by a parade depicting the countrys history via the transport mode of the time (balanghay, trambia and the jeepney), plus floats and contingents from the countrys super regions. (OPS) (davaotoday.com)
