07
Sept 2007
Speech of H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
before the Delegates to the 5th Global Filipino Networking Convention,
Grand Ballroom 1, Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney, Australia
MARAMING SALAMAT, SECRETARY ALBERTO
ROMULO SA IYONG PAGPAKILALA.
MY HUSBAND MIKE AND I WOULD LIKE
TO GREET YOU AND ALL OUR MANY MORE THAN THE USUAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS
OFFICIALS WHO ARE WITH US TODAY. MORE THAN THE USUAL BECAUSE IT'S
NOT A BILATERAL VISIT, IT IS AN APEC SUMMIT. SO, I'D LIKE TO GREET,
OF COURSE, AMBASSADOR ERNIE DE LEON, OUR INDEFATIGABLE ENVOY TO
AUSTRALIA. AND I WOULD LIKE TO GREET ALSO CONSUL GENERAL LAZARO
AND THE MANY FACES FROM THE DFA THAT I SEE HERE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COLLEAGUES IN THE PHILIPPINE
DELEGATION...AND OF COURSE, I WOULD LIKE TO GREET, HEADED BY MALYN
[ANDRES-CHUN] AND LOLITA [FARMER], ANG ATING MGA KABABAYAN SA
AUSTRALIA AT IBA’T-IBANG BAHAGI NG MUNDO. MAGANDANG HAPON
SA INYONG LAHAT.
NAGAGALAK ANG ATING DELEGASYON,
BAHAGI RITO AY ANG APEC DELEGATION AT BAHAGI RIN DITO AY BUSINESS
DELEGATION MULA SA PILIPINAS…NASISIYAHAN KAMING LAHAT MULA
SA PILIPINAS NA MAKITA KAYO DITO SA 5th GLOBAL FILIPINO NETWORKING
CONVENTION. SALAMAT AT NAGKAROON TAYO NG GANITONG PAGKAKATAON.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FILIPINO-AUSTRALIAN CONVENORS FOR THIS
YEAR'S CONVENTION, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO MADE THIS
EVENT A SUCCESS. CONGRATULATIONS TO MALYN, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT
OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITIES COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AND TO LOLITA
FARMER, HEAD OF THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS-AUSTRALIA AND THE CONVENTION'S
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, AND ONE OF THE 2006 RECIPIENTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
AWARD FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINOS…
TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FROM AUSTRALIA, WELCOME TO THIS PART
OF THE WORLD AND ESPECIALLY TO THE ORIGINAL CONVENORS OF THIS
CONVENTION, LOIDA [NICOLAS] AND THE OTHER LEADERS OF NAFFA. I'M
SURE YOU'RE SO PROUD THAT NAFFA HAS GONE SUCH A LONG WAY.
INDEED, THIS IS A FIRST. IT MAY
BE YOUR FIFTH CONVENTION, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS
GLOBAL FILIPINO NETWORKING CONVENTION IS HELD OUTSIDE THE U.S.
AND THE PHILIPPINES. MABUHAY KAYONG LAHAT AND CONGRATULATIONS
FOR HOLDING THIS EVENT IN TIME FOR THE APEC SUMMIT!
NOONG KINIKUWENTO KO NUNG MAYO WHEN I MADE A STATE VISIT HERE,
NA BABALIK AKO DITO ONE DAY AHEAD OF THE SUMMIT BECAUSE I WILL
SPEAK TO THE FILIPINO COMMUNITIES, NAGULAT SILA: HOW CAN YOU SWING
TO ANOTHER CONVENTION WHEN THE APEC CONFERENCE IS TAKING PLACE?
BUT HERE YOU ALL ARE.
BUT IT’S ALSO GOOD FOR THE FILIPINOS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
TO BE HERE AT THE TIME OF APEC SO THAT YOU CAN ALSO KEEP UP WITH
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN APEC. AT A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE WORLD,
APEC REMAINS A CENTRAL PILLAR OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT AND DIALOGUE.
WE FILIPINOS BELIEVE IN STRONG GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR COUNTRY
AND OUR PEOPLE -- LALO NA KAYO, YOU KNOW THAT, YOU'RE PRACTICING
IT -- TO GROW OUR ECONOMY, TO ENSURE PEACE AND SECURITY AND LIFT
OUR NATION OUT OF POVERTY.
FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING, THE MORE BRIDGES WE BUILD, THE MORE PEOPLE
CAN CROSS TO NEW LANDS AND NEW IDEAS. YOU, THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS,
HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT WE MUST BE OPEN TO THE WORLD AND PEOPLES
AND PLACES OTHER THAN OUR OWN. THAT IS WHAT THE 21st CENTURY WILL
BE ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SO MUCH A FUNCTION OF POVERTY. YOU ARE PROFESSIONALS.
YOU DIDN'T GO ALL OVER THE WORLD BECAUSE YOU ARE POOR. IN NEW
ZEALAND, WHICH IS VERY RICH, 25 PERCENT OF THEIR POPULATION ARE
OVERSEAS AND A LOT OF THEM ARE HERE IN AUSTRALIA. AND PORTUGAL,
WHICH IS NOT A POOR COUNTRY EITHER, IS LIKE US: 10 PERCENT OF
THEIR POPULATION ARE ABROAD.
SO THAT REALLY MEANS THAT THE
21st CENTURY IS ABOUT GOING TO NEW PLACES AND BEING WITH PEOPLES
OTHER THAN OUR OWN. THAT’S WHY APEC PLAYS SUCH A LARGE ROLE
FOR THE PHILIPPINES. IT’S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BRIDGES
WE CAN BUILD AND CROSS TOGETHER. WE WANT THE PHILIPPINES TO BE
ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN LOCAL, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS BECAUSE
THAT IS THE FUTURE.
IN THE SUMMIT, WE HOPE TO SEE GREATER REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION
MADE POSSIBLE WITH ALL THE 21 APEC ECONOMIES AGREEING TO PURSUE
THE PATH OF TRADE LIBERALIZATION. WE’RE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD
TO A DISCUSSION ON HOW THE APEC CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE
GLOBAL CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH A FRAMEWORK FOR COOPERATION
FOLLOWING UP THE KYOTO PROTOCOL. PRIME MINISTER [JOHN] HOWARD
IN FACT, HAS DECIDED TO MAKE CLIMATE CHANGE THE MAJOR TOPIC AT
THE SUMMIT.
SO LET ME ALSO TELL YOU ABOUT US AND WHAT WE'RE DOING ADAPTING
TO CLIMATE CHANGE. IN THE PHILIPPINES, WE EMBRACE SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT. WE'VE MOVED FORWARD WITH AN AGGRESSIVE EFFORT TO
CREATE A GREEN PHILIPPINES, INCLUDING REDUCING RELIANCE ON FOSSIL
FUELS WITH OUR BIOFUELS, WIND, SOLAR AND GEOTHERMAL PROGRAMS.
IT’S GOOD FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR PEOPLE TO
HAVE A STRONG ECONOMY AND A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT. THAT’S WHY
WE WELCOME AUSTRALIA'S INITIATIVE TO DISCUSS CLIMATE CHANGE AT
THE APEC BECAUSE THERE'S NEED FOR CONCERTED INTERNATIONAL ACTION
TO ADDRESS THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE. WE HAVE A
CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM UNDER THE KYOTO PROTOCOL. THIS HAS
ALLOWED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES LIKE THE PHILIPPINES TO VOLUNTARILY
REDUCE ITS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THROUGH PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES,
BUT THERE’S A NEED FOR FURTHER EXPANSION. THERE'S A NEED
FOR GREATER LEVELS OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND FINANCIAL
SUPPORT TO PROMOTE STRATEGIES TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE, CAPACITY
DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO AVERT SECURITY IMPLICATIONS
OF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
EXPOUNDING ON SECURITY IMPLICATIONS, YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, THAT
AUSTRALIA IS A VERY BIG EXPORTER OF MILK TO THE PHILIPPINES. AUSTRALIA
IS ALREADY SUFFERING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. MILK PRODUCTION HAS
GONE DOWN BY 10 PERCENT. SO THEREFORE THE PRICE OF MILK IN THE
PHILIPPINES HAS GONE UP. SO WE HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM. THAT’S WHAT WE CALL
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES.
COUNTRIES LIKE THE PHILIPPINES CONTRIBUTE LESS THAN ONE PERCENT
OF THE WORLD’S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. SO WE ARE NOT A
VILLAIN AS FAR AS CLIMATE CHANGE IS CONCERNED. THEY CALL OUR KIND
OF COUNTRY A CLIMATE-TAKER RATHER THAN A CLIMATE-MAKER. SO DOMESTICALLY
FOR US MORE THAN WORKING TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, WHAT’S
IMPORTANT FOR US IS HOW TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE. IT'S MORE
IMPORTANT THAN REDUCTION.
ON OUR PART, WE MUST LEARN AND ADOPT FROM OUR NEIGHBORS THE TECHNOLOGY,
POLICIES AND ECONOMIC TOOLS THAT WILL HELP REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS. WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
IN THE WORLD AFTER THE U.S., SO THEREFORE WE CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE
BY SHARING OUR EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING CLEAN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
SOURCES LIKE GEOTHERMAL POWER. AND APEC PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ENGAGE OUR ALLIES IN ALL OF THESE THINGS -- IN VARIOUS ECONOMIC,
POLITICAL AND SECURITY ISSUES AT A TIME WHEN THE WORLD NEEDS CLOSER
COOPERATION…
THE APEC, ALONG WITH THE ASEAN AND OTHER TRADING AGREEMENTS, PROVIDES
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER TO LIFT UP OUR POOR,
NOT JUST IN THE PHILIPPINES BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE BELIEVE
IN THE POWER OF THE GLOBAL TRADING SYSTEM TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY
AND MODERNIZE NATIONS THROUGH MARKET FORCES. THAT DOESN’T
MEAN WE BELIEVE THAT COUNTRIES LIKE THE PHILIPPINES ARE READY
TO COMPETE HEAD-TO-HEAD TODAY IN EVERY SECTOR, BUT IT DOES MEAN
THAT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE 21st CENTURY IS ALL ABOUT, WE CANNOT
AFFORD TO BE AFRAID OF GLOBALIZATION. I GUESS, JUST AS WE SAY
THAT WE ARE A CLIMATE-TAKER RATHER THAN A CLIMATE-MAKER, WE'RE
A GLOBALIZATION-TAKER RATHER THAN A GLOBALIZATION-MAKER. IT'S
THERE, LET US USE IT TO FIGHT POVERTY.
POVERTY ALLEVIATION IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR AGENDA IN THE PHILIPPINES AND OUR VISION
TO LIFT THE PHILIPPINES INTO A MODERNIZED COUNTRY STATUS IN 20
YEARS. YUNG ATING MGA REPORMA SA EKONOMIYA AY NASA HARAPAN NG
ATING KAMPANYANG BAWASAN ANG KAHIRAPAN. ITO ANG ATING PANGKALAHATANG
LAYUNIN.
MULA NANG ANG INYONG LINGKOD AY UMUPO BILANG PANGULO HANGGANG
NGAYON, MATAAS ANG ATING HINANGAD. HINARAP NATIN ANG MGA HAMON.
WALANG NAKAKAAKALANG MAKAKAKUHA TAYO NG MAS MALAKING BUWIS AND
CUT DOWN ON TAX CHEATS. AND NO ONE THOUGHT WE COULD BRING OUR
BUDGET DEFICIT UNDER CONTROL, REPAY OUR DEBTS AND RAISE EMPLOYMENT
-- NGUNIT NAGAWA NATIN ITO.
AND I MUST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CONGRESSMEN AND WOMEN BECAUSE THE BIGGEST
SINGLE ACT THAT LED TO THE SURGE IN OUR ECONOMY…WAS THE
PASSAGE OF OUR VALUE-ADDED TAX WHICH IN ONE BOLD STROKE RAISED
ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF REVENUE. BINIGYAN NG DAANG BUMILIS ANG ATING
PAG-ANGAT NG BAGO NATING NAHANAP NA SALAPI PARA SA PAMUHUNAN.
ANG PAGBALANSYA NG KABAN NG BAYAN AY ANG UNANG HAKBANG LAMANG.
NGAYON, NAMUMUHUNAN NA TAYO SA MGA MATAGAL NANG DAPAT NAGAWANG
PAMUMUHUNAN SA HUMAN AT PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. KASAMA RITO ANG
BILYUN-BILYONG PISO SA EDUKASYON, KALINGA SA KALUSUGAN, TRAINING
KASAMA NG BILYUN-BILYON SA MGA BAGONG TULAY, KALSADA AT PANTALAN
TO UPGRADE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE PHILIPPINES. THIS IN TURN
ATTRACTS MORE INVESTMENTS AT LUMILIKHA NG MGA DAGDAG NA TRABAHO.
MAS MARAMING TRABAHO, MAS KAUNTING KAHIRAPAN.
AND WE NOT ONLY WANT TO HAVE THE HUMAN AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE,
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY TO BUSINESS BY REDUCING
RED TAPE AND CORRUPTION.
OUR ANTI-CORRUPTION ADVISER, MR. TONY KWOK, WHO WAS THE FORMER
ANTI-CORRUPTION CZAR IN HONG KONG AND WAS A KEY PLAYER IN EFFORTS
TO CLEAN UP CORRUPTION THERE, BELIEVES THAT PERCEPTIONS CLOUD
THE REALITY OF OUR PROGRESS IN REDUCING CORRUPTION AND RED TAPE
IN THE PHILIPPINES. THE FACT IS WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN THE EFFORT
TO CURB GRAFT THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE, THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE
CONTROLS AND THROUGH PROCEDURAL REFORMS. THIS EFFORT IS FOCUSED
ON THE REVENUE AGENCIES -- THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE IMPROVED THEIR
PERFORMANCE IN RECENT YEARS -- AND AGENCIES THAT ARE IN THE FRONTLINE
OF DAY-TO-DAY PUBLIC SERVICES…WE TAKE THIS ISSUE VERY SERIOUSLY
AND WE BELIEVE PERCEPTION WILL MATCH REALITY IN A FEW YEARS. HOWEVER,
THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER COUNTRIES
FOR GENERATIONS, AND AS EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN, IT WON’T NECESSARILY
BE ELIMINATED OVERNIGHT BUT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE.
MABISA ANG ATING PLANO SA EKONOMIYA. ITONG SECOND QUARTER NITONG
TAONG ITO, MULA ABRIL HANGGANG HUNYO, UMANGAT ANG PRODUKSYON SA
LOOB NG ATING BANSA O GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY 7.5 PERCENT. THAT
BRINGS THE FIRST SEMESTER GDP GROWTH TO 7.3 PERCENT. UMANGAT NAMAN
ANG MGA PRODUKSYON NG MGA PILIPINO, KASAMA YUNG MGA OVERSEAS FILIPINOS,
O GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT NG 8.3 PERCENT.
ANG OVERSEAS REMITTANCES MULA
SA MGA PILIPINONG KATULAD NINYO NA NASA LABAS NG BANSA AY UMAABOT
NA NG 13 BILLION PESOS O 11 PERCENT NG ATING GDP.
ANG ATING BANGKO SENTRAL AY MASIPAG NA NAGTATRABAHO UPANG IANGAT
ANG TINATAWAG NILANG FINANCIAL LITERACY LALO NA NG MGA OVERSEAS
FILIPINO WORKERS AT KANILANG MGA PAMILYA. NAGKAKAMPANYA ANG CENTRAL
BANK AT ANG KANYANG MENSAHE: ANG FINANCIAL FREEDOM AY HINDI TUMITIGIL
SA MAY SAPAT NA PONDO PARA ISUSTENTO ANG MGA BATAYANG PANGANGAILANGAN
NG ISANG PAMILYA. NAG-IIPON NG PAG-IIMPOK AND TURNING THIS HARD-EARNED
MONEY INTO SOLID WORKING CAPITAL IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT. SA MGA
FINANCIAL LITERACY CAMPAIGNS NG BANGKO SENTRAL, PINAIIRAL ANG
KULTURA NG PAG-IIMPOK. OFWs AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED
TO CHANNEL THESE SAVINGS INTO INVESTMENTS.
IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL THE OTHER DAY, THEY WROTE A BEAUTIFUL
ARTICLE ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. OUR HARSH MEASURES ARE PAYING OFF
WITH OUR GROWTH RATE. AND THAT ARTICLE BY JAMES HOOKWAY ALSO SAID
THAT A LOT OF THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ARE NOT JUST SENDING THINGS
FOR BASIC NECESSITIES BUT ARE ALSO INVESTING.
NGAYON, PARAMI NANG PARAMI ANG MGA REMITTANCES NA GINAGAMIT SA
PAMUMUHUNAN SA HUMAN RESOURCE CAPITAL SA PAMAMAGITAN NG EDUKASYON
AT KALINGA SA KALUSUGAN NG MGA BENEPISYARYO; PHYSICAL CAPITAL
SA PAMAMAGITAN NG REAL PROPERTIES, KASAMA ANG PAGBILI NG LUPA
AT PAGTAYO NG TAHANAN; AND ALSO IN YOUR CASE, OUR PROSPEROUS OVERSEAS
FILIPINOS, YOU SUPPORT GAWAD KALINGA AND SO MANY OTHER PROJECTS
THAT ARE REALLY REAL PROPERTY INVESTMENTS; PATI NA RIN YUNG SA
RETIREMENT HOMES NA BINEBENTA NG ATING PHILIPPINE RETIREMENT AUTHORITY
CHAIR EDGARDO AGLIPAY SA ATING MGA OVERSEAS FILIPINOS; FINANCIAL
AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT SA PAMAMAGITAN NG FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
GAYA NG STOCKS, MUTUAL FUNDS, MGA NEGOSYO GAYA NG MGA SME AT YUNG
MGA MICROFINANCE GAYA NG OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL, WE THANK OUR
PROSPEROUS OVERSEAS FILIPINOS BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUPPORTED A LOT
OF MICROFINANCE NGOs. KAYA TALAGANG NAGPAPALIT ANG KULTURA NG
MGA REMITTANCE AT SANA TULUY-TULOY ITO.
GINAGALANG NG ATING BANSA, NG
ATING MAMAMAYAN ANG MGA OVERSEAS FILIPINOS DAHIL SA INYONG SAKRIPISYO
AT MALASAKIT SA INYONG TRABAHO, INYONG PAMILYA AT ATING BANSA.
BUONG LOOB NA TINATANGGAP ANG MGA KONTRIBUSYON NINYO WHETHER IT
IS AS REMITTANCES TO YOUR FAMILIES, WHICH TAKE THE FORM NOT JUST
OF BASIC NEEDS BUT OF INVESTMENTS OR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO CLASSROOMS,
CONTRIBUTIONS TO GAWAD KALINGA HOMES, CONTRIBUTIONS TO MICROFINANCE.
BUT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE DAY WHEN THE ORDINARY FILIPINO
NO LONGER NEEDS TO GO ABROAD FOR A JOB. THAT OVERSEAS WORK IS
JUST ANOTHER CAREER OPTION AND NOT THE ONLY CHOICE A HARDWORKING
FILIPINO HAS TO EARN A LIVING. OUR AMBITIOUS ECONOMIC REFORMS
WILL HELP BREAK THE OFFSHORE CYCLE. IT WILL INCREASINGLY BE KEEPING
OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST RIGHT IN THE PHILIPPINES, CLOSER TO FAMILIES
AND FRIENDS, HELPING TO BUILD OUR COMMUNITIES, AND PROVIDING THE
NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP.
IN FACT, IN MY VISITS TO OTHER
COUNTRIES AND ALSO IN MY VISITS TO OUR INVESTMENTS FROM ABROAD
COMING TO THE PHILIPPINES, MORE AND MORE FILIPINOS HAVE AVAILED
OF, I BELIEVE, OF THE DUAL CITIZENSHIP ACT OF 2003 WHICH LOLITA
TALKED ABOUT. AND AS FAR AS THE OVERSEAS VOTING IS CONCERNED,
WE ARE OPEN TO IDEAS FOR FURTHER IMPROVING THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT OF 2003 TO ENCOURAGE MORE
FILIPINOS OVERSEAS TO REGISTER AND VOTE. I’M SURE THE CONGRESSMEN
AND CONGRESSWOMEN WHO ARE HERE WILL BE HAPPY TO LISTEN TO YOUR
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW THAT LAW CAN BE IMPROVED.
WE HAVE ALSO STRENGTHENED THE “BALIK-SCIENTIST” PROGRAM
BY INCREASING THE INCENTIVES FOR FILIPINOS TO SHARE THEIR SCIENTIFIC
AND TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE FOR NATION-BUILDING IN THE PHILIPPINES.
ONE OF OUR FILIPINO-AMERICANS, DADO BANATAO IS NOW HELPING US
IMPLEMENT A SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-BASED DEVELOPMENT PLAN. AND
BECAUSE OF THE MASTER PLAN THAT THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER, WE ARE
NOW SPENDING MORE THAN A BILLION PESOS A YEAR ON NEW EXPENDITURES
ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MASTERS
AND DOCTORAL DEGREES IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
AND FOR OFWs COMING HOME, WE HAVE THE NATIONAL REINTEGRATION CENTER
THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST RETURNING FILIPINO OVERSEAS
WORKERS TO DEVELOP SKILLS THEY WILL NEED WHEN THEY DECIDE TO RETURN
TO THE PHILIPPINES PERMANENTLY.
MARAMING MGA OVERSEAS FILIPINOS AY UMUUWI NA PARA MAGTRABAHO SA
MGA BAGONG INVESTMENTS. AND I HAVE SEEN THEM. FOR INSTANCE, TEXAS
INSTRUMENTS IN CLARK, THERE ARE FILIPINOS WHO HAVE COME HOME TO
WORK THERE. WHEN I WENT TO HANJIN IN SUBIC -- IT’S A ONE-BILLION
DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN SUBIC, AND THEY’RE GOING TO PUT SEVERAL
HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN ANOTHER FACILITY COMING UP SOON --
WHEN I INTERVIEWED THOSE WHO WERE WORKING THERE, I ASKED THEM,
“ANO ANG GINAGAWA NIYO DATI?” YUNG IBA FISHERMAN DATI,
YUNG IBA HOUSEWIFE, YUNG IBA NAGBABANDA-BANDA DOON SA MGA DISCO
NG OLONGAPO. BUT SOME OF THEM WERE OVERSEAS WORKERS WHO FOUND
THAT THEIR JOB IN HANJIN IS COMPARABLE TO THE JOB THEY HAD ABROAD…KAYA
INAASAHAN KONG LAHAT TAYO AY TULUY-TULOY NA MAGTUTULUNGAN PARA
SA IKABUBUTI NG ATING BAYAN. AT INAASAHAN KONG TAYO AY MAGSISIKAP
AT SAMA-SAMANG AABUTIN ANG ATING LAYUNIN PARA SA IKAUUNLAD NG
PILIPINAS.
YOU, THE FILIPINO COMMUNITIES IN AUSTRALIA AND AROUND THE WORLD,
HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN THE PHILIPPINES' PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY. WHATEVER YOUR PROFESSION, WHEREVER YOU RESIDE, I’M
GLAD THAT YOU WILLINGLY CARRY THE INDELIBLE MARK OF THE FILIPINO.
I’M GLAD THAT YOU ARE CONFIDENT OF YOUR COMPETENCE, YOUR
BRILLIANCE AND YOUR STANDING IN BOTH YOUR MOTHERLAND AND IN YOUR
HOST COUNTRY. INDEED, THE FILIPINO IS A TRUE GLOBAL CITIZEN. ANG
PILIPINO AY ISANG TUNAY NA MAMAMAYANG GLOBAL.
KAYA MGA MINAMAHAL KONG KABABAYAN: NANINIWALA AKO SA PANGITAIN
NG ISANG MAMAMAYAN, MAUNLAD AT PROGRESIBONG PILIPINAS. AT ALAM
KO NA KAYO AY NANINIWALA RIN DOON, KAYA TAUN-TAON GUMAGAWA KAYO
NG NETWORKING CONVENTION. WHAT IS THE COMMONALITY EVEN IF YOU
COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD -- YOU ARE FILIPINOS AND YOU LOVE
YOUR COUNTRY. ITO’Y LAHAT NG PROGRESO NG PILIPINAS -- IMAGINE,
YOU ARE 11 PERCENT OF OUR GDP. YOU CONTRIBUTE -- LAHAT NITO NA
MGA HANGARIN NATIN NA PAGKAPROGRESO NG PILIPINAS AY MAKAKAMIT
LAMANG SA TULONG NINYO. KASI HALIMBAWA, YUNG SA NEW ZEALAND, KINIKUWENTO
SA AKIN, PAG PUMUPUNTA YUNG 25 PERCENT NILA SA IBANG BANSA GAYA
RITO, TINUTULUNGAN PA NG MGA NANAY AT TATAY NILA NA GALING SA
NEW ZEALAND. KAYO THE OPPOSITE, KAYO ANG TUMUTULONG.
IMAGINE KUNG ANG ATING BANSA HINDI
GANUN ANG KULTURA, KUNG HINDI KAYO TUMUTULONG, YUNG 11 PERCENT
NG GDP WALA SANA IYON. TALAGANG NAPAKALAKING BAGAY NA ANG MGA
PILIPINO KAHIT NA SAAN SA BUONG MUNDO, MAHAL PA RIN ANG PILIPINAS.
KAYA HINDI BRAIN DRAIN DAHIL IBINABALIK NINYO SA INYONG INVESTMENTS,
NOT ONLY FOR THE FUTURE WHEN YOU GO HOME BUT EVEN WHILE YOU ARE
ABROAD, TINUTULUNGAN NINYO ANG ATING BANSA.
SA PAGKAKAISA AT BAYANIHAN, WALANG
MAKAKAHADLANG SA PAG-USBONG NG BAGONG PILIPINAS DAHIL GANOON ANG
PILIPINO: KAHIT NA SAAN SA BUONG MUNDO, PILIPINO PA RIN.
AKO’Y NASISIYAHAN SA INYO,
MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.
* * *
|
