Aquino prays for strength and fortitude to face challenges
President Benigno S. Aquino III prayed for more strength to face the challenges of running a country and fortitude in dealing with criticisms.
In a prayer he offered during the K4 Philippines Intercessors’ Convergence at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Sunday, the President thanked the Lord for His blessing which helped the country rise from the shackles of darkness and despair.
He added that with the Lord’s guidance, the Filipino’s hope of reaching true peace and prosperity was becoming a reality.
However, he lamented, there were those who still stand in the country’s path of growth and continue to test our strength as a nation.
Give us the strength and fortitude to face these challenges, the President said.
Protect our country from those who wish to see us fail in our endeavor. We pray that You continue to bless us in our duty to serve others first instead of ourselves, he added.
“Bahaginan mo kami ng kababaang loob sa gitna ng anumang karangalan o tagumpay upang ang mga ito ay mai-alay namin muli sa Iyo at maibahagi namin para sa aming kapwa tao na nagpupuri sa iyo,” the President said.
In closing, the President vowed to continue to work for the betterment of the Filipino people.
Below is the complete text of President Aquino’s prayer.
“Mahal naming Panginoon, maraming salamat sa Inyong pagpa-pala kung saan nag-bukal ang aming pagbangon at paglaya mula sa kadiliman.”
“Sa aming pagtahak sa tuwid na daan, ginabayan Ninyo kami upang muling masilayan ng aming bayan ang liwanag.”
Dahil sa Inyong kadakilaan at kapangyarihan, nanumbalik po ang pag-asang makakamit na namin ang kaginhawaan at tunay na kaunlaran.
Gayunpaman, may mga sumusubok sa katatagan namin bilang isang bayan.
Bigyan Niyo po kami ng sapat na lakas at tatag ng loob upang harapin ito ng mas mahusay.
Protektahan po ninyo ang aming bansa mula sa mga taong nais kaming mabigo sa aming pagsusumikap. Nawa’y patuloy po Ninyong maipaalala ang tungkulin naming unahin ang kapakanan ng aming kapwa sa halip na pang-sariling interes lamang.
Bahaginan mo kami ng kababaang loob sa gitna ng anumang karangalan o tagumpay upang ang mga ito ay mai-alay namin muli sa Iyo at maibahagi namin para sa aming kapwa tao na nagpupuri sa iyo.
Dumating man ang mga hamon sa aming buhay, hindi po naming ito malalampasan ng wala ang Inyong pagpapala.
Buong loob namin haharapin ang mga ito na walang pag-iimbot dahil naniniwala kami sa aral at halaga ng pagtitiis at pagpapa-kumbaba.
Makaka-asa po kayo na ang gobyernong ito na pinagpala niyong suportahan at pagkatiwalaan ng taumbayan ay aktibong maglilingkod sa kanila.
Salamat po sa patuloy Ninyong pagiging tanglaw sa pagtataguyod ng pagbabago sa aming bayan.
Ipinapa-abot at ina-alay po namin ito sa ngalan ng Inyong mahal na Anak.
Amen.”
The K4 Intercessors Movement is an association of individuals, churches and organizations or institutions and even families, organized by K4IM Bishop Jonel Milan, that focuses its “K4 prayer”: Kalusugan (Health), Kaligtasan (Protection), Karunungan (Wisdom), and Katwiran (Righteousness) on the President and his Cabinet secretaries, governors or its equivalent, mayors, and barangay chairpersons as they are in the position to effect immediate change and contribute to nation building. (PCOO)
Aquino appoints more gov’t officials
President Benigno S. Aquino III swore in new officials of various government agencies to help his administration in the implementation of development programs that will bring about the economic and social change for the benefit of the Filipino people.
In simple mass oath taking ceremonies on Monday at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañang Palace on Monday, the Chief Executive administered the oath of office to the following newly appointed officials: Secretary Elisea Gozun as Presidential Assistant II for Climate Change and Ronald Llamas as Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs all under the Office of the President.
Also sworn in were Mr. Alfredo Pascual as the 20th president of the University of the Philippines (UP); Erlinda Basilio as Undersecretary for Policy of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); Rafael Seguis as Undersecretary for Administration (DFA); Esteban Conejos as Undersecretary for Migrant Workers (DFA); Cattleya Amador as Asst. Secretary, Office of the Presidential Spokesperson and William Varias as Assistant Secretary, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel (CPLC);
Hernani Panganiban as chairman as Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Department of Agriculture (DA); Ramon Alikpala as chairman of the Board of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Authority (MWSA)-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); Gerardo Esquivel as Acting Administrator, MWSA-DPWH; Teresita Manzala as chairman Professional Regulatory Commission, Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE); Carlos Cao Jr. as Administrator of the POEA-DoLE; Jose Martin Aliling as chairman and member of the board of the Northrail-Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC); Atty. Daniel Henares as member of the board of the Northrail-DoTC; Dr. Alex Ayco as member of the board of the PhilHealth-Department of Health (DoH).
Other officials who took their oath of office include: Albay Province Governor Joey Salceda as chairperson of the Albay – Region V, Regional Development Council under the office of National Development Economic Authority (NEDA) with Father Leo Casas as his co-chair.
Governor Victor Tanco Sr., as chairperson of the Capiz – Region VI, Regional Development Council-NEDA with Ma. Luisa Segovia as co-Chair.
Arego Melisimo as co-chairperson of the Negros Oriental –Region VII, Regional Development Council.
Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla the chairperson of the Leyte Region VIII, Regional Development Council-NEDA with Tiburcio Morales as co-chair; Mayor Evelyn Uy as chairperson of the Dipolog City Region IX Regional Development Council-NEDA with Enrico Montano as her co-chairperson.
Vicente Lao as co-chair of the Davao City Region XI, Regional Development Council.
Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio as chairperson of the General Santos City Region XII, Regional Development Council with Ramon Floresta as co-chair.
Governor Joel Baac, as chairperson of the Kalinga-Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) Regional Development Council-NEDA with Virgilio Bautista as co-chairperson.
Also sworn is Mr. Ramon del Rosario as Member of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council – representing the private sector also under the office of NEDA. (PCOO)
Palace says no need for relocation, evacuation of Filipinos in Egypt
Malacanang said there is no need, for now, to evacuate or repatriate some 6,500 Filipinos in Egypt.
“We have people on the ground. No need for relocation or evacuation. Our countrymen there are still okay,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.
She said a contingency plan is in place as President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered concerned government agencies to continue monitoring developments and make assessment on the situation in Cairo.
Valte stressed that the Departments of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, and Labor are continuously monitoring developments in Egypt.
She also said that the DFA informed the President that routes out of Egypt have been prepared just in case the need arises.
“Our responses are proportionate to our assessment,” Valte said.
According to the DFA, at least two land-based and one sea-based evacuation routes have been prepared if the need arises.
The land routes are to Tripoli in Libya and Amman in Jordan and the route via sea transport from the Port of Alexandria.
Reports said the official death toll from the political crisis stood near 100, with thousands injured.
Of the 6,569 Filipinos in Egypt, 3,083 are household workers while the others are scholars and skilled workers or executives. (PCOO)
Palace warns against false bomb threats
Malacañang today warned the public against making false bomb threats saying those caught giving false information will be investigated by the Department of Justice and will be dealt with severely.
Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte issued the warning after reports that a bomb planted within the grounds of the Assumption College in Makati City on Monday turned out to be a hoax.
“We would like to remind the public that anybody who is caught giving false bomb threats or giving false information will be investigated by the Department of Justice,” Valte said.
“This (false bomb threats) does not help in today’s circumstances and (Justice) Secretary (Leila) De Lima has assured that there will be very severe penalties for anybody who is caught giving false information about bomb threats,” she added.
In a report, Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio said a bomb squad was sent to investigate the bomb threat received by the Assumption College in Makati at around 9 a.m.
After a thorough search, investigators found no evidence of a bomb being planted within the school’s premises and declared the threat a hoax. (PCOO)
Palace confident of sustaining economic growth record
Malacañang expressed confidence that the government could sustain the economic growth record it posted last year through the strengthening of basic services, overseas remittances and a projected increase in foreign direct investments.
Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte, in a press conference in Malacañang on Monday said, the convergence of these three would result in a “healthy economy.”
“The conditional cash transfer and our other social services, we are banking on that to help keep our consumption buoyant. Second, we continue to expect remittances from abroad; and third, we continue to expect to have more direct investments from investors outside of the country,” Valte said.
“We expect to keep a healthy economy if you take all these three things together,” she noted.
The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) reported that the Philippine economy grew by 7.3 percent in the last three months of 2010.
The NSCB said the strong growth came during a period of peaceful political transition for the Philippines, as President Benigno S. Aquino III was voted into power during the presidential elections in May last year. (PCOO)
