Aquino to grace 112th PMA alumni homecoming
President Benigno S. Aquino III will be the guest of honor on Saturday at the 112th alumni homecoming of Asia’s premier military school, the Philippine Military Academy(PMA).
The biggest gathering of graduates of the PMA will bring together over 2,000 alumni, together with their families, in an act of homage to the institution, their "mistahs," and the unwavering band of brotherhood formed behind the walls of the academy.
It will be the first time the President will step into the sacred Borromeo Field as the country's chief executive.
During the ceremony, the President will witness the recognition of the Cavalier Awardees, Diamond Jubilarians (Class 1951), Golden Jubilarians (Class 1961), and Silver Jubilarians (Class 1986), and the oath –taking of the PMA Alumni Association Inc.
The Alumni Homecoming which starts on Thursday and ends on Saturday, include traditional sporting festivities, class picnics, and the parade that will be attended by the President.
The PMA annually calls on alumni, now the leaders of the country's military, to go back to the hallowed grounds of the Borromeo Field, back to the institution where they were molded. (PCOO)
Aquino urges Rizalistas to continue the legacy of Jose Rizal
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday challenged the 12,000 strong members of the Knights of Rizal worldwide to continue the legacy of national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and help the government in the fight against poverty and wrongdoings in the public service.
In his speech keynoting the 18th Knights of Rizal and 2011 International Assembly and Conference on Rizal with the theme, “The New Rizals: Emerging Leaders Innovating Across Sectors (ELIAS) and Beyond Borders,” held at the centennial ballroom of the Manila Hotel, the President said that the three-day gathering was a reminder of the tasks that national hero, Jose P. Rizal, gave to the country.
“The real reason we are gathered here is not just because of an anniversary, not just because of history, but also because of the fact that we must remember and reignite the ideals that our national hero Jose Rizal gave his entire life to. Today is a reminder of the tasks that lay ahead all of us,” the President said.
The President admitted that he is aware of all accomplishments and achievements of the Knights of Rizal but they need to continue their dedicated work to fulfill the real dream of Jose Rizal for the Philippines.
“You are knights; complete with ranks and insignia, which are recognized by the Honors code of the Philippines as official awards of the Republic, and if you hold strong and continue your dedicated work, and if each and every person in this country does the same, then we will forge further onward into being the Philippines that Jose Rizal once dreamed of, that all of us continue to dream of,” he further said.
He also urged them to learn the lessons from the famous anecdotes about Rizal particularly when the Spanish doctor noticed that he was perfectly calm minutes before his actual execution.
“This is the power of knowing that one is doing the right thing, of having a clear conscience, and we must learn from this,” he said noting that each and every Filipino must have returned to much older, more classical, and much nobler ideals of the country’s heroes - the ideals of honesty, transparency and nationalism.
Being a renaissance man, he said, Jose Rizal was a writer, a doctor, a scientist, a teacher, and a linguist.
During the program, the President was conferred the Knight Grand Cross of Rizal, the highest degree of the Order bestowed on him for his uncompromising stand and initiatives for moral leadership, clean governance, commendable civic virtues and pro-people programs.
The same recognition was awarded posthumously to his late father, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., on December 30, 1986.
The citation of the Order was presented to the President by Don Emilio Yap, KGCR, chairman of Manila Hotel, and Roger Quiambao, KGCR conference chairman while deputy supreme commander Reghis Romero II, KGCR, supreme chancellor Jeremias Singson gave the sash and medallion. The ceremonial sword was awarded to the President by Justo P. Torres Jr., KGCR supreme commander emeritus and Dr. Pablo Trillana III, supreme commander Order of the Knights of Rizal.
The Order of the Knights of Rizal was started on Dec. 30, 1911 when Colonel Antonio C. Torres organized a group for the purpose of commemorating in a fitting manner the execution and martyrdom of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
The Order is a patriotic, civic, non-partisan organization chartered under Republic Act 646 which traces its genealogy to the association of the Caballeros de Rizal which was founded in 1911. The three-day assembly and conference is a banner occasion of the Rizalistas for the 150th birth anniversary of the country’s national hero. (PCOO)
Aquino calls nation to unite in prayer for three Filipinos facing death in China
President Benigno S. Aquino III called on all Filipinos to unite in offering prayers in hopes that top officials of the People’s Republic of China (PROC) would grant clemency to the three Filipinos in the death row for drug-related cases.
In a media briefing at the Palace Friday, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte expressed the appeal of the President to the nation in efforts to push for the reprieve of his countrymen facing death penalty in China.
“The entire Filipino nation is united in appealing for leniency before the top officials of the PROC, so that our countrymen meted out with the death penalty may be granted clemency”, the Chief Executive’s statement read.
“May I call on all Filipinos, led by our religious leaders of all faiths to unite ourselves in prayer beginning today at sundown, at the pealing of the bell for the Angelus or during the most quiet and meditative times consistent with our respective faiths”, it added.
President Aquino assured that the government is exerting all possible efforts – the latest of which was his appeal to the President of China and the trip of Vice President Jejomar Binay to personally make an appeal as the three Filipinos await a most desired action: Stay the execution.
The government’s hope stemmed from an earlier success when it incessantly appealed to the leadership of China that resulted to the reprieve of Filipinos Myrna San Pedro and Estela Capunong.
The government publicly thanked China’s leaders for tempering justice with mercy holding the belief that it has found a soft spot in the hearts of Chinese ranking officials.
The President expressed high hopes that consolidated prayers will soar to the heavens to touch the heart of God – the God who “will make a way where there seems to be no way”.
At seven this morning, Vice President Binay left for China onboard Philippine Airlines flight PR358 bound for Beijing in a last ditch effort to save the lives of the three Filipinos there.
The Vice President, upon instructions of the President, will formally make his plea with the Chinese government for the reprieve.
"As instructed by President Aquino, I leave this morning for Beijing to appeal for clemency for our three kababayans on death row." VP Binay said in his pre-departure statement. (PCOO)
