Aquino joins Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan
Youth Summit 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III joined thousands
of Filipino youth members of the Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan (KKB) who
held the Youth Summit 2012 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City
on Tuesday.
A smiling President Aquino, dressed in his
trademark yellow polo shirt and dark-colored slacks, vigorously waved to the
crowd, mostly composed of teen-age boys and girls, who welcomed him with
thunderous applause and cheers.
In his speech, the President thanked the KKB,
the youth arm of the Jesus is Lord (JIL) movement, for being given the
opportunity to join their congregation in celebrating the youth, whom he said
not only have a strong foundation in the Lord but a genuine love for country.
“Taos-puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa Jesus is Lord
Church Worldwide, at sa Kristiyanong Kabataan Para sa Bayan (KKB), sa paanyaya
ninyong makasalo ko kayo ngayong umaga. Nagagalak po akong makaharap ang isang
grupo ng mga kabataang Pinoy—na bukod sa matibay na pundasyon sa mga aral ng
Panginoon—ay taglay din ang wagas na pagmamahal sa ating Inang Bayan,” the
President said.
He also lauded the KKB for their programs and
projects, such as the School Outreach Ministry, youth camps and leadership
trainings and conferences,that help lead youngsters towards the straight path
and help them understand the ways of life.
“Hindi po matatawaran ang naging partisipasyon
at kontribusyon ng KKB Movement sa lipunan sa loob ng mahigit dalawang dekada.
Sa pamamagitan ng inyong School Outreach Ministry sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng
bansa, naipapalaganap ninyo ang salita ng Diyos—ang halaga ng Kanyang mga aral
sa kasalukuyang panahon. Sa inyong youth camps, leadership trainings at
conferences, nabibigyan ninyo ng pagkakataon ang kabataang Pinoy upang higit
nilang maintindihan ang mga usaping nakakaapekto sa kanilang hanay. Ito rin ang
nagsisilbing tulay upang sila mismo ay makilahok sa paghahatid ng makabuluhang
pagbabago sa kalakhang lipunan, at sa mga kapwa nila—mali ho pala ito—kapwa
“nating” kabataan,” the President said.
He appealed to the participants to never forget
the teachings learned during this two-day event as he challenged them to
inculcate into their lives the lessons of doing good.
“Sa mga panahong pong ito, huwag sana kayong
magpapalinlang, huwag sana kayong bibitiw sa liwanag ng kabutihang naikintal sa
inyo ng inyong simbahan, huwag kayong maliligaw sa tuwid na daan,” the
President said.
“Patuloy po nating patunayan sa buong mundo na
sa kapit-kamay nating pagtahak sa tuwid na landas, walang balakid ang sa atin
ay magpapahinto—mananatiling nagniningas ang apoy ng pag-asang sinindihan natin
noong simula; hindi magmamaliw ang tiwala at sigasig nating makamit ang liwanag
ng pagbabago sa atin pong bansa. Katuwang ang buong puwersa ng kabataang
Pilipino, sama-sama nating abutin ang Pilipinas na matagal na nating
pinapangarap,” he added.
The KKB movement was founded in 1989 as the
youth arm of the JIL movement, the largest independent born-again evangelical
church in the Philippines.
At present, KKB has 185 central chapters, 932
national chapters, and 17 Christian Youth for Nation (international chapters).
(PCOO)
Aquino receives Sun Life Financial officials in
Malacanang
President Benigno S. Aquino III met newly
appointed Sun Life Financial president and chief executive officer Dean Connor
in a courtesy call in Malacanang on Tuesday.
During his meeting with the President, Connor
was accompanied by Sun Life Financial executive vice president Thomas Bogart,
Sun Life Asia president Kevin Strain and Sun Life Financial Philippines
president and CEO Rizalina Mantaring.
Sun Life Financial Philippines, one of the
largest insurers in the country, offers a wide spectrum of products that
include life insurance, accidental insurance, pension plans, education plans
and mutual funds. It has almost half a million policy holders to date.
Sun Life Financial Philippines is represented in
the country by its life insurance arm, Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc.
(SLOCPI); its mutual fund manager, Sun Life Asset Management Co. Inc. (SLAMC);
and its pre-need business distributor, Sun Life Financial Plans Inc (SLFPI).
SLOCPI pioneered life insurance in the
Philippines in 1895.
Sun Life Philippines is part of the Sun Life
Financial (SLF) group of companies. Sun Life Financial Inc. is an international
leader in protection and wealth management with key operations in Canada, the
United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, India, China,
Bermuda, and the Philippines.
Connor said his company has major investments in
infrastructure in North America such as roads, bridges, hospitals and other
projects. The company considers Asia as one of major pillars of its operations
in the future, he said.
Joining President Aquino during the courtesy
call were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo.
(PCOO)
Malacanang hails conviction of Chief Justice
Renato Corona
Malacanang hailed the decision of the Senate on
Tuesday for convicting Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato C. Corona saying the
verdict is a major leap towards restoring public confidence in the country’s
judicial system.
“This afternoon, 20 senators voted to convict
Mr. Renato C. Corona on Article II of the Articles of Impeachment. Our
democratic institutions have been strengthened and have been proven to work,”
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press statement
following the Senate decision.
“Mr. Corona is merely the public face of the
things that ail our justice system. Let us never forget that those who come to
court, be they rich or poor, must do so in the expectation of receiving
impartial justice from those who uphold both the spirit and the letter of the
law. The verdict of the Senate is a step forward in terms of restoring public
confidence in our courts and trust in the members of the judiciary,” Valte
added.
Senators voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday with 20
lawmakers deciding for the removal of Corona from office. Only three senators
acquitted Corona.
The Senate verdict made Corona the first
government official to be convicted by an impeachment court.
After 43 days of trial, most of the senators
decided to remove Corona from office arguing that the top magistrate no longer
deserves his post for dishonesty and failure to lawfully disclose his assets.
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court,
tried Corona based on three articles of impeachment charged against him by the
House of Representatives.
Among the senators who convicted Corona were
Senators Edgardo Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon,
Francis Escudero, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, TG Guingona, Gregorio “Gringo”
Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Sergio Osmena III,
Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan, and Koko Pimentel, Ralph Recto, Ramon “Bong”
Revilla, Tito Sotto, Antonio Trillanes, Manuel Villar, and presiding officer
Juan Ponce Enrile.
On the other hand, Senators Joker Arroyo,
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Miriam Santiago voted for Corona’s acquittal. (PCOO)
