President Aquino leads Rizal Day rites
TARLAC CITY) President Benigno Aquino III on
Monday led rites marking the martyrdom of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal here.
The President arrived shortly before 7 a.m. at
the City Plazuela for the flag-raising ceremony.
He then offered flowers before the Rizal
monument.
Present were officials including National
Historical Commission of the Philippines head Ma. Serena Diokno, Philippine
National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima and Armed Forces of the
Philippines chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.
Also present were local officials led by Tarlac
Governor Victor Yap.
Rizal was executed in what is now Luneta Park on
Dec. 30, 1896.
Similar rites marking Rizal's martyrdom were
observed in other areas of the country. PND (jl)
President Aquino: Remainder of term crucial,
stay along straight path
With the New Year signaling what he likened to
the crucial last two minutes of a basketball game, President Benigno S. Aquino
III urged Filipinos to stay along the straight path and help him achieve
much-needed reforms.
In his New Year's message, the President also
said the remaining traces of corruption are about to fall due to good
governance under his watch.
"Papasok na naman po tayo sa panibagong
taon sa pagtahak sa tuwid na daan; at kumbaga po sa larong basketball, papasok
na rin tayo sa last two minutes. Sa natitirang yugto ng ating termino, wala
tayong sasayanging sandali; bawat makabuluhang ambag ng Pilipino ay magpapanalo
sa laban natin tungo sa pag-asenso (We are about to enter a new year. If this
were a basketball game, it would be the crucial last two minutes. We have no
time to waste. Each achievement we make will be a victory for Filipinos),"
he said.
"Malinaw po, dahil sa mas maayos na
pamamalakad, natitibag na ang mga huling balwarte ng katiwalian; at patuloy
tayong nakakapaglatag ng pagkakataon para sa ating mga kababayan (But it is
clear that because of good governance, the remaining traces of corruption are
about to vanish, and we will have more chances to help our people
prosper)," he added.
The President also reiterated the support of his
Bosses - the people - for staying the straight path is important as well.
He added it is important that they stayed along
the straight path so they will have a legacy to leave to the next generation.
"Kayo na aming mga Boss ang nagkukumpas ng
direksyong ating tatahakin. Magpatuloy lang po tayo sa pagkakapit-bisig, mula
sa kabataang umaasang makaambag at dumamay sa paghubog ng mas magandang lipunan
hanggang sa mga nakakatanda na may obligasyong magpamana ng maunlad na
kinabukasan sa susunod na henerasyon (You our Bosses determine the direction
our country will take. Let us stay along the straight path so we may leave a
good legacy to the next generation)," he said.
This year, the President said Filipinos managed
to overcome several challenges, including those brought by calamities.
"Bilang bayan na may kolektibong layunin,
nagpakita tayo ng pambihirang gilas ngayong taon sa kabila ng patung-patong na
pagsubok na ating pinagdaanan. Talagang marami po tayong napagtagumpayan
ngayong 2013 (As a nation with a collective vision, we have proven ourselves
despite the challenges that came our way this year)," he said.
He also said justice is close at hand as far as
the Priority Development Assistance Fund row is concerned, even as the
government has set up mechanisms to make sure only the people benefit from
taxpayers' money.
On the other hand, he noted that the first
synchronization of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
with the national polls was successfully held this year.
The government also made progress in peace talks
with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front with the signing of an annex on power
sharing for the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
Also, the President cited several pieces of good
news, including:
- The Technical and Educational Skills
Development Authority's Training for Work Scholarship Program benefited 576,748
students from July 2010 to November 2013, with 62.4 percent of graduates
finding jobs, compared to 28.5 percent from 2006 to 2008.
- A 29-notch improvement in Transparency
International's Corruption Index in the last three years, from 134th place in
2010 to 105th in 2013.
- The Philippines has the highest recorded Gross
Domestic Product growth in Southeast Asia. For the first time, the Philippines
achieved investment grade status from three prominent credit ratings agencies.
- A lower unemployment rate this year as the
government addresses the jobs and skills mismatch.
- The continuation of the Training and
Apprenticeship Program, to fill up vacancies in the job market.
Meanwhile, the President said there are still
obstacles to hurdle in the crucial last part of his term.
He also said some groups are
"desperate" and are trying to thwart the progress made under his
watch.
"Batid nating hindi basta basta titiklop
ang mga latak ng lumang sistema. Habang lumalapit tayo sa ating tagumpay, lalo
rin naman silang magiging desperado at magtatangkang idiskaril ang ating agenda
(We are aware those who benefited from the old system will not go quietly. As
we near victory, they will be desperate and try to derail us from our
agenda)," he said.
But he also said the Filipinos have shown their
toughness in the face of calamities.
"Alam din po nating mayroon pang mga
kalamidad na susubok sa ating katatagan bilang bayan. Pero lagi nating handang
patunayan, manggulo man ang masasamang loob, yanigin man tayo ng lindol, o
hagupitin ng bagyo, nangingibabaw pa rin ang lakas ng ating bayanihan (We know
there will be calamities that will test us. But we have proven time and again
that we are strong because we are united)," he said.
For 2014, President Aquino asked Filipinos to
always be on the side of what is right and just.
He also said the government is always ready to
listen to suggestions on how to make reforms permanent and long-term. PND (jl)
