Pnoy rallies Filipinos to unite, continue spirit of ‘bayanihan’

2013 critical year, choose new leaders wisely, he says

By MARIE-ALSIE G. PENARANDA

MANILA (PinoyNews) – President Benigno S. Aquino III has described 2012 as “the best year for the Philippines for a long time,” even as he vowed to push his anti-corruption efforts and good governance called “Matuwid na Daan” this year.

In his New Year message to the nation, the President said that 2013 is “a crossroad for the nation” and called on his countrymen to choose wisely the new leaders in the coming elections.
In his message in Filipino, the President renewed his call for unity and fostering “bayanihan” (cooperation) in transforming the nation into a corrupt-free society devoid of vested interests, greed and factionalism.
The Filipinos should continue fostering the spirit of “bayanihan” in order for the advancements achieved by the government to improve the image of the Philippines as the former “Sick Man of Asia” into the revitalized tiger it is today, to carry over into 2013 and the succeeding New Years, the President stressed.
Mr. Aquino said that only after two and a half years in Office, his Administration was able to achieve historic feats such as building lasting peace through the signing of a Framework Agreement with the MILF, attaining rice sufficiency by plugging leaks and properly managing rice production in the agriculture sector, bridging the classroom gap, alleviating poverty by investing in social and infrastructure endeavors, bringing electricity to far-flung sitios and improving the economy which has now grown 7.1 percent to be the best performer in Asia.
He added that by implementing reforms in the judiciary and improving the country’s ability to respond to natural calamities, the Philippines has shown to the entire world the readiness of Filipinos to sacrifice and dedicate his entire self to achieve his dreams and ambitions.
The New Year is critical to the growth of the nation,” the President said.
“Ang 2013 ay kritikal na yugto sa ating krusada ng pangmatagalang kaunlaran at tuwid na pamamahala. Ngayong bagong taon, mas maigting na pagkakaisa ang kailangan. Umaasa akong magiging mapanuri ang taumbayan sa pagkilatis ng mga itatalagang pinuno,” he said.
“Ang mga pinunong ito ang tutugon sa panawagan nating isulong ang dangal at katapatan sa paglilingkod-bayan; Ang mga pinunong ito ang aasahan nating didilig sa mga repormang ating ipinunla. Kaya naman mahalaga ang ating paninindigan at pagtitimbang kung saang direksyon tutungo ang ating bansa: Sabay-sabay ba tayong sasagwan patungo sa landas kung saan nangingibabaw ang kapakanan ng Pilipino? O hahayaan lang natin na muling matangay ang Pilipinas sa mga daluyong ng panlalamang, pagkakanya-kanya’t kurapsyon?” the President said.
The Chief Executive said that cooperation, hard work and trust and confidence with each other are the key to our success for a more stable and prosperous nation.
In describing 2012 as one of the best for
the country, Mr. Aquino pointed out that the nation posted the highest third-quarter growth in Southeast Asia and his administration signed a historic framework agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The Aquino administration’s ousting of Chief Justice Renato Corona and placement of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo under hospital arrest also contributed to this year’s success, said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.
“This year we saw the full effect of political will used correctly and for the right purposes, knowing that power is merely lent by the people to their leaders to ultimately serve the country’s best interests,” n Lacierda said.
“While these past two-and-a-half years have been a period of continued renewal for the country, 2012 in particular has been a year of rebuilding and restoration,” he added.
The Philippines posted a 7.1-percent growth in its gross domestic product in the third quarter, and the government expects its fourth-quarter growth to be as robust.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index also soared above expectations and breached the 5,800 mark, while the peso appreciated by as much as 6 percent against the dollar this year.
“These positive indicators are underpinned by an administration that has maintained fiscal discipline, initiated reforms to ramp up quality public spending, and invested heavily in both social and physical infrastructure,” Lacierda said.
He said 2012 was also “a time for celebration and pride for the reclaimed standing of our country as we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other rising nations of the world.”
“In 2012 we turned the corner, fixed the damage wrought by the crooked ways of the past, and established further that the straight path is the only way forward,” Lacierda said.
He cited Corona’s ouster and Arroyo’s imprisonment as some of the judicial-reform accomplishments of the administration.
“The message is clear: If a Chief Justice can be impeached—and a former President put under hospital arrest for alleged plunder and electoral sabotage—then so can anyone; a crime is a crime, regardless of wealth or status in society,” Lacierda said.
He also cited the important legislative measures signed into law by
President Benigno Aquino III, including the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act and the Sin Tax Reform Act, and the passage of the controversial Responsible Parenthood bill.
“As the administration embarks on 2013, there is all the more reason for Filipinos to travel on the straight path under the leadership of President Aquino and the adherents to his noble cause,” Lacierda said.

The complete text of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s New Year message follows:
“Kay bilis po talaga ng panahon: Ito na po ang ikatlong bagong taon na ipagdiriwang ng sambayanan sa tuwid na daan. At hindi po maikakaila na sinasalubong natin ang bawat pagpapalit ng taon nang may matibay na pag-asa at kompiyansang mas magiging makabuluhan, at higit na makahulugan ang mga susunod pang taon sa landas ng tapat at mabuting pamamahala.
Kung dati, milyun-milyong tonelada ng bigas ang nabubulok sa mga warehouse dahil sa maling pamamalakad, ngayon, dahil sa tamang pamamahala, hindi na lamang rice self-sufficiency, kundi ang pag-e-export ng matataas na klase ng bigas ang habol natin pagdating ng 2013.
Ang minana natin mula sa ating sinundan —66, 800 na kakulangan sa silid aralan. Ang pamana ng tuwid na landas sa mga kabataan—sapat na classroom, sapat na mesa’t upuan, sapat na aklat, para sa kanilang mas mayamang kinabukasan.
Matagal rin po tayong binansagang “Sick Man of Asia.” Subalit dahil sa pambihirang arangkada ng ating ekonomiya, sunud-sunod ang mga namumuhunan sa ating bansa. At mukhang magpapatuloy ang ganitong kompiyansa ng mundo sa atin —ang 7.1 percent na pag-angat ng GDP nitong 3rd quarter, ay higit sa inaasahang target ng mga dalubhasa, at siyang pinakamataas sa buong Timog Silangang Asya.
Hindi lang po rito nagtatapos ang pagbuhos ng mabubuting balita, tagumpay at biyaya sa bansa. Mula sa patuloy na pag-angat ng all time high ng Philippine Stock Exchange, hanggang sa pagpapanday ng pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa Bangsamoro; mula sa pagliwanag ng libu-libong mga sitio, hanggang sa pagkakapasa ng ilang makasaysayang batas; mula sa pagpapantay sa timbangan ng katarungan hanggang sa kahandaan at bayanihan ng sambayanan sa harap ng mga pagsusungit ng kalikasan, pinapatunayan natin sa buong mundo —basta’t handa tayong gawin ang tama’t magsakripisyo para sa ating kapwa, basta’t sumasagwan tayo nang sabay sa ngalan ng sambayanan, walang pangarap na hindi kayang abutin ang ating bansa.
Simula lamang po ito. Sa totoo lang po, ang kaisa-isang limitasyon sa tayog ng ating mararating ay ang ating ambisyon. Nasa pagtutulungan at tiwala natin sa isa’t isa ang susi ng tagumpay. Ang 2013 ay kritikal na yugto sa ating krusada ng pangmatagalang kaunlaran at tuwid na pamamahala. Ngayong bagong taon, mas maigting na pagkakaisa ang kailangan. Umaasa akong magiging mapanuri ang taumbayan sa pagkilatis ng mga itatalagang pinuno.
Ang mga pinunong ito ang tutugon sa panawagan nating isulong ang dangal at katapatan sa paglilingkod-bayan. Ang mga pinunong ito ang aasahan nating didilig sa mga repormang ating ipinunla.
Kaya naman mahalaga ang ating paninindigan at pagtitimbang kung saang direksyon tutungo ang ating bansa. Sabay-sabay ba tayong sasagwan patungo sa landas kung saan nangingibabaw ang kapakanan ng Pilipino, o hahayaan lang natin na muling matangay ang Pilipinas sa mga daluyong ng panlalamang, pagkakanya-kanya’t kurapsyon?
Ang aking hiling ngayong 2013 —ituloy lang natin ang bayanihan. Kapit-bisig tayong humakbang tungo sa maliwanag at masaganang kinabukasan ng ating bayan.
Muli po, kasama po ninyo akong umaasa na ang ating bagong taon ay di hamak na mas maganda sa nakalipas na taon.”