LET ME JUST SHARE WITH YOU ONE VERY SPECIAL MOMENT IN MY LIFE AS GOVERNOR. THIS IS ABOUT AN NPA COMMANDER AND A BRIGADE COMMANDER WHO I ALWAYS INTERVIEWED WHEN I WAS STILL A BROADCASTER. WALA PANG CELLPHONES NOON, MAYROON LANG MGA TWO WAY RADIO OR SINGLE SIDE BANDS WHATEVER, I DO NOT KNOW. BUT I WENT THROUGH GREAT PAINS JUST TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE TWO MEN TO DIALOUGE IN MY RADIO PROGRAMS BEFORE. SABAY SILANG NARIRINIG. THAT WAS +9MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE ID LIKE TO THINK THEY HAD SOME KIND OF A MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER. PERHAPS IN THE WAY THEY CONDUCTED THEMSELVES IN BATTLE OR MAYBE EVEN IN THE FACT THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. IN 1992 THE NPA COMMANDER SURRENDERED TO THEN GOVERNOR BENJAMIN DY AND WHO TOOK HIM IN AND IS NOW A CAPITOL EMPLOYEE. HIS NAME IS ROLANDO LEE OR KA ILYAN. THE BRIGADE COMMANDER WAS GENERAL HOMER CAPULONG. COLONEL PA LANG SIYA NOON. HANGGANG NGAYON TEXT MATES PA RIN KAMI. LAST YEAR, HE CAME TO ISABELA TO INVITE ME AS GRADUATION SPEAKER IN THE WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA ECIJA WHERE HE IS ONE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I ASKED HIM, GENERAL, GUSTO MONG MAKITA NANG PERSONAL SI KA ILYAN? SO HERE THEY ARE. ONE OF THE NICEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE AS A BROADCASTER AND GOVERNOR.
ANOTHER STEP THAT I INITIATED IS TO MEET WITH THE POOR MEN’S LAWYERS, THE PAO’S (PUBLIC ATTORNEYS OFFICE)—TO LEARN FROM THEM THEIR PREDICAMENTS AND THOSE OF THEIR INDIGENT CLIENTS. EVEN BEFORE THE ENACTMENT OF RA 9406 LAST MARCH 2007 WHICH AUTHORIZES LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO GIVE FINANCIAL AND OTHER SUPPORT TO OUR PAO’S, I ALREADY WORKED FOR THE INCLUSION OF ALLOWANCES FOR THE PUBLIC ATTORNEYS IN ISABELA’S 2006 ANNUAL BUGET AND FROM THEN ON THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING REGULAR ALLOWANCES AND ASSISTANCE FROM THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT. WITH REGARD TO JUDGES, PROSECUTORS AND CLERKS OF COURT, I HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT I HAVE AGREED TO CONTINUE WHAT THE PREVIOUS LEADERS OF ISABELA WERE GIVING THEM FOR THEIR ALLOWANCES BUT ONLY AS AN AUGMENTATION TO THE INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, NOT TO SOLICIT ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL SPARE MY PEOPLE IF THEY EVER GET INTO TROUBLE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, AS IN THE CASE OF PDEA’S MAJOR MARCELINO, I HAVE SOME ISSUES TOO WITH PROSECUTORS IN ISABELA WHO LET PEOPLE GO SCOT FREE EVEN IF THEY ARE ALREADY CAUGHT RED HANDED.
FOREST PROTECTION
RIGHT NOW, IN ISABELA, I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY DIFFICULT MISSION THAT I DECIDED TO TAKE HEAD ON – THE FIGHT AGAINST THE BIG SYNDICATES IN ISABELA WHO HAVE BEEN RAMPANTLY DESTROYING THE SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS WHICH IS LOCATED IN 9 OF OUR 36 MUNICIPALITIES . IT IS IN ISABELA WHERE 30% TO 40% OF THE COUNTRY’S LAST REMAINING FOREST COVER REMAINS.
SO MANY TIMES A DAY, FOR TOO LONG NOW, TRUCKS FULL OF ILLEGALLY CUT LOGS PASS THROUGH OUR HIGHWAYS UNDETERRED BY THE DENR, WHILE WE LOSE BILLIONS OF PESOS IN CROP AND INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGES WHEN TYPHOONS AND FLOODS HIT US DUE TO DENUDED FORESTS.
NATURAL DISASTERS HIT US SO MANY TIMES A YEAR.IF ITS NOT THE WATERS, IT IS LACK OF THEM THAT CAUSE UNTOLD SUFFERING TO OUR FARMERS AND POOR FAMILIES, LIKE WHEN THE DROUGHT IN 2007 DAMAGED THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR WHOLE PROVINCIAL BUDGET FOR THE YEAR.
I WORKED WITH OUR SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN AND THEY APPROVED MY REQUEST OF APPROPRIATING P8M OF OUR OWN MONEY IN ORDER TO HELP PUT A STOP TO THE UNABATED CUTTING OF TREES IN OUR PART OF THE SIERRA MADRES. OF THE ONE MILLION BOARD FEET WAITING TO BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE SIERRA MADRES WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN CUT BY PEOPLE CALLED BOGADORS, WE HAVE CONFISCATED ABOUT 60% OR 600,000 BOARD FEET. WE ARE SET TO AUCTION THIS OFF AND DENR SEC LITO ATIENZA AGREED TO OUR REQUEST THAT WE WILL USE THE PROCEEDS TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE ISABELA FOREST PROTECTION TASK FORCE. IT’S NO JOKE PROVIDING FOR THE MEALS OF OUR TASK FORCE MEMBERS MORNING NOON AND NIGHT AS WELL AS THOSE OF PLATOONS OF SOLDIERS, WHO ARE HELPING US A LOT IN THIS ANTI-ILLEGAL LOGGING FIGHT.
THIS REMINDS ME OF THE TIME OF RETIRED GENERAL ORLANDO SORIANO AS COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE 5THID WHEN HIS TASK FORCE LUNTIAN AND THE DENR’S OPLAN JERICHO CONFISCATED TRUCKS UPON TRUCKS OF ILLEGALLY CUT LOGS IN ISABELA. I REMEMBER NA GALIT NA GALIT SA KANIYA NOON ANG DY-NASTY..
LAST SEPTEMBER, IN COOPERATION WITH THE 45TH IB AND THE CASF ASSIGNED IN ISABELA, WE FLEW OVER THE SIERRA MADRES AND PROVED MY WORST FEARS, THE ONE MILLION BOARD FEET OF ILLEGALY CUT LOGS THAT WE HAVE BLOCKED IN THE TOWN OF ILAGAN IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE ESTIMATED TEN MILLION BOARD FEET THAT WE SAW IN THE TOWN OF SAN MARIANO, STILL A PART OF THE SIERRA MADRE NATURAL PARK.
TEN MILLION BOARD FEET … ONLY FOR THIS YEAR 2008?
HOW ABOUT ALL THESE PAST YEARS? HOW CAN I NOT TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THIS FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR FORESTS?
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS IN PHILIPPINE SOCIETY THAT WE HAVE TO FIGHT … CORRUPTION, , POLITICS OF PATRONAGE, JUETENG, ILLEGAL LOGGING.
MANY TIMES I HAVE TALKED WITH MAYORS IN ISABELA ABOUT THIS ISSUES AND THEY’D ALWAYS TELL ME, GOVERNOR, WE HAVE NO CHOICE, BECAUSE SO MANY POOR PEOPLE COME TO US FOR THEIR URGENT NEEDS. THEY USE PEOPLE’S POVERTY AS A CONVENIENT EXCUSE TO RECEIVE BRIBE OR PROTECTION MONEY. MANY OFTEN REFUSE TO DO THE COURAGEOUS THING BECAUSE ARE AFRAID THEY WILL LOSE THEIR SOURCES OF FUNDS AND THE VOTES FOR THE NEXT ELECTIONS .
I HAVE SEEN MANY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS STOP SHORT AT DOING THE RIGHT THING. THEY JUST LOOK THE OTHER WAY, NO MATTER HOW STRONG THEIR FEELINGS ARE TOO ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE.. THEY DO NOT ACT. THEY ARE IMMOBILIZED BY THEIR FEAR OF LOSING VOTES. SABI KO TULOY SUCH OBSESSION WITH RE-ELECTION IS EVEN MORE PARALYZING THAN POLIO.
SABI KO SA KANILA, KAYO NAMAN PALA ANG PILAY EH. HINDI AKO. DAHIL GANITO LANG AKO, KUMIKILOS AKO LABAN SA ILLEGAL LOGGING, SA JUETENG, SA MGA GUMAGAWA NG HINDI TAMA.
I REFUSE TO WASTE THE POWER THAT MY POSITION GIVES ME NOT TO DO WHAT ONLY GOVERNORS OR GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVES LIKE ME HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE POWER TO DO..
LET ME TELL PLEASE TELL YOU ONE OF MY BIGGEST REALIZATIONS AS GOVERNOR.
AFTER HAVING BEEN IN THIS POSITION FOR 4 YEARS, I HAVE CONFIRMED FOR MYSELF THAT TRULY, PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT POSITIONS HAVE ENOURMOUS POWERS. ONE SIGNATURE OF MINE CAN CAUSE THE RELEASE OF MILLIONS OF PESOS. ONE YES OR NO THAT I SAY AFFECTS THE LIVE OF SO MANY PEOPLE. IF USED WELL, POWER CAN BE A GOOD THING. IT CAN MAKE YOU DO SO MANY THINGS TO UPLIFT THE CONDITIONS OF MANY POOR PEOPLE. IT CAN MAKE YOU GIVE STRENGTH TO THE WEAK. IT CAN MAKE YOU EMPOWER THE COMMON MAN.
BUT IF YOU ARE NOT GROUNDED, IF YOU HAVE NOT THE RIGHT VALUES, YOU CAN GET EASILY GET TEMPTED. LALONG NAGING MALINAW SA AKIN NA NAKAKATAKOT MAPUNTA ANG KAPANGYARIHA NG PAMAHALAAN SA KAMAY NG MGA HINDI KARAPAT-DAPAT.
I AM WELL AWARE OF DISAPPOINTMENTS AMONG MANY PMAERS WHO VERY WELL KNOW WHAT SHOULD BE BUT DO NOT SEE IT IN SOCIETY, MORE SO IN GOVERNMENT.
MUKHANG PAGOD NA RIN ANG MGA TAO SA PEOPLE POWER AS WE KNOW IT AND OF COURSE COUP D’ETAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO MANY.
BUT WE SHOULD NOT STOP FEELING DISGUSTED WITH WHATS HAPPENING. WE SHOULD UNITE AND DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH OUR ANGER, WITH OUR FRUSTRATION. AS I HAVE SAID, WE WILL NOT HAVE PEACE OF MIND IF WE JUST ALLOW WRONG TO PREVAIL IN OUR DEAR COUNTRY WITHOUT LIFTING A FINGER TO HELP CHANGE THINGS.
FOR ONE, LET US NOT PUT ALL OUR HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS ON ONE PERSON ALONE. OUR COUNTRY’S ISSUES CANNOT BE SOLVED BY ASKING JUST ONE PERSON TO RESIGN OR REFORM. WE WILL ONLY BE FRUSTRATED. LET US INSTEAD WORK FOR THE ELECTION INTO OFFICE OF GOOD GOVERNORS, GOOD MAYORS AND EVEN GOOD BARANGAY CAPTAINS AND KAGAWADS SO THAT IF WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP, THERE ARE STILL THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RELY ON.
THAT IS WHAT OUR GROUP “KAYA NATIN” IS ADVOCATING. KAMI PO NINA AMONG GOV EDDIE PANLILIO OF PAMPANGA, MAYOR JESSE ROBREDO OF NAGA CITY, GOVERNOR TEDDY BAGUILAT OF IFUGAO, MAYOR SONIA LORENZO OF SAN ISIDRO, NUEVA ECIJA AND HARVEY KEH OF THE ATENEO SCHOOL OF GOVERNMET . KAYA NATIN IS A MOVEMENT FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ETHICAL LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND, SPECIALLY IN SCHOOLS TRYING TO ENGAGE THE YOUNG AND EXPLAINING TO THEM THE NEED OF REGISTERING TO VOTE, BEING WELL-INFORMED OF ISSUES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MAKING THEMSELVES AVAILABLE AND READY WHEN VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE BETTER ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.
I AM QUITE OBSESSIVE ON THE MATTER OF ELECTORAL REFORMS
BECAUSE EVER SINCE MY RE-ELECTION AS GOVERNOR LAST YEAR AND SEEING ONCE AGAIN HOW THE ELECTORAL PROCESS HAS GOTTEN EVEN DIRTIER, HOW VOTE BUYING HAS BECOME EVEN WORSE, I WOULD TELL ANYONE WHO’D CARE TO LISTEN THAT WE SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL JUST THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS TO CRAM AND DO OUR VOTER’S EDUCATION, TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERS AND NOT JUST LEAVE THE POLLWATCHING TO A HANDFUL OF SACRIFICING CWL OR LEGION OF MARY MEMBERS OR MOTHER BUTLERS AND LET ELECTIONS BE DOMINATED BY THE WELL PAID MACHINERY OF TRADITIONAL POLITICIANS.
SADLY, SOMETIMES, IT IS ALSO DURING ELECTION SEASONS WHEN POLICE AND MILITARY OFFICIALS ARE RELIEVED AND REASSIGNED IN A WAY THAT GOVERNMENT NEOPHYTES LIKE US CAN ONLY LOOK IN HOPELESSNESS AND SHOCK.
FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NOW GROUPS LIKE THE MGG OR THE MOVEMENT FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT COMPOSED OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WHICH AS EARLY AS NOW ARE WORKING FOR BETTER ELECTIONS IN 2010. IT IS GOOD THAT THEY ARE NON-PARTISAN, THAT THEY ARE INVOLVING THEMSELVES NOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANY CANDIDATE BUT THE OVER-ALL ORDERLY AND CREDIBLE CONDUCT OF THE COMING ELECTIONS.
YESTERDAY, CITO BELTRAN WROTE ABOUT A PMA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CHAPTER IN MALACANANG, SAYING THAT THE PALACE HAS BEEN OVERRUN BY RETIRED MILITARY AND POLICE OFFICIALS WHO ARE ALL GRADUATES OF THE PMA. I DO NOT KNOW THE REASONS OF THE PRESIDENT FOR MAKING THIS SO BUT PERSONALLY, I DO NOT MIND GRADUATES FROM THE PMA JOINING THE GOVERNMENT, PERHAPS NOT BY SHEER APPOINTMENT BUT VICTORY THROUGH ELECTIONS. SAYANG NAMAN PO ANG GALING NIYO, AT ANG BABATA NIYO PA NAMAN KUNG NAGRE-RETIRE. MAS MAY “K” NAMAN KAYO SA IBA. NATURUAN NAMAN KAYO TODO-TODO SA ACADEMY TUNGKOL SA COURAGE, INTEGRITY, LOYALTY, NOT TO MENTION EXCELLENCE IN THE THINGS THAT YOU DO. I TAKE EXCEPTION THOUGH ON THOSE WHO, DESPITE BEING PMAERS, DID NOT OR ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIGHT JUETENG. SOMETIMES, THE MORE JUNIOR OFFICERS SERIOUSLY WANT TO ACT BUT THOSE IN THE HIGHER POSITIONS ARE THE ONES THWARTING THEIR EFFORTS. I HOPE ITS NOT TRUE WHAT I HEAR ABOUT THE “WAIT TILL YOU BECOME” SYNDROME. IF NOT JUETENG, IT IS TAKING PROTECTION MONEY FROM ILLEGAL LOGGERS OR DRUG LORDS. WHAT A WASTE OF THE GREAT POWER OF OUR DEAR SOLDIERS AND POLICEMEN IF THESE ARE USED TO PERPETUATE RATHER THAN STOP THE EVILS OF SOCIETY. THE DIRTY MONEY FROM JUETENG, DRUGS AND ILLEGAL LOGGING , ALL THESE YEARS, HAVE BEEN PUTTING SO MANY OF THE WRONG AND UNWORTHY PEOPLE IN WHAT I CONSIDER AS SACRED POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT.
LET US PLEASE CHANGE THE SITUATION. I KNOW THAT YOU FROM THE PMA CAN DO SO MUCH TOWARDS THIS END. WHENEVER I TALK TO OUR PEOPLE ABOUT POLITICAL DYNASTIES, I TELL THEM HINDI LANG NAMAN DITO SA ISABELA MAYROONG DYNASTY. MARAMI DIN NAMAN SA IBANG LALAWIGAN. PERO AT LEAST, SA IBA, PINAG-AARAL MUNA NILA MGA ANAK, PINAGDADALUBHASA, PINAPAARAL NG ABOGASYA O PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION KASI ALAM NILANG SILA ANG PAPALIT. DITO KASI SA ISABELA, SABI KO, YUNG MGA MYEMBRO NG PAMILYA HINDI NA NAG-AARAL KASI MANANALO LANG DIN SILA. MAGPAPAKASAWA MUNANG MAGING BUM, PAG AYAW NA MAKAISIP MAGING MAYOR, CONGRESSMAN AT NANALO. AT LEAST MAN LANG SANA, PAGHANDAAN DIN NAMAN NILA ANG MAGLINGKOD SA TAO AT SA BANSA.
WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS THAT PMAERS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT SO MUCH ABOUT LOVE OF COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE AND MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED RELATING WITH THE POOREST OF OUR POOR IN OUR REMOTEST BARANGAYS. THAT CAN BE PUT TO GOOD USE, WELL, IF NOT IN DIRECT MEANS AS THRU ELECTIVE POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT THEN IN MANY OTHER AREAS WHERE YOU CAN CONTINUE USING THE KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND EXPERIENCES THAT YOU AS PMAERS HAVE BEEN UNIQUELY PROVIDED.
IF SOMEBODY SO DISADVANTAGED LIKE ME CAN MAKE IT DESPITE THE FACT THAT I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY, POLITICAL MACHINERY AND SOPHISTICATION WITH ELECTORAL CHEATING THAT TRADITIONAL CANDIDATES HAVE, IT MEANS THAT THERE IS STILL HOPE IN THE PHILIPPINES , THAT FILIPINOS CAN LOOK BEYOND WHAT IS WRONG AND USUAL, AS LONG AS WE GUIDE THEM, EDUCATE THEM, MAKE THEM SEE THE DIFFERENCE. WE HAVE TO BUILD ON THIS HOPE AND NOT LET IT SLIP FROM OUR HANDS.
IF I HAVE TO SAY SO MYSELF PLEASE LOOK AT ME, THIS HANDICAPPED PERSON WHO IS NOW THE GOVERNOR OF MY PEOPLE. LOOK AT ME AS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE THROUGH THE BALLOT. WHAT ELSE CAN EXPLAIN MY BEING GOVERNOR THAN THE DECISION OF THE ISABELINOS TO USE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE DIFFERENTLY. MINE WAS ONLY ONE VOTE. WHAT MADE ME WIN WAS THE VOTE OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND OF OTHERS. THEY WHO MADE THE CHOICE AND BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT ISABELA NOW. LET US THEN WORK FOR THE WISE USE OF THE PEOPLE TO VOTE AND PROTECT AND RESPECT THEIR CHOICES..
LASTLY, PLEASE REALIZE THAT THE VERY FEW AMONG US WHO ARE SAID TO GIVE OUR PEOPLE HOPE, ALSO NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED, ALSO NEED TO BE UPLIFTED.
WE CANNOT FAIL. PLEASE HELP US NOT FAIL. WHEN I DELIVERED MY RESPONSE DURING THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARDS PRESENTATION CEREMONIES, I MENTIONED ABOUT BARACK OBAMA TALKING ABOUT THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, BUT MANY OF US, ASIANS, WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO MUCH MORE// AND HAVE ALREADY SUCCEEDED IN RISING ABOVE OUR MANY CHALLENGES, NEED NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE BURDEN OF THE BRAVE - THE NEED TO CONTINUE SUCCEEDING AFTER RAISING THE HOPES OF OUR PEOPLE. BECAUSE IF WE OURSELVES FALL SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS, THE LOWER STILL THAT WE HAVE SANKED THE FAITH OF OUR PEOPLE.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS I KNOW WELL ENOUGH THAT SO MANY OF OUR FELLOW FILIPINOS SUPPORT THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.
I KNOW IT FROM ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND CHEERS THAT I GET WHEN I MEET ORDINARY FILIPINOS - SALESLADIES IN DEPARTMENT STORES, SECURITY GUARDS, WAITERS AND WAITRESSES, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESS EXECUTIVES AND EVEN AMONG OUR SOLDIERS AND POLICEMEN. AS LONG AS OUR KABABAYANS STILL FEEL OFFENDED AND DISGUSTED WITH THE WRONG THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AND AT THE SAME TIME CLAMOR FOR CHANGE WE WILL HAVE A BETTER PHILIPPINES .
LET ME END MY SHARING WITH YOU TODAY BY RELATING TO YOU ONE INCIDENT IN THE YEAR 2001, WHEN I FIRST DARED RUN AGAINST THE POWERS-THAT- DY IN ISABELA.
THERE WAS A CANDIDATES FORUM CALLED BY THE COMELEC AND THE PPCRV NAMFREL WHERE WE CANDIDATES WERE ASKED TO PRESENT OUR PLATFORMS OF GOVERNMENT. WE WERE GIVEN ONLY 5 MINUTES EACH .
SABI KO SA SARILI KO, NAKU, PAANO YAN, SA BAGAL KONG MAGLAKAD, BAKA UBOS NA IYONG FIVE MINUTES KO PAGDATING KO SA PODIUM.
WHEN I SHARED THIS STORY TO ONE OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE CANDIDATES FORUM, HE SAID, YOU DID NOT EVEN HAVE TO TALK, GRACE. YOU YOURSELF WERE THE MESSAGE.
THAT HERE IS SOMEONE WHO PEOPLE PERCEIVE AS SOMEONE WEAK, SOMEONE HELPLESS, BUT STILL CARES ENOUGH FOR HER COUNTRY TO HELP MAKE IT CHANGE.
THAT IS STILL MY MESSAGE. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ABOUT NATIONBUILDING. AND MY MESSAGE CONTINUES TO BE …. NO ONE IS EXEMPTED FROM THE DUTY OF DOING OUR SHARE SO THAT WE FILIPINOS CAN START TAKING CONTROL OF OUR OWN FUTURE AND WORKING TOGETHER FOR THAT GENUINE AND LASTING CHANGE THAT WE ALL WANT TO SEE IN OUR COUNTRY. HOW MUCH MORE IF YOU ARE A PMAER? I KNOW// YOU KNOW THAT. I KNOW TOO// THAT MANY OF YOU// WANT TO DO THAT. BUT BY THIS TIME, WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT WORKS// AND WHAT DOES NOT. WHAT WILL LAST // AND WHAT WILL NOT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE WITH YOU MY HUMBLE EXPERIENCE. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF LITTLE ME CAN DO SOMETHING, OUR BIG PMAERS YOU CAN DO A LOT MORE FOR OUR COUNTRY - BUT ONLY IN THE RIGHT WAY // AND FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
MARAMING SALAMAT PO.
