Let former Commissioner Garcillano come out with his testimony in the proper venue to satisfy the people.

As far as we are concerned, President Arroyo has already been vindicated.

As our athletes continue to rake in more gold medals, let us fill every home and sports venue with cheers for Team Philippines.

Good crowds, impressive performances.

That’s the way things have been for Team Philippines in the ongoing 23^rd Southeast Asian Games as Filipino athletes continue to reward the overwhelming support of their countrymen in various venues with scintillating performances that have put the country inexorably in front of the overall race.

In response to the call of no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to cheer for the nation’s athletes, huge crowds have been filling the venues to the rafters in support of their athletes, elating Malacanang no end.

In a statement issued this morning, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye encouraged Filipinos to keep on cheering for Team Philippines.

"As our athletes continue to rake in more gold medals, let us fill every home and sport venue with cheers for Team Philippines," he said.

Proving to be the No. 1 cheerer is President Arroyo, who last Monday afternoon visited the Rizal Memorial track oval to congratulate the Filipino athletes for their inspiring performances.

She personally shook the hand of steeplechase winner Rene Herrera as well as the other Filipino gold medalists after two days of intense action.

Bunye acknowledged the importance of supporting the nation’s athletes.

"President Arroyo herself is making the rounds of the games to lift the spirit of our athletes who are valiantly aiming for supremacy in their respective fields," the Press Secretary said.

It is clear that the nation is regaining confidence from an economy that is poised for takeoff, but the Filipino people know only too well that the struggle has just begun.

More good things are yet to come, but tough decisions and sacrifices still have to be made in order for us to achieve first world country status in 20 years.

President Arroyo is leading the country along the themes of unity and change and she appreciates the hard work and forbearance of the people.

She is very focused on her goal and she remains undistracted by partisan politics.

Malacaņang said today former Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano should be allowed to come out with his testimony before the proper venue in response to people’s demand for answers to charges linking him to alleged irregularities in the May 2004 elections.

"Let former Commissioner Garcillano come out with his testimony in the proper venue to satisfy the people," Bunye said.

He stressed that as far as Malacanang is concerned, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already been vindicated after the House of Representatives junked the impeachment case against her.

"We are moving on with the national agenda and this charade, which is obviously orchestrated by the President’s political detractors, is a pathetic game compared to the SEA Games, and, symbolically, in our vibrant economy," Bunye said.

The former election commissioner surfaced last Sunday and denied allegations of cheating in favor of the President in the 2004 elections.

MANDAUE CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today congratulated two Filipino athletes who won a gold medal each in Karatedo and Cross Country Mountain Bike competitions here of the ongoing 23rd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).

Inspired by the Presidential congratulatory message were Nelson Pacalso, a police officer who won the gold in karatedo, and Baby Marites Sotto who bagged the gold in the women’s division of the Cross Country Mountain Bike race.

The President arrived at 9:00 this morning at the Mandaue City Cultural Center and watched the championship match between Police Inspector Nelson Pacalso and Nguyen Bao Toan of Vietnam in the 60-kg. men’s individual kumite. Pacalso is a member of the Philippine National Police-Cordillera Administrative Region (PNP-CAR).

Pacalso edged out his Vietnamese opponent with a tight and breathtaking 5-4 score that enabled him to snatch the gold medal.

The President led the crowd in cheering for Pacalso during the competition.

Pacalso rose from 0-2 and tied the score at 4-4. He kicked the winning score in the remaining eight seconds of the 160-minute game against the big Vietnamese campaigner.

President Arroyo also personally awarded the gold medal to Pacalso and shook the hands of the Vietnamese who settled for the silver medal. She likewise congratulated the Malaysian and Thai competitors who shared in the bronze medal.

The President likewise met with and congratulated the winners in the dancesport competitions who won two gold and two silver medals.

After the awarding rites, President Arroyo joined the Cebuanos in the 17th fiesta anniversary celebration of the Alliance of Two Hearts Parish at Horseshoe Drive in Barangay Banawa, Cebu City.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal officiated the Holy Mass with the theme: "Becoming Good and Faithful Stewards: Solidarity, Participation and Service."

After the mass, the Chief Executive motored to the Don Ramon Durano Sr. Memorial Sports Complex inside the Cebu State College of Science and Technology (CSCST) complex in Barangay Sabang, Danao City to watch the Cross Country Mountain Bike competitions.

Filipinos are regaining confidence that the economy is set for takeoff, but at the same time they realize that the struggle to accelerate the economic momentum and put the fiscal house in order has just started, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today.

"It is clear that the nation is regaining confidence from the economy that is poised for takeoff, but the Filipino people know only too well that the struggle has just begun," he said.

He pointed out positive developments are yet to come, and tough decisions and sacrifices are imperative for the Philippines to achieve first world status in 20 years.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has pointed out that with Filipinos united behind government efforts to push much-needed economic and fiscal reforms, the Philippines will attain first world status in 20 years.

Bunye said the President is "leading the country along the themes of unity and change and she appreciates the hard work and forbearance of the people."

"She is very focused on her goal and she remains undistracted by partisan politics," he said.

BACOLOD CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated today Filipino athletes for their scintillating performances in the ongoing 23rd Southeast Asian Games now on its second day of competitions in several venues across the country.

The President arrived here shortly after noon today to watch the men’s football game between the Philippines and Malaysia at the Panaad Sports Complex in Barangay Mansilingan.

"I would like to congratulate our athletes for the good (medal) harvest and the early lead. Their performance is a good example and epitome of the resilience and the discipline of the Filipinos," she said.

The President urged residents here and the nearby provinces to come and watch the various sports competitions, as she congratulated all Filipinos, particularly in the host venues, for the warm hospitality they have shown to the foreign delegates, officials and athletes.

"Congratulations to all. I thank the people of Bacolod for their outstanding hospitality, the people in all the venues and even in Metro Manila, who have been so hospitable to the athletes. I'm very grateful for the hospitality of the Filipino people," she said.

The President, who flew in from Danao City, had a late lunch with city and provincial officials, foreign dignitaries, and the Filipino athletes at the Full Moon Restaurant.

Accompanied by Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano and Government Mass Media Secretary Cerge Remonde, she was welcomed by city and provincial officials led by Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Maranon, Bacolod City Lone District Representative Monico Puentevella, and City Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

The President also watched the men's volleyball match between the Philippines and Vietnam at the West Negros College gymnasium which the Filipino contingent lost to the taller and highly-talented Vietnamese in straight sets, 11-25, 17-25, 15-25.

She gamely finished the competition and congratulated the players from both teams for their gallant effort before proceeding to the Panaad Sports Complex to watch the football competition between the Philippines and Malaysia.

BACOLOD CITY -- City Lone District Rep. Monico Puentevella said today that the unity shown by the people in the ongoing 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games should go beyond the SEAG and lead to the unity of all Filipinos for the good of the country.

In an interview at the Full Moon Restaurant here while waiting for the arrival of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from Danao City in Cebu this afternoon, Puentevella said he hoped that the "SEA Games will become the takeoff point for national unity."

He said the hearings on the Garcillano tape controversy have brought nothing good for the country. On the contrary, the wrangling has only "distracted the productivity of the country," he added.

"Everyone wants to move on. People are fed up with the tape controversy," he said.

Puentevella said some hearings conducted by Congress have been used for purely political "grandstanding" purposes. Even worse, these hearings short-circuit action on the 2006 national budget and other vital bills.

He said he would ask Congress’ and the President's help in increasing the budget of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) which was allocated only P27 million, down from the previous P107 million, despite the country’s hosting of the 2005 SEA Games.

With the Philippines leading the medal tally in the first two days of competitions, Puentevella said Filipino athletes are showing that they are truly talented.