Ang buong bansa ay maligaya sa panalo ng ating bayani sa boxing. Lahat tayo ay nagpapasalamat kay Manny Pacquiao dahil pinag-isa niya ang sambayanang Pilipino para sa mabuting laban. Malinaw na ipinakita ni Manny na sa disiplina, masipag na trabaho at determinasyon walang imposibleng panaginip.

The tale of his conquest over formidable odd is a model for the younger generation towards courageous excellence.

Si Manny ay umahon sa kabiguan na may higit na matalas na utak, higit na malakas na katawan at determinasyong manalo kaya siya naging tunay na kampiyon ng taumbayan dito sa panahon ng hamon at oportunidad.

Siya ang aking ispirasyon sa dakilang laban para sa taumbayang Pilipino.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated today the newly completed Mariners’ Home, a six-storey, 171-bed capacity building constructed at a total cost of P100 million at 1765 Dr. A. Vasquez corner J. Nakpil st. in Malate, Manila.

With the President during the inauguration ceremonies were Manila Mayor Jose Atienza, Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki, All Japan Seamen’s Union (JSU) president Sakae Idemoto and Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) president Gregorio Oca.

After the ceremonial ribbon cutting and unveiling of the Mariners’ Home marker at the lobby of the building, the President was given a brief tour of the Mariners’ Home, which boasts of 22 rooms, two assembly rooms, a conference room, a cafeteria and dining area which can seat 50 guests in luxurious style.

A joint project of the all Japan Seamen’s Union (JSU) and the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), the facility will cater to the thousands of Filipino seafarers working on Japanese-owned, operated and managed vessels.

JSU-AMOSUP said the fully air-conditioned Mariners’ Home, which has separate quarters and bathrooms for women seafarers, is "envisioned to be a lasting tribute to the highly skilled, competent, capable, disciplined, loyal and world class Filipino seafarers, who have contributed to the strong development of the Japanese marine industry."

The facility is intended to provide temporary hotel-class accommodation and amenities at subsidized rates to transient JSU and AMOSUP members who are either disembarking from their vessels at the end of their employment contracts or in the process of deployment outside the country.

"Visiting Japanese seafarers will also feel right at home in the authentic Tatami room specially designed by traditional Japanese artisans and craftsmen using imported Japanese materials," JSU-AMOSUP said.

Construction of the Mariners’ Hotel began in 2004 shortly after JSU and AMOSUP agreed to undertake the project as a joint venture.

TRG Philippines is a subsidiary of the Pakistani multinational BPO company headquartered in Washington, DC with over $170 million in revenues and offices in 29 locations across seven countries

With the President during the TRG Philippines opening were Trade Secretary Peter Favila, incoming Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Michael Defensor, and Presidential Adviser on Job Creation Secretary Arthur Yap.

TRG Philippines managing director Arnold Bagabaldo, TRG board of director and corporate management head Mohammed Khaishngi, TRG chief operating officer (COO) and global business development and director of operations Shuja Keen, and TRG executive vice president Hasnain Aslam welcomed the President when she arrived at the 8^th floor of the Hanston building on F. Ortigas Jr. Ave. in the Ortigas business district.

Immediately upon her arrival at the TRG Philippines offices, the President cut the ribbon signaling the formal opening of the company. She then went on a brief tour of the firm’s state-of-the-art facilities.

TRG, which has 850 workstations, is set to hire 2,500 new employees in the first quarter of 2006 for its Ortigas offices, and another 8,000 workers by April this year when its main facility in Makati City starts operations.

TRG chief executive officer (CEO) Zia Chishti informed the President that TRG selected the Philippines for the company’s BPO operations because of the "excellent human capital and infrastructure in the country," its blue-chip customer base, and its "global service delivery options with superior service and significant cost benefits."

Chishti also briefed the President on TRG’s new program to help its employees, as well as the potential of TRG Philippines hires to grow in excellence.

Among the new programs of the TRG are the Tuition Rebate Grant that would provide financial aid to underprivileged but deserving professionals, and the TRG Academy that allows TRG employees to develop their skills through education.

Aside from the traditional speech and campaign specific training provided by BPO facilities, TRG Academy will provide courses in accounting, information technology, marketing, creative design and web development and mini masteral on business administration (MBA) courses to employee-participants.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to exhaust all possible legal and diplomatic means to save the life of Marilou Ranario, a Filipina scheduled for beheading in Kuwait.

Press Secretary and concurrent Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said in a press briefing this afternoon that the President’s instructions to the DFA officials are "very clear and this will be followed (by DFA)."

"The President has instructed the DFA to look into the plight of Ms. Marilou Ranario, and exhaust all diplomatic and legal means to save her life," Bunye said.

Ranario, a teacher from Surigao del Sur, was sentenced to death by a Kuwaiti court last year for allegedly stabbing to death her employer in January 2005.

The Press Secretary said the President is hoping that "all the efforts will be successful" even as he expressed sympathy with Ranario’s family while assuring them that "the government will do everything it can in order to help her."

"We understand the pressure and pain that her family is experiencing right now," he said.

The President vowed to repay overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for their help in improving the economy when she met last Jan. 10 in General Santos City, Merlinda Cunaning, an OFW who was maltreated by her Kuwaiti employer.

"We will extend support to them…we will help them in exchange for their heroism," the President said.

The government has dubbed the OFWs as modern day heroes for their sacrifices while abroad to earn a living and at the same time help improve the country’s economy through their dollar remittances.

While the euphoria over Manny Pacquiao’s sensational victory over Mexican Eric Morales has yet to die down, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo branded today the Filipino boxer as her inspiration in the great fight for the Filipino people.

In a statement the morning after the Filipino boxer demolished the hitherto unstopped Mexican in the 10^th round of their super featherweight bout in Las Vegas, Nevada Sunday, the President thanked Pacquiao for uniting the Filipino people for the good fight.

"Manny clearly showed us that with discipline, hard work and determination, there are no impossible dreams," she said. "The tale of his conquest over formidable odds is a model for the younger generation towards courageous excellence."

Beaten on points by Morales in their first fight in March last year, Pacquiao came back with vengeance in their rematch at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, decking the three-time world champion twice in the 10^th round for the technical knockout win that meant so much for a nation wanting in heroes.

"Manny rose from defeat with a sharper mind, a stronger body and the will to win –which makes him the real people’s champ in these times of challenge and opportunity. He is my inspiration in the great fight for the Filipino people," the President said.

Malacanang reiterated today that any coup attempt or illegal means to oust President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would fail.

In a media briefing this afternoon, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said there are two reasons why any coup plot against the President would not succeed: the Filipino people would not support any illegal initiative and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains loyal to its Commander-in-Chief.

"We are certain of this and we are consistent in saying that any coup plot against the President won’t succeed," he stressed.

Bunye said Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales’ statement that any coup rumor would scare away foreign investors "should serve as a wakeup call for isolated shadowy groups in the AFP to finally abandon their plans of destabilizing the government and grab power."

"They will never obtain an iota of support from the people, who have always stood behind democracy and Constitutional authority," he noted.

He said the Filipino people, church leaders and the government would be at the forefront of defending the interest and welfare of the poor "both by upholding the rule of law and by pushing necessary political and economic reforms to improve the lot of every Filipino."

Coup rumors spread anew when four Magdalo Group members bolted jail last week.

The Press Secretary said the incident is being investigated thoroughly as instructed by the President.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed today the signing of a $4-million Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Chinese investors and residents of Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte for the right to mine the province’s rich chromite deposits.

Chromite is one of the main components in making stainless steel.

The MoA involves the residents of Minahang Bayan ng mga Mamamayan ng Dinagat Island Cooperative, the Oriental Synergy Mining Corporation, and Macao Quanta Mining Co. Ltd. of the People’s Republic of China.

According to the MoA, Macao Quanta will agree to fund the mining operations of the cooperative which, on May 14, 1992, entered into a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) with the Philippine government to "explore, develop and commercially use" chromite deposits found to be buried deep within the Surigao Mineral Reservation in Loreto and San Jose, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte.

Also under the MoA, Oriental Synergy "represents itself to be technically competent to manage, develop and supervise the mining operations of the cooperative."

Aside from mining, all parties agreed to protect the environment, the residents of the province and to operate a mining operation "geared towards a holistic, sustainable and integrated development strategy of Dinagat Island."

According to the cooperative’s lead counsel, lawyer Rodel Batocabe, this new Chinese investment is expected to boost the province’s economy and strengthen its reputation as being the premier mining site in the country.

Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye today urged Filipinos to help slay the dragon of dirty politics which has prevented the Philippines and its economy from truly taking off.

Addressing the Third Philippine Public Relations (PR) Summit at Makati Shangri-La this morning, Bunye also called for the development of a new generation of PR professionals whose hearts "are driven by a desire to help their fellow Filipinos see what they can and must do for their country."

Bunye pointed out that the country has sound economic fundamentals and indicators, enabling it to make some significant progress but "we can only sustain this if we can bring into oblivion the dragon of dirty politics."

Change in politics, he added, must be accompanied by a change in the system of government, which is why the government is now in the thick of crafting a new Constitution "that will build a modern Philippines with a strong economy, millions of new jobs, better education, access to healthcare and lasting peace and order."

"We can and must deliver a new Constitution – one that provides more local control, greater accountability of politicians, stronger police protection, better service delivery, less opportunity for official corruption and more jobs and economic development in the local and provincial level," he added.

Economic and political reforms top the agenda of the Council of State meeting starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday), Malacanang announced today.

In a press briefing this afternoon, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said that the Council of State meeting would be "an effective forum where our leaders could express their opinions on certain issues."

While admitting that Malacanang is "saddened" that some members of the opposition declined to attend, Bunye said they would be furnished a copy of whatever transpires during the meeting.

"It is very important that we unite for progress. It is time that we think of ourselves as one country instead of separate islands," he said.

At least 75 of those invited to the council meeting have confirmed their attendance, among them Vice President Noli de Castro, former President Fidel Ramos, House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

Incoming Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor said the attendees would be representative of all sectors of society---the church, business, youth, women, among others.