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| 16 MARCH 2008 | . | |
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| 16 MARCH 2008 | . | |
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| National ROTC Alumni Association rallies behind PGMA administration |
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The National ROTC Alumni Association (NARAA), whose membership makes up 70
percent of the officers corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),
expressed yesterday its unqualified support of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In a manifesto, the NARAA said it was glad to join the “majority of the populace of the nation” who supports the President and her administration. The President received NARAA’s formal expression of support during the induction and oath-taking ceremony of the new set of national officers, board directors, chapter officers and ROTC advance course cadets and midshipmen held last night at the Malacanang Park, headquarters of the Presidential Security Group (PSG). Encased in a giant glass frame, the NARAA manifesto stated that “the officers and members of the NARAA recognize the outstanding leadership and chain of command in the military hierarchy of the AFP and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the duly constituted authority.” “The Officers and Members of the NARAA desire to manifest and express our appreciation and unqualified support to the wisdom, leadership and the capability of the administration of Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” the manifesto said. The NARAA is headed by BGen. Jerry Jalandoni as president; Commodore Amado Sanglay (retired), national chairman; and Gen. William Hutchkiss as chair emeritus. Pointing out that it “strongly believe(s) in the democratic process and the rule of law in the country,” the NARAA warned that “the current political situation, wherein some groups deliberately want to destroy her (President Arroyo’s) person and leadership… will only redound to socio, economic and political instability that will surely negate/stagnate our growing national economy.” “The people from all walks of life expressed their sentiments towards these present controversies and manifestly ignored calls for her resignation, and reject another People Power that will only divide our people, destroy the good image of the country, and affect the economic gains that the President has accomplished for the nation,” the NARAA said. A non-stock and non-profit organization composed of active, retired and reservist members of the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP), the NARAA stressed that since its formation in 1988, it “has always been committed to a strong and unified AFP to ensure the performance of its Constitutional mandate to defend the sovereignty of the Republic, as the protector of the people, and duly maintain the patrimony of the nation.” Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon led the guests at the oath-taking ceremony. |
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| Statement of the President |
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Manny Pacquiao has again brought immense glory to the Flag and Filipino
people with his hard fought victory today. Once more, he has inspired us
with his big fighting heart, his determination and grit. He is truly one of
our nation's heroes who can unite us even in times of divisiveness. An icon
of the masses, Manny Pacquiao mirrors the champ within every Filipino, here
and abroad. I join the Filipino people in savoring this moment of sweet victory and national unity prompted by the courage, discipline and fighting heart of our boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao. Like him, we, too, shall overcome the battles ahead, with courage and a steadfast faith in ourselves, our country, and the Lord Almighty. |
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| PGMA hails Pacquiao win over Marquez |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hailed today the win of Filipino boxing
superstar Manny Pacquiao over Juan Miguel Marquez, saying the victory of the
“People’s Champ” over his Mexican opponent “has again brought immense glory
to the Flag and Filipino with his hard fought victory.” Pacquiao bested Marquez in 12 action-packed rounds of championship boxing held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, United States Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila). With the victory, Pacquiao snatched the World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight title from Marquez, a feat Manny failed to achieve in their first bout in 2004 which ended in a draw. In a statement released minutes after the classic boxing rematch, the President said that with the WBC superfeatherweight title added to the Filipino champ’s string of boxing victories, Pacquiao has once more “inspired us with his big fighting heart, his determination and grit.” “He is truly one of our nation’s heroes who can unite us even in times of divisiveness. An icon of the masses, Manny Pacquiao mirrors the champ within every Filipino, here and abroad,” the President said. “I join the Filipino people in savoring this moment of sweet victory and national unity prompted by the courage, discipline and fighting heart of our boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao,” she added. The President said that if every Filipino would emulate Pacquiao, “we too shall overcome the battles ahead with courage and a steadfast faith in ourselves, our country and the Lord Almighty.” |
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| PGMA urges El Shaddai members to join prayers for sustained economic growth |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday (March 14) night appealed to
the members and supporters of El Shaddai to join her in praying for Divine
intervention in sustaining the country’s economic turnaround. "Kaya sa pagpasok natin sa Semana Santa iyon ang ating pagninilay at sana samahan ninyo ang inyong lingkod sa panalangin at sa pagbabagong loob para sa ganoon ang mga biyaya ng Panginoon ay bumuhos sa ating bansang Pilipinas," the President said. She made the appeal following during the Palm Sunday mass held by the El Shaddai movement at the Amvel Subdivision in San Dionisio, Paranaque City. The mass was officiated by Bishop Jessie Mercado, who was assisted by Malate parish priest Fr. Sonny de Claro. The President told the more than 400,000 devotees present that El Shaddai movement head Bro. Mike Velarde's words were considered to come from an anointed one, a gift from Yahweh El Shaddai. Marami ng supporta sa isa't-isa bilang magkakapatid ang naranasan natin," she said in her message. The President said the clear message of the Holy Father in this year’s Holy Week or "Semana Santa" is for all people to extend a helping hand to the needy and the poor. "Itong taon na ito sinasabi ng Santo Papa sa kanyang Lenten message 'tulungan ang mahihirap'," she said. She noted that this task has been made more difficult because of the soaring prices of oil in the world markets, and the impending insufficiency of rice supply worldwide. But the President expressed confidence that people’s burdens could be lightened through prayers for divine intervention. "At talagang mabigat na mabigat itong tungkulin na ito sa panahong ito na tumatataas ang presyo ng langis sa buong mundo at nagkukulang ang bigas sa buong mundo kaya lalong kailangan natin na magdasal, manalangin tayo kay Yahweh, El Shaddai," she said. The Lenten season is a time for prayers, penitence, meditation and love for one another, the President said. "Itong cuaresma, panahon ng pagninilay, panahon ng penitensiya, panahon ng pagmamahalan sa isa't-isa. At kanina doon sa sermon ni Bishop Mercado ay nahalata ko na pinalakpakan ninyo ng husto iyong sinabi niya, ' anuman ang mangyari alam natin kasama natin ang Panginoon," she said. |
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| Senate hearings hardly appropriate starting point in search for truth -- Bunye |
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Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said today the
Senate telenovelas, otherwise known as investigations in aid of legislation,
have “suffered a steep decline in ratings during the last two hearings” as
viewers of the televised proceedings are bombarded with everything but the
truth. “The Senate is hardly the appropriate starting point in our search for truth,” he pointed out. He was referring to the opened-ended Senate hearings on the national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE controversy. Having been exposed to the ongoing hearings, the less discerning among those who have been witnessing the Senate hearings would, “in all likelihood, jump to varying conclusions after being bombarded with hearsay, innuendoes, half truths, and what have you,” Bunye said in his column, The View From the Palace. Bunye said that while everyone agrees that the truth behind the controversies hounding the nation will set people free, the overriding issue is “how do we go about searching for the truth?” He said the first step the searcher must take in this quest is to have an “open mind.” He who is after the truth and nothing but, “cannot start (searching for the truth by) having a pre-conceived notion of the truth. Otherwise, his search will be selective and limited only to searching for facts and data which will validate or confirm his pre-conceived notion of the truth.” Bunye pointed out that with a pre-conceived notion clouding one’s judgment, people will always be “prone to accept as truth the limited and often erroneous information that we may have.” He also said the Senate investigations were reminiscent of the old but popular story of the “Four blind men and the elephant.” The story details how four blind men, not knowing how an elephant looks like, described and believed what the animal was to them after touching its different parts. The first blind man, who touched the ear of the elephant, immediately concluded that the animal was like a giant fan while the second, who touched the tail, proclaimed that the elephant was like a snake. The third and fourth blind men touched the hind leg and the elephant’s tusk, respectively, and each described the elephant as a wall, and the other a spear. “In all likelihood, all four never stopped arguing after that encounter with the elephant because each one refused to accept any version other than his own,” Bunye said. Which is just what’s happening in the Senate investigations, he added. “The Senate (or at least some of the Senators), has been less than careful in processing information which on careful analysis amount to no more than baseless, unsubstantiated allegations,” Bunye said. |
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| PGMA thanks members, supporters of El Shaddai movement for support |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday (March 14) night thanked the
members of the El Shaddai movement for the support they have given her over
the last 16 years. The President expressed her gratitude to the devotees during the religious movement’s Palm Sunday celebration dubbed as "The Walk of Faith, Love & Unity." "Binabati ko kayong lahat mga kapatid na anak ni Yahweh El Shaddai. Gaya ng sabi ni Bro. Mike, pasalamat at purihin ang Panginoon dahil mayroon tayong pagkakataon na nagtipon-tipon na naman muli ngayon sa Semana Santa na ginagawa taun-taon," she said. The President joined more than 400,000 devotee-prayer partners of the El Shaddai movement during the Palm Sunday Eucharistic mass held at the Amvel Subdivision in San Dionisio, Paranaque City. The one-hour and 25 minutes mass was officiated by Bishop Jessie Mercado, who was assisted by Fr. Sonny de Claro, Malate parish priest. In her impromptu message, the President said that she had told El Shaddai Movement head Bro. Mike Velarde that their shrine, which is under construction, is very imposing indeed. She expressed hope that the edifice would be completed in time for the 25th anniversary celebration of the El Shaddai movement. "Sa nakaraang dalawampu't apat na taon at sinasabi ko nga kay Bro. Mike, ang ganda-ganda noong shrine, very imposing na, at ito ay para matapos sa darating na 25th anniversary ng prayer partners next year,” the President said. "At doon sa dalawampu't apat na taon, ako rin ay nagpapasalamat na labing anim na taon ako ang nakakasama sa inyo kapag tayo nagtitipon-tipon sa Semana Santa," she said. She recalled that she first attended the Holy Week commemoration of the El Shaddai movement in 1992. "In fact, naalala ko iyong unang-unang prayer meeting ng El Shaddai na napuntahan ko ay Semana Santa noong 1992, kaya 16 years na ang nakaraan." "At, in the last 16 years, marami ng pagninilay, marami ng panalangin na sama-sama tayo, marami ng payo na nanggaling sa mga nagmimisa at sa mga salita ni Bro. Mike na alam natin na anointed ang mga salitang ito ay mensahe mula sa kay Yahweh El Shaddai," she said. |
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