AT THE vin d’ honnuer celebration for New Year’s in Malacañang, President Benigno S. Aquino III thanked the international community for inundating the Philippines with support and assistance, while the country was beset with a bevy of recent calamities.
He also emphasized that these acts of kindness have strengthened the Philippines’ ties with other countries.
“To everyone gathered here, it is with a sincere sense of gratitude that I tell you: the Filipino people remember who their friends are,” Aquino said in a toast during the celebration.
“Filipinos never forget an instance of kindness, and will constantly look for ways to repay those who stood by them in the most difficult times. In our language, we call this utang ng loob (debt of gratitude),” he added.
The president recognized the diplomats’ crucial role in the country’s “collective achievement” and the Filipinos’ resilience fortified by their strong faith in God.
“Our unbreakable spirit and ability to recover find root in our firm belief in a benevolent God who has the perfect plan for all of us. These tragedies tell us that, despite all our efforts, we are indeed powerless without God,” he said.
From their end, the diplomatic community promised to continue providing aid for the rehabilitation and rebuilding of areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan.
“The diplomatic corps vows to help in rebuilding something that is even better than what was destroyed,” said Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, the dean of the diplomatic corps.
“At times, the strong are called to be even stronger. When faced with this tragedy, the Filipino people reacted with the strength of their character and their faith. Victims and rescuers became members of the same family,” he added.
Earlier this week, Pres. Aquino also appealed to the international community to continue helping the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. He also emphasized on the “valuable transformation” that has occurred among Filipinos under his term.
“In facing the many challenges that the previous year brought us, our collective capability as a nation was bolstered by the fundamental change in the attitude of our people, a change that has been taking place since 2010.”
According to the president, Filipinos are looking forward to 2014 with “renewed vigor, optimism and a strong sense of solidarity,” as reported by Philstar.com.
“The mission is to strive to put an end to the vicious cycle of corruption and negativism, and to focus our resources and efforts in creating a true regime of opportunities for the Filipino people.”
Starting out a new year with a positive attitude and outlook is always encouraging.
While most of Pres. Aquino’s detractors would view these words as mere rhetoric, there are still those who choose to be inspired.
Bolstering diplomatic ties and fostering deeper, more meaningful relations with the international community is also a very reassuring act from the chief executive.
Despite being inundated with negative attacks on a day-to-day, Pres. Aquino’s diplomacy and popularity with the international community remain his best strengths.
And while some still choose to remain in the negative (hurling baseless criticisms notwithstanding), at the end of the day, abundance in acts of kindness and our inherent sense of gratitude and faith trump any ill will.
(AJPress)
