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SK leaders present PGMA with sculptural token
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today received a sculptural token from the country's Sangguniang Kabataan
(SK) National Federation leadership for the support she gave the youth leaders.
The art token was designed by Dr. Abdukmari Asia Imao Sr., national artist for sculpture and Presidential Merit
awardee, based on the concept of Jane Censoria D. Cajes, SKNF national chairman, as a tribute to a
President "who has embodied both the highest aspirations of women empowerment with the inspiration of a
nurturing mother."
The SKNF leaders called on the outgoing President today in Malacanang to bid her farewell.
The sculpture was co executed by Toym de Leon Imao, son of Dr. Imao and current 2010 Fullbright Scholar in
the field of sculpture of the Maryland Institute College of Arts in Baltimore.
The design resonates a cradle and a boat as a visual metaphor that reinforces the concept of motherhood and
nurturing the young. The sculpture is made of yakal, pounded brass, iron and cold cast bronze. The sail held by
the younger figure is symbolical of an offer of the youth's potential (a sail harnessing the wind to move forward)
to the motherland. The sail has alibata letters that spell out the word in four syllables "SA-LA-MA-Ta" or thank
you in the vernacular.
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Seaports, airports, highways were drivers of growth -- DOTC execs say
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The Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) and airport projects under the “super regions” strategy of
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have been cited by officials as major contributory factors to the
development of the country’s transport and tourism industries and inter-regional trade.
At the last Malacanang news briefing of Executive Secretary and former Department of Transportation and
Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza, he reported that the 919 kilometers of nautical highway
established in the western, central and eastern seaboard since 2001 have impacted positively to the country in
terms of movements of people, tourists and commodities.
SRNH was opened to the public in 2003, connecting the provinces and cities of Oriental Mindoro, Tagaytay City
(Cavite), Marinduque, Romblon, and Batangas City in Luzon; Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, Negros Oriental,
Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras, and Siquijor, in the Visayas; and Misamis Occidental, Misamis
Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Dapitan City in Mindanao
Mendoza’s successor at DOTC, Secretary Anneli Lontok, added during the briefing that the Philippine Ports
Authority (PPA) has invested at least P16 billion to complete port projects nationwide, which are presently
being serviced in 12 routes by 25 roll-on roll-off (RORO) ferry operators.
With the completion of these port projects, Lontok said passenger traffic reached three million passengers
while cargo traffic increased by 65 percent in the western nautical highway alone.
Lontok said the port and road network projects in the nautical highway spread economic growth and increased
regional trade among the islands, boosted tourism, increased agricultural productivity, and enhanced logistics
operations and strategies of the business sector.
“The nautical highways has impacted positively on the socio-economic development of the country and has
achieved its objectives of reducing transport cost by 10 to 60 percent while offering several options for our
farmers and agri-businessmen,” Lontok said.
With the government investment in ports and maritime safety, Lontok said the World Bank study showed the
country’s logistics performance index increased from 2.69 in 2007 to 3.3 in early 2010.
Another major accomplishment of the Arroyo administration, Lontok said, was boosting the tourism industry
through the upgrading and establishment of new tourism airports.
Lontok said these include the completion of the Davao International Airport, Bacolod-Silay International Airport
and Iloilo International Airport; and the upgrading of other airports in tourism areas such as the Kalibo airport in
Aklan; and Puerto Princesa City Airport and Busuanga Airport both in Palawan.
Lontok reported that yearly average growth rate in domestic air passenger traffic was recorded at 9.8 percent
while international arrivals stood at 7.7 percent.
“Overall, domestic traffic almost doubled while international passenger traffic grew by 65 percent since 2001,”
Lontok said.
Aside from growth in investments, Lontok said dramatic increase in passenger traffic were recorded in
Busuanga, 500 percent; Ozamis City, 4,000 percent; Butuan, 300 percent; and Kalibo 400 percent.
To date, Lontok said the Philippines has also signed several air services agreement with other countries,
contributing to the increase in international traffic.
Lontok said the country has signed the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area
(BIMP-EAGA) memorandum of understanding on air linkages, and the ASEAN multilateral agreement on air
services and full liberalization of air freight services.
Lontok added major road networks completed include the closing of the loop from LRT-1 to MRT-3, which
made travel around Metro Manila much easier.
Lontok said the Northrail linkage project which became operational last week will open rail network all the way
to Bicol with the inauguration of the 50-meter San Cristobal bridge which was destroyed by Typhoons “Milenyo”
and “Reming” in 2006.
“On June 25, we will have the first rail travel from Manila to Bicol,” Lontok announced.
Lontok said enhanced connectivity between growth centers came with the establishment of the Subic-Clark-
Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX); completion of the Alabang-Calamba Road; the finishing touches on the Calamba-
Sto. Tomas, Batangas expressway route which will connect to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR)
Tollway leading to the Batangas International Port.
Other important ongoing projects, Lontok said, are the South Metro Manila Skyway Stage 2 and the Manila-
Cavite Toll Expressway.
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PGMA opens, declares renovated MET as National Cultural Treasure
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo officially opened today the newly-renovated Manila Metropolitan Theater,
also popularly known as MET and one of Manila’s important cultural and architectural landmarks.
The Chief Executive led the unveiling of a marker from the National Museum, declaring MET as a National
Cultural Treasure.
The President prompted the renovation of MET when she directed the National Commission on Culture and
Arts (NCCA) to release P50 million in 2004 and authorized the release of another P50 million in 2009 to revive
the glory of MET that promotes Filipino art forms and culture.
She was welcomed by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Presidential Assistant on Culture Cecille Guidote-Alvarez,
NCCA Chairman Vilma Labrador, Manila Historical and Heritage Commission Vice-Chairperson Gemma Cruz-
Araneta and MET Council co-chair German Moreno
Also greeting the President were various cultural performances by the Cardona Musical Ensemble, St.
Dominic Salvio College Dancers, PUP Banda Kawayan, DepEd Drum and Lyre and the beneficiaries of the
Kalahi Cultural Caregiving program, a poverty alleviation project of the government which offers arts workshops
to marginalized groups and the differently-abled.
In his brief speech, Mayor Lim thanked the President for the release of P100-million for MET’s renovation.
For her part, Alvarez lauded the President for the “special concern” she had shown to revive the MET.
“This has happened because of the special concern of the President that a National Treasure like the MET
should not remain sleeping, but should be opened as a haven for the diversity of cultures of our country and
the artistic genius of our people to be reflected,” she said.
“MET was an empty shell. And now, it is slowly being revived,” she added.
After the unveiling, the President made a tour and inspection of the renovated MET. Inside the theater, the
President and the guests were given a taste of a Las Vegas-entertainment with a brief performance of dancers
dressed in elaborate costumes, singing and performing aerobatic dance.
MET, also called the “grand dame” of theaters, is owned by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
with the City of Manila as the usufructuary and the NCCA as the general cultural oversight.
According to historical accounts, the theater was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in February 1945.
Fortunately the building retained most of its structural integrity.
In the following decades, it was meticulously restored and it was declared as a National Landmark by the
National Historical Institute upon its complete restoration in 1978.
In 1996, MET was closed down due to foreclosure.
The MET is an art deco building constructed in 1931 by Juan M. Arellano. Arcadio Arellano also an architect and
brother of Juan complemented the work with adapted Philippine stylized ornamentation.
The front façade is of colored glass, colored tiles similar to transitional Malay cloth. Its grand foyer with elegant
marble finish, graced two mural paintings done by Fernando Amorsolo and two figures of Francisco Riccardo
Monti sculpture pieces. The highly stylized relief carvings of Philippine plants by the artist Isabelo Tampingco
decorate the lobby walls and interior surfaces of the building.
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PGMA’s farewell message
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Below is the full text of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s speech aired over television and radio stations
tonight:
My fellow Filipinos,
We come together tonight as we approach a hallmark of democracy for our great nation – the smooth transition
of power to a new leader.
We have just come through a historic election. It was open and it was modern.
As a result, we were able to declare winners in hours and days rather than weeks and months. The face of
politics in our nation has changed forever.
Tonight, I once again congratulate president-elect Aquino and vice president-elect Binay.
Nine years ago, I came to the presidency at a time of great turmoil in our nation. I accepted the challenge of the
office when it was thrust upon me.
At that time, our country was reeling from political intrigue and a distressed economy.
We set to work to reform our economy and invest in our people. Along the way, we had to make unpopular
choices such as raising taxes but we did so against the odds for a very simple reason: we had to have new
money for more and better healthcare, education, and job creation.
We needed new and better roads, bridges, ports and a technology backbone to attract new businesses and
investors to create new jobs.
Through hard work, determination and a clear plan of action, we helped achieve many of these objectives.
As a result, we have had 37 quarters of uninterrupted economic growth even against the headwinds of a major
global recession.
Look around you in our cities as you drive by the office towers that have changed the skyline.
Look around you in our provinces as you drive along the roads, bridges and Ro-Ro ports where we have made
massive investments.
This is the face of change.
Eighty-five percent of our people now have access to Philhealth insurance, over a hundred thousand
classrooms have been built and nine-million jobs have been created.
We developed the call-center industry almost from scratch. Today there are 500,000 call-center and BPO jobs
when only 5,000 existed when I took office.
Yet, these accomplishments are merely part of the continuum of history.
The gains I made were built on the efforts of previous leaders. Each successive government must build on the
successes and progress of the previous one.
Advance the programs that work and leave behind those that don’t.
I feel confident that we are leaving this nation much stronger than I came to office but I leave that for history to
judge.
Tonight, I call on everyone to unite behind our new leaders. I am optimistic and I am hopeful about our future
yet until every Filipino child is born to a family free of poverty, we cannot rest.
We must always set our sights on the future and keep an eye on improving our economy, investing in people
and building bridges, not just bridges of iron and steel but bridges between people, generations and
governments.
The bridges we must build to the future rest on the hard work, grace and compassion of our people.
The people of our nation are our greatest asset.
You are the backbone that drives our nation forward everyday.
From the fisherman to the farmer, to the taxi driver and the teacher, we are a nation of industrious, hardworking
people.
I thank each and everyone for your contribution to help the Philippines achieve our potential.
This time next week I will be moving into new phase of life leading a quieter public role.
We’re all on a journey together. As our nation moves forward let us all join hands in unity and walk confidently
towards a better tomorrow.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for giving me the honor and privilege of serving you.
Malaking karangalan ang makapag-lingkod sa sambayanan bilang Pangulo.
Sa inyong lahat na napag-silbihan ko sa mahirap ngunit makasaysayang landas, maraming maraming
salamat.
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