SOCIAL SERVICES

VIDEO MESSAGE - NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS, NAFFAA September 11, 2004

MAGANDANG GABI, BAYAN!

IT IS WITH GREAT HONOR TO BE SPEAKING BEFORE YOU, MY KABABAYANS IN THE UNITED STATES, THROUGH THE MAGNIFICENCE OF TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY I AM ABLE TO ADDRESS THE OFFICERS, MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF THIS ILLUSTRIOUS CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS.

ALTHOUGH I AM NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN YOUR GRAND OCCASION, I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS GATHERING OF EMINENT LEADERS OF FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION FOR ALL FILIPINOS TO UNITE AND BE PARTNERS IN ERADICATING POVERTY IN THE PHILIPPINES.

THE DATE SEPTEMBER 11 USUALLY STRIKES UNPLEASANT MEMORIES IN OUR MINDS. BUT TODAY, LET US TRY AND CREATE A NEW MEANING FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2004. LET THIS BE THE DATE WE STOOD TOGETHER, THE FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY, UNITED AS ONE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF EMPOWERING OUR MOTHER LAND . . . ANG ATING BAYANG PILIPINAS.

YOUR CONCERTED EFFORTS IN HELPING YOUR NATIVE COUNTRY, THE PHILIPPINES, SURVIVE THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS IN 1997 AND THE ECONOMIC TURBULENCE THAT FOLLOWED IS COMMENDABLE. THUS, IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT WE ADDRESS YOU AS “MODERN DAY” HEROES OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE, MORE SO, WHEN WE CONSIDER THAT ABOUT TWO-THIRDS (2/3) OF THE US$ 8 BILLION YEARLY CONTRIBUTION TO THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMY BY OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS COME FROM FILIPINOS LIVING AND WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE KEPT OUR PROVERBIAL HEADS ABOVE WATER.

TODAY, HER EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO HAS TAKEN POSITIVE STEPS TO ADDRESS THE VERY ROOT CAUSE OF POVERTY. THESE ARE EMBODIED IN THE 10-POINT NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF THE GOVERNMENT WHICH INCLUDES THE CREATION OF ABOUT 6-10 MILLION JOBS IN 10 YEARS BY ESTABLISHING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENTREPRENEURS AND MORE LOANS TO SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES.

AS ALTERNATE CHAIR OF NAPC, I SEE THESE PROGRAMS AS DOABLE. AND SO, I MAKE THIS PERSONAL APPEAL TO THE MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND GUESTS OF YOUR CONVENTION TO HELP OUR GOVERNMENT, YOUR GOVERNMENT, ACHIEVE THESE GOALS THROUGH INVOLVEMENT IN MICRO-FINANCE AND MICRO-ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT.

AFTER 13 MEETINGS WITH THE BASIC SECTORS UNDER THE PRESIDENT’S FIRST TERM, SUSTAINED BY THE CONTINUOUS SYNERGY BETWEEN THE POOR, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND THE GOVERNMENT, SEVERAL MILESTONES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY WERE ACHIEVED. IDLE LANDS AND GOVERNMENT-OWNED LANDS WERE UTILIZED FRO SOCIALIZED HOUSING FOR THE URBAN POOR, FREEING UP MORE THAT 309.95 HECTARES OF URBAN LAND (BENEFITING POOR FAMILIES IN BAGUIO, TARLAC, NAVOTAS, MUNTINLUPA, VALENZUELA, CAVITE, RIZAL, AND DAVAO). MORE THAN 287,713 FAMILIES WHO ARE INFORMAL SETTLERS (SQUATTERS) NOW ARE RIGHTFUL LAND OWNERS (SONA MILESTONES MAY 204). A BIG PORTION OF THE MARCOS ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH IS NOW BEING DIRECTED TOWARDS AGRARIAN REFORM.

CLEARLY, ONLY THROUGH A STRONG AND SINCERE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR, AND CIVIL SOCIETY CAN SOLUTIONS HAPPEN. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS AGAIN CHALLENGED BY ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT HAS YET TO BE SOLVED: LIVELIHOOD AND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE POOR. THIS IS WHERE ONE OF NAPC’S PRIORITY PROGRAMS, WHICH IS MICROFINANCE, PLAYS A VITAL ROLE.

MICROFINACE ARE SMALL LOANS USED AS CAPITAL TO PUT UP MICROBUSINESSES LIKE SARI-SARI STORES, EATERIES, SOUVENEIRS SHOPS. IT IS A FINANCIAL SERVICE THE POOR CAN BANK ON, HELPING THEM BECOME ENTREPRENEURS AND MAKE A LIVELIHOOD FOR THEMSELVES. NAPC ENSURES THAT MICRO-FINANCE SERVICES REACHES THE POOR THROUGH THE PEOPLE’S CREDIT AND FINANCE CORPORATION (PCFC0 AND ITS PARTNER MICRO-FINANCE INSTITUTIONS (MFIS) AND RURAL BANKS.

ALSO IN LINE WITH PGMA’S THRUST OF SOLVING THE EVER INCREASING NEED FOR MASS HOUSING, I WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN OF HUDCC TO ASSIST HER IN IMPLEMENTING THE HOUSING PROGRAMS OF GOVERNMENT. AS CHAIR OF HUDCC, I INTEND TO CONTINUE THE LAUDABLE PROGRAMS OF THE PAST ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAMS TO FURTHER GIVE MEANING TO THE PRESIDENT’S 10 POINT AGENDA. THERE ARE MANY HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR OUR FELLOW FILIPINOS. I WILL WORK FOR THEIR PROPER CHANELLING IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BE “FELT” BY THOSE WHO NEED THEM MOST, THE POOREST OF OUR BRETHREN.

FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE FEDERATION’S ENDEAVOR OF PROMOTING ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND THE STRENGTHENING OF THE FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. I ALSO REITERATE MY APPEAL TO ALL OF YOU TO HELP OUR COUNTRY GET THROUGH THIS FINANCIAL CRISIS IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY YOU CAN.

MABIGAT ANG PROBLEMANG HINAHARAP NG ATING BAYAN NGAYON. NGUNIT HINDI ITO IMPOSIBLENG BIGYANG SOLUSYON ANG MGA PROBLEMANG ITO. SINO PA ANG MAGTUTULUNGAN KUNG HINDI TAYO-TAYO RIN MGA PILIPINO. KAYA SAMA-SAMA NATING TUGUNAN ANG TAWAG NG ATING PANGULO NA TUMULONG SA ABOT AN ATING MAKAKAYA UPANG PASIGLAHING MULI ANG ATING NAG-IISANG PILIPINAS.

SAMASAMA TAYONG MAGSAGAWA NG MGA PAMAMARAAN NA MAG-AANGAT SA ATING EKONOMIYA… MGA OPORTUNIDAD PARA SA ATING MALIIT NA MGA MANGANGALAKAL, MGA INBENTOR AT MAPUPUSOK NA MGA BAGONG NAGSIPAGTAPOS NG KANILANG KURSO… AT MGA PROGRAMANG MAGBIBIGAY BUHAY SA ATING BANSA.

PROGRAMANG MAGPAPAUNLAD SA ATING MGA KABUKIRAN, … MAGPAPASIGLA SA IBAT-IBANG INDUSTRIYA SA BANSA… MGA PROGRAMANG TUTUGON SA ATING MGA PANGANGAILANGAN.

MARAMING SALAMAT AT MAGANDANG GABI BAYAN…

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