Back to Alberto Florentino's Eruptions at Malacanang
ALBERTO S. FLORENTINO's
Eruptions@Malacañang, The Unmaking of a President
(Continuation)
Arrival Statement: The "Resign 'Erap'" Speech of
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
ARRIVAL STATEMENT OF VICE-PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
October 17, 2000Arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
from a trip to Europe
My beloved countrymen, after prayer and discernment, I have left the cabinet of the administration to join the true cabinet of the people.
As a public servant and as an individual person, I believe it is my duty to do what is right and do my best, and then to let God take care of the rest. The Lord makes known what is right to those who seek to discern His will through prayer and the confluence of events.
I need not recount the confluence of events of these past few days. Through the power of media and modern communications, you have seen and heard for yourselves. You have discussed among family and friends. You have reached the same conc (incomplete)
We must now begin the process to restore business and civil confide (incomplete)
We must show the world that the Filipino of EDSA is still with us. His spirit is alive. He has not lost his moral bearings. He will put his house in order.
My faith in God and in the Filipino is absolute. If we work together, we will bring our country back on the road to propriety, stability, and progress.
The first order of the day is unity. Many sectors of society have already sounded the call. Our people have responded. In turn they are now looking for a united opposition. In line with this, PROMDI, led by Governor Lito Osmeña, and REPORMA, led by Secretary Rene de Villa, have called for unity. We owe them thanks for this selfless act for the country. In their call to action, I shall not disappoint them.
Secondly, we must be vigilant. Our armed forces are faithful to the Constitution. However, there are those who may be tempted to use (this?) crisis as the (a?) means to preserve or grab power through the use of force.
Falsely, they will invoke national interest. Let us not listen to false prophets.
Third, we must be wary of black propaganda. Those who seek to preserve the spoils of power have vast resources at their disposal, including the resources to manufacture evidence. They have the capability to create confusion and disunity in our ranks. We must not allow ourselves to be misled.
Finally, we must reach out to different sectors of society to draw up an alternative national agenda. This will be our roadmap for the journey that the people now call to embark on.
On many occasions I have given my views on what our program of government should be. This is not the time or place to repeat them all. However, I can tell you that they converge on four core beliefs.
1. We must be bold in our national ambitions, so that our challenge must be that within this decade, we will win the fight against poverty.
2. We must improve moral standards in government and society, in order to provide a strong foundation for good governance.
3. We must change the character of our politics, in order to create (a?) fertile ground for true reforms. Our politics of personality and patronage must give way to a new politics of party programs and a process of dialogue with the people.
4. Finally, I believe in leadership by example. We should promote solid traits such as work ethic and a dignified lifestyle, matching action to rhetoric, performing rather than grandstanding.
The movement that is unfolding is one of diverse personalities. But in one respect, I believe these personalities are all the same. Each one wants to bequeath a good legacy to our children. The good legacy is a society that carries out God's (check MS) perfect plan for us.
May God's (check MS) will be done.
Thank you.
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