THANK YOU VERY MUCH VICE-PRESIDENT GUINGONA, MY CHOICE FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES; (APPLAUSE) AND IN KEEPING WITH A LONG RESPECTED PHILIPPINE TRADITION THAT THE PREMIERE CABINET POSITION SHOULD GO TO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, THEREFORE, THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. (APPLAUSE)

MRS. GUINGONA; SECRETARY ROMULO; FORMER SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND NOW AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN, SECRETARY DOMINGO DOMINGO SIAZON; (APPLAUSE) THE UNDERSECRETARIES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS; THE GAWAD MABINI AWARDEES; THE OFFICERS AND STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS; GUEST; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE PRESENT IN YOUR 103rd ANNIVERSARY.  THE DFA IS AS OLD AS THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND THE SECRETARY GUINGONA FOLLOWS A LONG LINE OF DISTINGUISHED SECRETARIES STARTING FROM THE GREAT APOLINARIO MABINI.

TO ME THE DFA IS A FAMILIAR TERRITORY, AS SECRETARY AND VICE PRESIDENT GUINGONA SAID, MY FATHER WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE DFA.  I WAS TELLING HIM THE STORY OF MY FATHER'S CAREER IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE.  MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF THE POST-WAR DFA.  OF COURSE THROUGH OUR FOREIGN SERVICE STARTED IN 1898, AFTER THE WAR, IN THE NEW REPUBLIC WITH PRESIDENT ROXAS, A NEW FOREIGN SERVICE HAD TO BE ESTABLISHED, AND HIS VICE PRESIDENT ELPIDIO QUIRINO WAS ALSO THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

ELPIDIO QUIRINO FELT THAT THIS NEW REPUBLIC SHOULD SHOW TO THE WORLD THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST THAT THE PHILIPPINES CAN OFFER.  AND SO HE CONDUCTED A SEARCH -- VERY SIMILAR TO THE SEARCH COMMITTEE IN LOOKING FOR WHO SHOULD BE THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST FOR THE ADMINISTRATION -- AND MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THOSE SELECTED BY THE SEARCH COMMITTEE.  HE WAS PLUCKED OUT OF MALACANANG WHERE HE WAS SERVING AS A LEGAL ASSISTANT IN WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT STAFF, AND FROM THERE HE WAS RECRUITED INTO THE FOREIGN SERVICE -- ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE OF THE PHILIPPINE IN THE POST-WAR ERA.

SO BECAUSE HE WAS THE LEGAL ASSISTANT OF PRESIDENT QUEZON IN MALACAÑANG BEFORE THE WAR, WHEN HE WENT TO THE DFA HE SERVED AT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF THE DFA.  HE ALSO WENT TO THE PHILIPPINE MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK. AND AT THAT TIME THE COUNSELOR OF THE DFA HAD A RANK SIMILAR TO THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY NOW.  AND THAT WAS HIS RANK AT THE TIME WHEN HE NEGOTIATED FOR THE TURNOVER OF THE TURTLE ISLAND TO THE PHILIPPINES BY THE UNITED KINGDOM.  THEN HE WAS SECOND SECRETARY AT THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON AND THAT WAS THE TIME WHEN QUIRINO -- WHO WAS BY THEN ALREADY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES BECAUSE HE WAS RECRUITING HIM FOR ANOTHER POSITION.  THIS TIME TO RUN FOR CONGRESS.

AND SO MY FATHER LEFT THE FOREIGN SERVICE -- ONLY TECHNICALLY BECAUSE WHEN WAS ELECTED AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FIRST DISTRICT OF PAMPANGA -- BECAUSE OF HIS CAREER AS A PIONEER AS A CAREER OFFICIAL OF SORTS AT THAT TIME IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE, HE WAS ELECTED BY HIS PEERS AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS.  AND AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS BECAUSE OF HIS INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF FOREIGN ASSIGNMENTS, HE SPONSORED -- AS VICE PRESIDENT GUINGONA SAID -- THE FOREIGN SERVICE ACT, REPUBLIC ACT 708, THUS BECOMING THE FATHER OF THE PHILIPPINE CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE CORPS. (APPLAUSE) AND THIS IS WHY I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR CAREER DIPLOMATS.

AND WHEN I WENT TO GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY THE COURSE THAT I ENROLLED IN WAS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN FOREIGN SERVICE MAJOR IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AFFAIRS.  (APPLAUSE) AND THEN MY DAUGHTER INHERITED THAT RESPECT FOR THE CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE UNTO THE THIRD GENERATION.  AND WHEN SHE WENT TO GEORGETOWN THE COURSE SHE ENROLLED IN, THE COURSE SHE GRADUATED IN FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY WAS MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FOREIGN SERVICE.  (APPLAUSE)  SHE INDEED SOUGHT FOR A WHILE TO BE A CAREER DIPLOMAT -- AND MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT SHE TOOK THE FOREIGN SERVICE EXAM LAST YEAR, PASSED IT, BUT EDSA 2 HAPPENED SO QUICKLY THAT UNFORTUNATELY FOR HER, BY THE TIME HER APPOINTMENT PAPERS REACHED MALACAÑANG, I WAS ALREADY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AND AS YOU KNOW, I DID NOT SIGN  HER APPOINTMENT PAPERS BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF AVOIDING NEPOTISM IN PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT.  BUT I AM PROUD THAT SHE ACCEPTED MY DECISION GRACIOUSLY, AND NOW SHE HAS ENTHUSIASTICALLY FOUND HER CALLING IN ANOTHER CAREER SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR HER TO JOIN THE FOREIGN SERVICE ANYMORE.  BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE -- EITHER I AM PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES OR SHE IS A CAREER DIPLOMAT -- IT CANNOT BE BOTH OF US.  (LAUGHTER / APPLAUSE)

AND BECAUSE OF HIS BACKGROUND IN FOREIGN SERVICE -- NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE HIMSELF WAS A PIONEER IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE HE WAS FOR MANY YEARS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS IN THE HOUSE -- MY FATHER BELIEVED THAT FOREIGN RELATIONS WAS INDEED AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF AN INDEPENDENT NATION, AND THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BE KNOWLEDGEABLE NOT ONLY IN LAW AND ECONOMICS BUT IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS AS WELL. AS PRESIDENT, HE PROMOTED THAT ASIAN PROBLEMS SHOULD BE SOLVED BY ASIAN NATIONS AND FOLLOWING THIS PRINCIPLE, HE HOSTED THE MANILA SUMMIT WHERE MAPHILINDO, THE PRECURSOR OF ASEAN WAS BORN.  BUT HE ALSO BELIEVED IN COOPERATING WITH THE UNITED STATES FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.  FOR HE FELT THAT HAVING LONG ASSOCIATED IN SHARING COMMON IDEALS OF DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM, LOVE FOR PEACE, AND THE RULE OF LAW, IT SHOULD BE RELATIVELY EASY FOR THE FILIPINO AND AMERICAN PEOPLES TO THRESH OUT PROBLEMS BETWEEN THEM ON THE BASIS OF SOVEREIGN EQUALITY AND MUTUAL RESPECT.  FURTHERMORE, IT WAS HIS ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY TO SUPPORT THE UNITED NATIONS IN MAINTAINING PEACE AND SECURITY.  HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT CLOSER TIES WITH SPAIN TILL THE GROUND FOR A BENEFICIAL ROLE OF THE PHILIPPINES IN A GLOBAL HISPANIC BLOC OF NATIONS WITH SPAIN IN EUROPE, THE LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS IN THE AMERICAS AND THE PHILIPPINES IN ASIA.

LET US NOW FAST FORWARD TO THE MACAPAGAL-ARROYO ADMINISTRATION.  36 YEARS AFTER THE END OF THE FIRST MACAPAGAL ADMINISTRATION.  I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER YOUR STRATEGIC POLICY DIRECTIONS -- BUT I HOPE THAT THE OUTLINE WILL ADHERE TO MY OUTLINE -- THE SEVERAL REALITIES THAT THE PHILIPPINES FACES THAT CHARACTERIZE ITS INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT TO WHICH WE HAVE TO RESPOND IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS.  AND FOR THIS PURPOSE, THEREFORE, AS YOUR PRESIDENT, LET ME ENUMERATE THESE REALITIES.  VICE PRESIDENT GUINGONA ALREADY TALKED ABOUT MY EIGHT POLICIES -- I CALL THEM THOUGH MY EIGHT REALITIES -- I HOPE YOUR STRATEGIC THRUSTS WILL GO ALONG  THESE LINES.

THE FIRST REALITY IS THAT CHINA, JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE THE DETERMINING INFLUENCE IN THE SECURITY SITUATION AND ECONOMIC EVOLUTION -- OF EAST ASIA.

SECOND, MORE AND MORE, PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY DECISIONS SHOULD BE MADE IN THE CONTEXT OF ASEAN.

THIRD, THE INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE IMPORTANT FOR THE PHILIPPINES.

FOURTH, THE COMING YEARS WILL SEE THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF MULTILATERAL AND INTER-REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE COMMON INTERESTS.

FIFTH, THE DEFENSE OF THE NATION'S SOVEREIGNTY AND THE PROTECTION OF ITS ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES CAN BE CARRIED OUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT IT ASSERTS ITS OVER MARITIME TERRITORY -- AND GETS OTHER TO RESPECT THOSE RIGHT.

SIXTH, THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH WILL CONTINUE TO BE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENT.

SEVENTH, A COUNTRY LIKE THE PHILIPPINES CAN BENEFIT MOST QUICKLY FROM INTERNATIONAL TOURISM.

AND EIGHT, OVERSEAS FILIPINOS WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STABILITY.

LET ME ELABORATE ON EACH OF THESE REALITIES.

GOING BACK TO THE FIRST, ON JAPAN, CHINA AND THE U.S.

CHINA AND JAPAN HAVE EMERGED AS THE MOST POWERFUL NATIONS IN THE REGION.  IN THIS LIGHT, WE CAN PERCEIVE THAT EACH IS TRYING TO MANAGE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OTHER WITH UTMOST DELICACY.  THEREFORE, THE PHILIPPINES, TOGETHER WITH THE REST OF ASIA, HAS A STAKE IN ENSURING THAT THE CHINA-JAPAN RELATIONSHIP EXERTS A BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE ON THE REGION'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AND POLITICAL STABILITY.

WITH JAPAN, THE PHILIPPINES SHOULD MOVE TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RELATIONS.  WITH CHINA, THE PHILIPPINES DESIRES A HEALTHY, COMPREHENSIVE, LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP THAT TRANSCENDS THE SPECIFIC MATTERS AT ISSUE BETWEEN US.

AND BY VIRTUE OF ITS DOMINANT MILITARY AND ECONOMIC POWER, THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE REGION AND THE NATION.  THE PHILIPPINES HAS HAD ENDURING HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES.  THE LAST CENTURY SAW IN PARTICULAR THE CLOSE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE UNITED STATES, ONE WHICH WAS REDEFINED WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE MILITARY BASES IN 1992.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BLOSSOMING OF PHILIPPINE-U.S. RELATIONS THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEW REALITIES OF GLOBALIZATION AND THE CONJUNCTION OF DEMOCRACY AND THE MARKET.  LAST YEAR, THE PHILIPPINES AND THE U.S. SIGNED JOINT STATEMENTS ON COOPERATION IN MANY AREAS LIKE E-COMMERCE AND IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.  I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE REALIZATION OF THESE ASPIRATIONS IN THESE JOINT STATEMENTS IN THE SOONEST POSSIBLE TIME.

I AM ALSO HAPPY THAT THE U.S. AND THE PHILIPPINES HAVE AGREED TO EMBARK ON BROADER SECURITY COOPERATION TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF GLOBAL TERRORISM, ILLEGAL NARCOTICS TRADE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND OTHER TRANSNATIONAL CRIMES.  DESPITE THE DOMESTIC PROBLEMS THAT IT SOMETIMES CAUSES, THE MILITARY ALLIANCE WITH THE UNITED STATES IS A STRATEGIC ASSET FOR THE PHILIPPINES.

SECOND, ON ASEAN.

THE COMMITMENT TO ASEAN REMAINS A CORNERSTONE OF PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY.  AT THE 33rd ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING HELD IN BANGKOK LAST YEAR.  LAST YEAR, THE ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS AGREED TO THE PHILIPPINES INITIATIVE TO INCLUDE "BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF PEACE" AS A PILLAR OF THE COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA OF ASEAN.  THIS CONSISTS OF MEASURES AIMED AT IMPROVING THE INSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES OF ASEAN, AND OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO ITS UTMOST TO HELP BUILD A COMMUNITY OF PEACE IN ASEAN.

THE PHILIPPINES WILL REMAIN FIRM IN IMPLEMENTING ITS COMMITMENTS IN ASEAN AS A STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS TOWARDS ATTAINING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. SPECIFICALLY, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE CEPT-AFTA WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO SENSITIVE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND TO HER PRODUCTS NEEDING TIME TO ADJUST FOR A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.  WE ARE EQUALLY STRONG IN OUR RESOLVE IN OUR TO HELP REALIZE THE E-ASEAN INITIATIVE.

THE PHILIPPINES WILL CONTINUE TO ATTACH GREAT VALUE TO THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM, OR A.R.F., AS THE MOST IMPORTANT, PERHAPS REALLY THE ONLY MULTILATERAL SECURITY FORUM IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION WHERE ASEAN CAN ENGAGE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS ON POLITICAL AND SECURITY ISSUES.

THIRD, ONTHE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY.

THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY OF NATIONS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN THE SEARCH FOR LASTING PEACE AND BROAD-BASED DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES.  WE HOPE TO FORM STRONGER BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH THE ISLAMIC COUNTRIES LIKE MALAYSIA, INDONESIA, SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHER GULF STATES, LIBYA, EGYPT, PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH, AND TURKEY, AS WELL AS THE OIC SECRETARIAT.  IN THESE ENDEAVORS, THEREFORE, OUR RELATIONS WITH THE MIDDLE-EASTERN COUNTRIES MUST BE BROADENED BEYOND OVERSEAS WORKER-RELATED ISSUES.

FOURTH, MULTILATERAL AND INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATION.

THE PHILIPPINES IS COMMITTED TO WORKING TO PROMOTE MULTILATERAL AND INTER-REGIONAL COOPERATION, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES THROUGH ASEAN+3 IN THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL FIELDS; IN THE ASIA-APCIFIC REGION THROUGH APEC PARTICULARLY IN HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT, CAPITAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT, GOOD GOVERNANCE, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT; AND BETWEEN ASIA AND EUROPE THROUGH ASEM, WITH THE PHILIPPINES TAKING THE LEAD IN ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND CHILD WELFARE.

THE PHILIPPINES WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN SETTING THE GLOBAL POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AGENDA WITH THE UNITED NATIONS.  THE WTO AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

FIFTH, ON THE NATIONAL TERRITORY.

THE PROTECTION OF  THE COUNTRY'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY REMAINS THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCERN OF ANY GOVERNMENT.  IN THE ATTAINMENT OF THIS GOAL, OUR GOVERNMENT, THROUGH YOU -- THE DFA -- MUST PROMOTE PHILIPPINE INTERESTS BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS, BROADENING AND DEEPENING BILATERAL RELATIONS THROUGH SUCH MEANS AS EXCHANGES OF VISITS, REGULAR CONSULTATIONS AND DIALOGUES, AND PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FORA AND ACTIVITIES.  AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY IS TO SECURE AGREEMENTS ON MARITIME BOUNDARIES.  WE WILL NOT ONLY CONTINUE BUT INTENSIFY OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF TERRITORIAL DISPUTES.

SIXTH, ON INVESTMENT.

IN AN INCREASINGLY INTEGRATED GLOBAL ECONOMY, FOREIGN CAPITAL TECHNOLOGY AND MARKETS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SOUTHEAST ASIA.  INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ARE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF OUR ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY.

BUT NO AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT PROMOTION WILL WORK UNLESS AT THE DOMESTIC FRONT, WE ARE ABLE TO TRANSFORM PHILIPPINE SOCIETY.  THEREFORE, IN THE INTEREST OF PROMOTING PHILIPPINE SOCIETY, I STARTED FOUR CORE BELIEFS THAT WOULD BE MY GUIDING TENETS AS I LEAD THIS NATION.  I ENUMERATED THESE WHEN I TOOK MY OATH OF OFFICE AS PRESIDENT LAST JANUARY 20th.  AND THESE ARE: FIRST, TOW IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE; SECOND, TO IMPROVE MORAL STANDARDS IN GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY; THIRD, TO CHANGE FROM PERSONALITY-DRIVEN TO PARTY AND PROGRAM-BASED POLITICS; AND FOURTH, TO PROMOTE LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE.

SEVENTH POLICY REALITY, ON TOURISM.

THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, WHICH IS A LABOR-INTENSIVE, BROAD-BASED, GEOGRAPHICALLY DIFFUSE SECTOR THAT REAPS QUICK RETURNS, IS NEAR THE TOP OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES.  IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS, OUR ADMINISTRATION SHOULD MODIFY VISA AND AVIATION POLICIES TO SUIT THE DEMANDS OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.  WE SHOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE AND ACTIVELY SEEK FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN TOURISM FACILITIES.

AND FINALLY, EIGHTH, ON OVERSEAS FILIPINOS.

THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY WILL, FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, CONTINUE TO BE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON OVERSEAS-WORKER REMITTANCES.  ON THE BASIS OF THIS AND OF THE NATION'S HUMANITARIAN RESPONSIBILITIES TO ITS PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY ARE, OUR GOVERNMENT MUST WORK DOUBLY HARD TO STRENGTHEN WORKERS' PROTECTION FROM THE DEPREDATIONS OF DOMESTIC RECRUITERS AS WELL AS OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYERS, AGENTS AND OFFICIALS.  WE MUST STRENGTHEN BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH COUNTRIES HOSTING LARGE NUMBERS OF FILIPINOS.  ON THE MULTILATERAL FRONT, WE MUST INTENSIFY OUR CAMPAIGN FOR THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF MIGRANT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ADOPTION OF U.N. RESOLUTIONS ON THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN MIGRANT WORKERS.

WITH THESE REALITIES AS THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR FOREIGN POLICY, I HOPE I WILL SEE THIS VERY CLEARLY IN YOUR STRATEGIC THRUSTS.  AND I CONGRATULATE VICE PRESIDENT GUINGONA ON HIS INITIATIVES IN MEETING THESE REALITIES, BUT I ESPECIALLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON SOME VERY SPECIFIC CONCRETE REFORMS SUCH AS IMPROVING STANDARDS OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE DEPARTMENT.  WE HOPE THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PASSPORT PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS PASSPORTS TO BE RENEWED WITH TELEPHONE AND DIRECT DELIVERY SERVICE, WILL HELP EASE THE LONG LINES OF PASSPORT APPLICATIONS.  AND I CONGRATULATE VICE PRESIDENT GUINGONA FOR EMBARKING ON THE MACHINE-READABLE PASSPORT AND VISA PROJECT.  THIS, I UNDERSTAND, IS A B-O-T PROJECT WHICH WILL AUTOMATE THE PROCESSING AND ISSUANCE OF PASSPORTS, THEREBY INCREASING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT AND DRASTICALLY CUTTING THE LONG QUEUES OF PASSPORT APPLICANTS.  IN ADDITION, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DFA HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION TO CODIFY VISA RULES AND REGULATIONS.

WHEN MY FATHER SPONSORED THE FOREIGN SERVICE ACT, HE STATED IN HIS SPONSORSHIP MESSAGE: "IT IS NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT OUR DIPLOMATIC FRONT IS OUR FIRST AND VIRTUALLY LAST LINE OF DEFENSE IN OUR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.  TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THIS LINE SUCCESSFULLY IN THE INTEREST OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND WELL-BEING, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT OUR FOREIGN SERVICE BE HANDLED BY A BODY OF PERMANENT MEN AND ESTABLISHED COMPETENCE WHO WILL MAKE THE FOREIGN SERVICE THEIR LIFE CAREER.

"FOREIGN SERVICE WORK INVOLVES A COMPLEX AND WIDE VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS, AND, IF FOR THIS REASON ALONE, OUR FOREIGN SERVICE SHOULD BE STAFFED BY WELL-TRAINED, CAPABLE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO WILL GLADLY REMAIN IN THE SERVICE AND BE PROUD TO BELONG TO THAT ORGANIZATION."

THAT IS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE CAREER CORPS.  THAT IS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DFA, AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT YOU STILL ARE TRUE TO THE DREAMS OF MY FATHER WHEN HE SPONSORED THE FOREIGN SERVICE ACT.  (APPLAUSE)

CONTINUING HIS SPIRIT, YOUR SPIRIT, OF A CAREER FOREIGN SERVICE, WE HAVE SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO RESIST TEMPTATIONS TO MAKE NON-CAREER APPOINTMENTS BELOW THE AMBASSADORIAL LEVEL, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO RESIST SUCH TEMPTATIONS.  (APPLAUSE)  OUR INTENTION IS THAT NON-CAREER APPOINTMENTS WILL BE ONLY MADE AT THE AMBASSADORIAL LEVEL, BUT EVEN AT THAT LEVEL WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TOWARDS A REDUCTION OF THE PROPORTION OF POLITICAL APPOINTEES.  (APPLAUSE)

PROFESSIONALISM, LOVE OF COUNTRY, SELFLESSNESS AND SERVICE -- THESE ARE INDEED THE BASIC VALUES WE NEED IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE, THE BASIC VALUES WHICH WE SHOULD ALL INSTILL IN OURSELVES.  AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE DFA WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF EXERCISING THESE BASIC VALUES AT THE FOREFRONT OF PROGRAMS OF RENEWAL AND REFORM.  LIKE MY FATHER, I WILL FULLY SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A TRULY PROFESSIONAL CAREER SERVICE CORPS.  BUT IN RETURN, I ASK THAT THE DFA GIVE ITS FULL SUPPORT TO VICE PRESIDENT GUINGONA'S LEADERSHIP (APPLAUSE) AS OUR WELL-RESPECTED VICE PRESIDENT -- KNOWN FOR HIS INTEGRITY AND HIS FIERCE NATIONALISM -- TAKES THE LEAD HERE IN THE DFA AS HE TAPS INTO YOUR TRADITIONS AND WELLSPRINGS WITH HIS OWN DEEPLY-FOUNDED VALUES TO CONTINUE YOUR LAUDABLE PROGRAMS TO EXTEND ASSISTANCE TO OUR COUNTRYMEN IN THE PHILIPPINES AND OF COURSE OVERSEAS.

CONGRATULATIONS.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND THANK YOU.  (APPLAUSE)