Hope is resurrected among Filipinos, Aquino says in Easter message

March 31, 2013 4:43am


In the same way that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, hope has been resurrected among Filipinos, as seen in their collective effort to defeat corruption, President Benigno Aquino III said on Easter Sunday.

"Ang pagbangon ni Hesukristo ay sumasalamin sa pag-asang pinanghawakan ng bawat Pilipinong makailang beses nalugmok sa kalbaryo ng korupsyon at katiwalian.  At batid ng sinumang may malinaw na kaisipan na tulad ng pagbangon ni Hesukristo, bumabangon na rin ang ating bayan," Aquino said in his Easter message.

He marked other signs of progress, including growing sufficiency in rice, in contrast to past years when the country had to import millions of metric tons of rice.

“Kung dati, ilang milyong metrikong toneladang bigas ang inaangkat at binubulok lang sa mga bodega, ngayon, natatanaw na natin, hindi lang ang pagiging self-sufficient sa bigas kundi ang pagiging exporter nito (Before, millions of metric tons of rice were imported but lay rotting in warehouses. Now, we are on our way to becoming not just self-sufficient but also exporting rice),” he said.

Also, he said the improving economy has prompted renewed interest among Filipinos to return to the Philippines from foreign lands.

“Mula nang naibalik sa mga Pilipino ang tunay na lakas ng pamahalaan, at naiwaksi ang kultura nang pagkakanya-kanya at panlalamang, nagawa nating buhatin sa landas ng kaunlaran ang ating bansa," he said.

Meanwhile, Aquino said his administration continues to prioritize the improvement of the lot of millions of poor Filipinos, via the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino" conditional cash transfer program.

He also said the government is making progress in addressing the shortage of classrooms, and expects to eliminate the backlog of 66,800 classrooms before end-2013.

Aquino pushed for sustained hope and volunteerism among Filipinos as they continue to recover from corruption and despair.

Aquino said the spirit of volunteerism had greatly strengthened Filipinos' unity in working for progress.

“Ang pagtulong ay nagbibigay-lakas at kalayaan hindi lamang sa natulungan, kundi maging sa nag-abot ng tulong. Muli’t muli nating pinatutunayan: wala tayong hindi makakamit kung imbes na magkakanya-kanya ay magsimula tayong magbigayan. Sa ating kolektibong pagtutulungan, tiyak na magdudulot ito ng pag-asa at kaunlaran para sa lahat ng mamamayan," he said.

Drawing strength from Christ's resurrection

In a separate message, Vice President Jejomar Binay said Easter Sunday should give Filipinos hope of a better life amid the hardships they continue to face.

Filipinos should derive strength from Jesus Christ's Resurrection, which Binay said "signifies the triumph of life over death, of light over darkness."

"Easter symbolizes new life and new hope. Christ’s resurrection. This gives us hope that hardships will eventually give way to a better life. This is God’s promise of our salvation," he added.

On Sunday, Filipinos celebrated Easter Sunday by attending Mass, some of them lighting fireworks.

Meanwhile, Binay said: "May our Easter celebration inspire us all to always look forward to something good happening. May it strengthen our faith in God and in His immense love for us."  — with Carmela Lapeña /ELR/LBG, GMA News