GMA’s New Year wish: Unity for RP

MANSION HOUSE, Baguio City — President Arroyo said yesterday her New Year’s wish is for the nation to be united and for a one-year suspension of politicking.

Speaking in the third and last episode of the television program "May Gloria ang Bukas mo," Mrs. Arroyo told host Winnie Monsod she hopes the Filipino people, especially the "great Filipino worker," will strive and work harder for the nation.

"The year 2002 will be dedicated to the Filipino people," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo also urged the opposition to come up with a "new politics" that would be anchored on party programs and "institutionalized consultation" with the administration to spur economic progress.

When Monsod asked what was her wish for her family, Mrs. Arroyo said she wished First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo would be weaned away from intrigues, and that her eldest son, Pampanga Vice Gov. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo would become happily married to his fianceé, Angela Montenegro, by next month.

"I wish that (First Gentleman) be spared from intrigues," she said.

"My New Year’s wish for (Mikey) is that he will have a happy marriage,"

Mrs. Arroyo also wished her only daughter, Lourdes or "Luli," to "find happiness...and lasting love," and her youngest son, Diosdado "Dato" to graduate from law school.

"For Luli, that she will find happiness. I know that she will find lasting love," she said.

"When Dato was still young, he was among the top five in an honor section. Later, he became more happy-go-lucky with his studies. Now that he’s in law school, that is very challenging," the President said. – Artemio Dumlao, Aurora Alambra, Paolo Romero