This was the message of Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. in a farewell program organized by his staff before he steps down on Wednesday.
Speaking to some 100 employees of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Guingona appeared calm but maintained he was "unyielding" in his principles that often clashed with the Arroyo administration’s policies.
Guingona had a falling out with President Arroyo last year due to irreconcilable differences over major policy issues.
He resigned as her foreign affairs secretary and left the administration party. Later, Guingona became adviser to opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. during the election campaign.
Asked about his plans after June 30 when newly elected candidates take their oath of office, Guingona declared he will continue to assume an active stand on vital issues.
With Mrs. Arroyo getting a fresh mandate, Guingona vowed to undertake a constructive position on issues of national importance and to remain vigilant, alert and purposeful.
"Definitely, this is just a farewell (to the vice presidential post)," Guingona said.
The outgoing Vice President advised the Arroyo administration to properly address the problem of foreign debt, unemployment and poverty.
He reiterated that the President should come up with a formula to start the healing process for the nation, as well as to pacify leaders from the opposition.
Poe’s camp has adamantly refused to concede defeat, earlier warning that they may not be able to stop their supporters from taking to the streets their protests over the supposedly "fraudulent" elections held last month.
"You can’t find a formula by quelling demonstrators. What’s happening (protest actions) is part of democracy. There must be a give and take relationship here," the Vice President said.
On Thursday, Guingona spoke before political science students of the University of the Philippines where he called the congressional canvass a "tragedy" for the Filipino people that saw Mrs. Arroyo and De Castro winning over Poe and his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda.
Guingona warned that another people power uprising may be in the making if the government tries to stop the people from holding street protests.
As he bade his staff goodbye, Guingona welcomed the election of his successor, Sen. Noli de Castro, and asked them to support him.
Guingona, however, also gave unsolicited advice to De Castro, saying he should study the plans, policies and directions of the Arroyo administration "so that he will be ready when the time comes."
Saying being a vice president is "more ceremonial," Guingona advised De Castro to wisely select a government agency he wants to head.
"Hindi ang pagiging VP ang tunay na trabaho. Kailangang mamili siya ng departamento (The real job lies in the government department he chooses to lead)," he said.
Guingona, meanwhile, pleaded for understanding from the employees who are co-terminus with the vice president. He noted that he cannot ask De Castro to retain them once he steps down.
More than 20 of the OVP’s 69 regular employees are co-terminus with Guingona.
"You can ask for my help anything except in retaining your jobs because I have no power over him (De Castro)," the Vice President said.
Asked what his legacy was to the OVP employees, Guingona said being able to put up a cooperative for them.
On his frustrations, Guingona cited the "nationalist" programs that did not materialize during his term. "Programs assigned to me but were not implemented. Most of the time these were beyond my control."
Guingona ended his 17-month stint from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) when he resigned in July 2002 over what he called "honest" differences with the President.
In 2001, then Senator Guingona was the first to publicly call for former President Joseph Estrada to resign amid charges of plunder.
Mrs. Arroyo succeeded Estrada and chose Guingona as her vice president following Estrada’s ouster due to a military-backed revolt.
Guingona’s stint at the DFA was marked by public clashes with the President on foreign policy issues, particularly the deployment of US troops in the country for the RP-US "Balikatan" military exercises.
The Vice President was joined in the program by his daughter Marie, his chief of staff Jaime Guerrero and assistant chief of staff Reynaldo Fajardo.