Noy thanks officials: We leave with heads held high

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday thanked his Cabinet men and women and cited them for their service to the country.

“If my dad (the late senator Benigno Jr.) could only see what we’ve done together, maybe he would be a little less inclined to sing ‘The Impossible Dream.’ As we leave office, we can do so with our heads held high because we’ve done right for the Filipino people,” Aquino said.

“On behalf of our people and from the bottom of my heart, I must say: thank you very much.”

The President surprised his Cabinet members with a meal and presentation of awards at Rizal Hall.

He said the reward for their work might have been just a few kind words from him and an invitation to share “a modest meal.”

“Perhaps this formal reward could somehow try and make up for that shortfall,” he said.

The President said all the awardees answered the call to bring change to the country “and I, myself, am a witness to the depth of your sacrifice.” 

He said many gave up their jobs and put their careers on hold to take far less lucrative positions.

“Many of you gave up time with your loved ones, many of you have willingly stood with me in the crosshairs of opponents of reform and have thus been on the receiving end of baseless attacks even on your character,” he told his men.

He said some of his men put their own lives in peril, responding to disasters and each sharing in the burden and responsibility of bringing hope and a better life to the people.

“This is why, every time I am praised for anything, I make it a point to say that I couldn’t have done anything without you, and without our countrymen,” he said.

“Most of you here have personal experience of how healthy my impatience can be when it comes to our people’s well-being. Yet, without complaint and with boundless enthusiasm, you energized the bureaucracy and made an impact on the lives of our people.”

2 awards

The President bestowed two awards – the Order of Lakandula, one of the senior honors of the Republic recognizing civil and political merit, and the Presidential Medal of Merit for those who have rendered outstanding service to the President. 

“I must emphasize: By giving these awards, I do not mean to diminish the contributions of those who are not receiving them. Nevertheless, I think it is incumbent upon me to give official recognition to those who have gone above and beyond our expectations.”

In seven days, the President said many of his men would return to regular civilian life and deserve some rest.

“However, we cannot be complacent. Awards like the ones we are conferring… must always remind us of how much our country needs everybody’s help, and how, as regular citizens, we must remain engaged in improving the lives of our fellowmen and protecting our democratic way of life.

“Now that our time in office is coming to an end, we must continue to do our own small part in the grand task of building a nation.”

Those who received the Order of Lakandula award were: Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Education Secretary Armin  Luistro, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and now senator-elect Joel Villanueva, Mindanao Development Authority chairperson Luwalhati Antonino, National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia;

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra, Science Secretary Mario Montejo, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., Health Secretary Janette Garin, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson.

The Presidential Medal of Merit awardees were Social Secretary Susan Reyes, Presidential Protocol chief Celia Anna Feria, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III, Philippine Economic Zone Authority head Lilia de Lima, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Administrator Gerardo Esquivel;

Government Service Insurance System president Robert Vergara, Bases Conversion Development Authority president Arnel Paciano Casanova, Climate Change Commission Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chair Chito Cruz and Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations chairman Cesar Villanueva.