President Aquino delivered on Saturday a commencement speech at the Ateneo De Manila University Loyola Schools, thanking the university for supporting his administration in the past six years.
In his speech, the President mentioned the achievements of his government in recent years like fighting poverty, improving the economy, health and national security.
“Lahat ng ito, at marami pang iba, nagawa dahil nakiambag ang napakaraming Pilipino: Sa loob ng administrasyon at sa pribadong sektor, sa sarili nating mga paraan, malaki man o maliit, pansin man o hindi ng madla,” he told the members of the Ateneo community.
“Sa puntong ito, gusto kong pasalamatan ang mga Atenistang nakiambag nitong mga nakaraang taon.”
“Hindi nagkulang sa pakikilahok ang Ateneo community sa anumang diskursong bumabalot sa lipunan.“
When a propaganda to forget martial law was initiated, the President said Ateneo was one of the institutions that issued a collective statement.
In line with Ateneo’s core principles, the President said his administration did everything to make it a government for others.
His government focused its attention in maximizing the benefits of reforms and for it to reach a large number of people especially those who are marginalized.
For instance, recent data shows 7.7 million Filipino families were lifted out of poverty as a result of the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
From 47 million in 2010, the government was able to increase to 93 million the beneficiaries of Philhealth, he said.
“Isinara natin ang mga minanang backlog sa classroom, textbook, at upuan sa mga paaralan. Tinanggal natin ang wangwang sa mga sistema at proseso ng pamahalaan,” he noted.
“Mula sa pagiging Sick Man of Asia, kinikilala na tayo ngayon bilang Asia’s Darling at Asia’s Bright Spot.”
The government was also able to modernize the police and the military by giving soldiers and policemen the training and equipment they need, he said.
The administration also did away with using a reenacted budget that was a source of corruption in the past, he noted.
In his last message to the Ateneo community, he said: “Mga kapwa ko Atenista: Lahat ng pinagdaanan niyo dito sa Ateneo, lahat ng itinuro sa inyo ni Fr. Jett at ng inyong mga guro ay paghahanda para sa mas malawak at mas masalimuot na mundo ng pagiging tao-para-sa-kapwa.“
“Itong graduation ninyo ay tanda ng inyong tagumpay sa kontroladong mundo ng Loyola Heights. Anuman ang landas na inyong piliin, huwag niyo sanang kalimutan ang lahat ng ibinahagi sa inyo dito sa Ateneo.“
He said he supports this year’s graduates encouraging them to become Men and Women for others, and serve as example to other people.
The President will step down from power on June 30. PND (as)
