Maraming, maraming salamat. Salamat sa ating Ambassador, Ambassador Babe Romualdez sa iyong napakagandang mga pagsalita at pagpakilala. Please take your seats at mahaba-haba ito. [laughter]

Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat at kayo’y nakarating dito sa ating pagsasama at alam ko ‘yung iba sa inyo ay napakalayo pa ang pinanggalingan. Ngunit nandito po kayong lahat at ako’y nasisiyahan na kayo’y makapiling. Kagaya po ng nabanggit ng ating butihing Ambassador ay hangga’t maaari kapag ako’y bumabiyahe sa lahat ng iba’t ibang lugar ay ginagawan ko – hangga’t maaari ay ginagawan ko ng paraan para makipagsama sa ating mga kababayan.

At alam niyo naman ang OFW na Pilipino kahit saan ka pumunta sa buong mundo mayroong Pilipino. At hindi lamang ‘yun, alam niyo po hindi natin makakalimutan kung ano ba talaga ang ginagawa ng ating mga OFW at paano tumutulong sa ating bansa, paano tumutulong sa kanilang mga pamilya, siyempre sa pamilya ang inyong iniisip.

Ngunit sa ginagawa ninyo ay tinutulungan ninyo ang pamilya ninyo kasama na roon ‘yung inyong minamahal na Pilipinas. Dahil unang-una, alam niyo po ay hindi ko siguro – I think it is impossible to exaggerate when I say that everywhere this – when I pagka – when I go on a trip, when I go to travel with – in other countries and I meet the leaders of those countries, they have nothing but good things to say about Filipinos. [applause] And that is something that – that is something that we hold close to our hearts. And here in LA, LA County, surrounding states, dito talaga ang pinakamalaking Filipino community dito sa Amerika, which probably makes you the biggest Filipino community outside of the Philippines. [applause] And you have made us all very, very proud.

At lahat ng aming sinasabi, sinasabi namin alam mo ‘yung mga OFW mahalaga ‘yan dahil lahat ng panahon na ang Pilipinas, ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas ay naghihirap, ang inyong sakripisyo, ang inyong sipag, ay ‘yun ang nagpapaahon sa ating ekonomiya kapagka hindi talaga – nahihirapan ang Pilipinas ay ‘yung mga alam niyo… Iyong mga remittances ng OFW iyon ang bumubuhay sa atin.

Kaya’t napakalaking bahagi ng inyong tinutulong sa ating ekonomiya sa ating bansa. Kaya’t kung minsan akala ninyo ang inyong tinutulungan, nagsasakripisyo kayo, eh tinutulungan ninyo ‘yung pamilya ninyo. Hindi lang po pamilya ang natutulungan ninyo, ‘yung buong Pilipinas din. [applause]

At bukod pa doon, bukod pa doon ang galing ng Pinoy ay nararamdaman na sa buong mundo at talagang nararamdaman na at sinasabi pinakamagaling ang Pinoy sila dahil napakasipag, na mapagkatiwalaan, napakabait, kahit hindi kailangang gawin basta’t makatulong tumutulong. Eh ‘yan naman talaga ang ugali ng Pilipino. Nadala ninyo ang ugali ng bayanihan ng Pinoy [applause] dinadala ninyo dito sa Amerika. Dinadala ninyo sa lahat ng inyong mapuntahan. Kaya kami ay magpapasalamat. Proud to be Pinoy talaga ang aming mga isinisigaw.

Kaya’t kulang ang aming pasasalamat sa lahat ng inyong ginagawa. On a more personal note, hindi naman ako mapagsimula na hindi ako makapagpasalamat sa inyo, sa inyong suporta na ibinigay sa amin ni Inday Sara noong nakaraang halalan at napakaganda po ng resulta na nakuha namin dito sa LA, [applause] sa LA County, all the surrounding areas.

At ‘yan po ay pinapangako ko sa inyong lahat na ang aming isusukli sa inyo ay ang talagang lahat ng aming kayang gawin upang pagandahin ang Pilipinas, pagandahin ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino at pagandahin natin. At lahat ng maaari naming gawin, lahat ng aming kakayahan ay diyan namin ilalagay upang maging mas maganda ang hanapbuhay, upang maging mas maganda ang kabuhayan ng bawat Pilipino, upang maging mas maganda ang Pilipinas. And then we can be even prouder of our country than we all already are. 

Alam niyo po nandito po ‘yung iba po sa amin. Ipapakilala ko sana ‘yung mga ibang kasamahan natin. Galing po kami sa APEC at noong nasa San Francisco kami, kasama namin halos, ang laki ng delegasyon namin dahil marami ngang pag-uusapan, maraming nadesisyunan, at pati ‘yung mga nagawang bagong plano para sa Pilipinas. 

Ngunit, ‘yung iba, sila ay humiwalay na dahil mayroon talaga silang ibang gagawin. Ngunit ‘yung mga nandito ipapakilala ko po sa inyo. Unang-una, nandito po ang ating Speaker of the House of Representatives, Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez [applause]; nakilala niyo na po ang ating Ambassador, si Ambassador Babe Romualdez [applause]; ang Kalihim ng Department of Trade and Industry, Trade and Industry Secretary Fred Pascual.  [applause] Ito po ay napakamahalagang bahagi sa ating mga ginagawa. He plays a very important part in all that we are doing because I think that it is clear to everyone that in the new global economy, what we have to do is to embrace new technologies. Kaya po sinama po natin ang Kalihim ng Department of Information and [Communications Technology], ang DICT Secretary, Secretary Ivan Uy. [applause] 

Dahil po ang ating pinag-uusapan ay talagang dahil para tulungan ang ating ekonomiya, nandito rin po ang ating Presidential Adviser on Investment and Economic Affairs, Secretary Frederick Go [applause]; nandito rin po, baka kilala po ninyo. I’m sure kilala po ninyo, nandiyan po nasa dulo na si ano… Dating senador, dating secretary, ngayon naging congressman, Congressman Ralph Recto na Deputy Speaker ngayon po. Tumutulong din po siya sa atin sa ating mga pagpaplano sa ekonomiya. Dahil siya po’y naging NEDA. Dumaan siya sa National Economic [and] Development Authority. Kaya’t siyempre lahat ng kilala natin na madudunong tungkol nga dito sa mga bagay-bagay dahil sa ekonomiya ay nagpapatulong tayo kaya po kasama natin si Congressman Ralph Recto. Baka pagkakilala ninyo sa kanya si Mr. Vilma Santos. [laughter] Sabi ko na nga ba, ‘yun ang pinaka-ano. Ginagawa niya ‘yun noong nagkakampanya kami. “Ako si Mr. Vilma Santos.” Tinototoo na niya, kinareer (career) na niya ‘yung pagka Mr. Vilma Santos. Matagal na po kaming magkakilala dahil po ‘yung kanyang – his better half Vilma Santos was somebody known to me for a very long time dahil noong mga kampanya na sine ng aking ama ay siya ay ginaganap niya si Imee kaya’t mula noong bata pa kami ay nagkakilala na kami kaya’t… Pati si Ralph matagal ko ng kilala at nagkataon na ‘yung aking dalawang kaibigan ay nag-asawa.

Also, with us which is a very important part, a very important aspect of the lives of our OFWs dahil ito po ang pinakabagong departamento ng ating pamahalaan and that is the Department of Migrant Workers. Ito po ay nilagay upang lahat ng pangangailangan, lahat ng mga pangyayari na kailangan tugunan ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas tungkol sa OFW ay dito pupunta kaya po ay tinawag ang Department of Migrant Workers. Nandito po Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan. [applause] Siya ‘yung tumutulong po sa atin ngayon. 

Ang unang naging kalihim diyan ay si Secretary Toots Ople. Baka siya’y nakilala ninyo. Ngunit pumanaw na po siya kaya’t ngayon ay pinagpapatuloy namin ang kanyang sinimulan na trabaho dahil napakaimportante po sa atin na talagang lahat ng pangangailangan ninyo, mga OFW, lahat ng magiging issue tungkol sa inyo, lahat ng tulong na maibigay ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas dahil nga lagi natin sinasabi kayo ang mga bagong bayani ay dapat naman siguro ang trato namin sa inyo ay bayani nga. Kaya’t ‘yan po ang nagiging trabaho ng Department of Migrant Workers.

Nandito rin po siyempre ‘yung – nako malakas ‘yung palakpak kanina rito, siguro maganda ang trabaho niya, Consul Edgar Badajos. [applause] Aba, palagay ko – that is the best testimony to his good work that he is doing. [applause] Puro ito kamag-anak mo. [laughter] Oo, puro tiga-Norte itong mga ano… ConGen naman mahahalata tayo diyan sa – kung ganyan ang gagawin ninyo. [laughter]

Hindi po kumpleto ang aking pagpapakilala hangga’t maipakilala ko po ang ating First Lady, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. [applause]

My fellow workers in government; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen; ating mga kaibigan, magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.

Maraming salamat sa inyong mainit na pagbati sa akin at sa aking buong delegasyon. Naimabag na aldaw kada kaayo ameng kakabsat. [applause]

Alam ko na marami sa inyo malayo pa nga ang pinanggalingan, napakalaki naman ng Southern California at ibang mga – galing pang Southern Nevada, Arizona. Oh, sino ‘yung pinakamalayo? Doon sa San Francisco, mayroon pang Pinoy galing Alaska. Hindi ko alam kung paano sila nakarating ng San Francisco galing Alaska talaga. Biruin mo, Pinoy talaga hanggang Alaska may Pinoy.

Maraming salamat kayo’y nakarating. Kaya nakakataba po ng puso at ako’y lubos na nagagalak na makita kayong lahat dito sa Los Angeles. 

Galing lang po ako sa 30th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting, dito nga sa San Francisco na natapos kahapon. 

APEC, it was very important for me to go because APEC now includes some of the largest economies in the world. Nandoon po ang Amerika, nandoon po ang China, nandoon po ang India.

At alam niyo po, dito sa ating mga ginagawa ay kailangan natin na makipag-partner, makipag-agreement, makipagsabayan sa mga iba’t ibang bansa na ating mga kaibigan.

And APEC is the leading regional forum in Asia-Pacific which focuses on promoting free trade and sustainable development for its 21 member economies. It brought together 21 leaders of these economies as well as the private sector.

Alam niyo po sa ating ginagawa ngayon ay lagi nating isinasama ang tinatawag na private sector dahil sa aming pangingilala na hindi kaya ng pamahalaan lamang lahat ng kailangang gawin upang baguhin ang ating ekonomiya para dito sa post-pandemic global economy na tinatawag.

Alam niyo po, what we are trying to do here is to transform our economy. COVID changed everything. I think all of you know that it changed the way we live, it changed the way we work, it changed the way we talk to each other, it changed the way we travel, it changed everything.

And we have to adjust. But whenever there is these big changes, ‘yung mga paradigm shift as they call them, whenever there is that, there is also opportunity and we are trying – what we are trying to do is we are trying to position the Philippines in such a way that we take full  advantage of these shifts – these opportunities that the big changes in the global economy can bring.

And alam niyo naman hindi tayo maaaring maiwanan. Kailangan talagang pinag-iisipan nating mabuti at kaya naman mabuti naman at pinagmamalaki natin na we have – in the Philippines, we have the youngest workforce in Asia. The average workforce in the Philippines is 24-25 years old. And sa ibang bansa sa Asya, medyo tumanda na ang kanilang labor force.

Kaya’t ‘yan ang naging advantage natin. Kaya’t lahat ng ating mga pinaplano, hindi tayo kailangan mag-alala na saan tayo kukuha ng mga magtatrabaho diyan sa mga bagong industriya na ‘yan, sino ang mag-aaral tungkol sa bagong teknolohiya na ‘yan –  ay nandiyan ang ating Filipino workforce and ‘yun ang ating ipinagmamalaki.

So, our participation in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting was very productive. During and on the sidelines of the meeting, we were able to meet with the leaders of other countries, various industry leaders within and outside of the United States. 

Pinag-usapan namin, ibinabalita namin sa kanila ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas at ‘yung mga magagandang opportunity na kung bakit dapat sila ay pumasok at mag-invest sa atin. 

We are confident that these meetings will bear fruit in terms of more trade and foreign direct investments that will help propel our economy to greater levels of development and prosperity for our people.

In these meetings, I also emphasized our priority towards sustainable development and the urgent need to address climate change, to build resiliency, and do the adaptation that is necessary to build resilience against destructive consequences of severe weather. 

Nagiging biktima talaga tayo dito sa climate change. Ang Pilipinas ay sinasabi nila is one of the most vulnerable countries around the world and most vulnerable to climate change. 

Kaya’t isang malaking bahagi sa amin pinag-usapan ay pinag-uusapan namin kung papaano makatulong ‘yung mga mayayaman na bansa na tutulong dito sa ating ‘yung mga tinatawag na developing countries and vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change para mayroon tayong magagawa na hindi naman mapinsala ang ating mga tauhan, hindi mapinsala ang ating mga kababayan, that our communities will stay safe, will stay secure.

So, I pushed for investments in clean energy [and] affordable energy transition financing, food security, and we focused on research and development for the benefit of small-scale farmers, in health, in digitalization, in innovation, and particularly for our micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). 

‘Yun pong ating mga negosyante na ‘yung maliliit lang, ‘yung mga sari-sari store, halimbawa, ‘yung mga shoe shine boy, ‘yung mga mekaniko, ‘yung mga nagtatayo ng talyer. ‘Yun po ay 99.5% ng ating mga negosyo sa buong Pilipinas ay ganyang klase, ‘yung tinatawag na small to medium term – ah medium-scale enterprises. Kaya po ay ‘yun ang talaga nating inaalala.

Bukod pa rito, because we have talked about climate change, we are trying to diversify our sources of energy for sustainable development.

So, we witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with the United States Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. Kung minsan ang tawag po rito is a 123 Agreement. Ito po ay naging usapan sa gitna ng Pilipinas at saka ng Amerika na sinasabi na may kakayahan na ang Pilipinas upang gumamit ng nuclear energy.

I also had side meetings with many of counterparts  to discuss bilateral cooperation, not only on trade but also on geopolitics.  So, as we become closer to our goal of an upper middle-income economy, we need to expand these partnerships on both sides of the Pacific.

Our pursuit of opportunities for economic development did not end in APEC. This morning, we were given a tour of the SpaceX facility. Our vast archipelago… Ang ating – ay pitong libo ang ating isla. That vast archipelago is an ideal candidate for satellite broadband service and we look forward to improving broadband connectivity in the Philippines through Starlink and through all the others. [applause]

Mayroon po tayong pinapalipad din na satellite na isang satellite for communication na para sa Pilipinas lamang. Ito’y makakapagdagdag nga ng tinatawag na connectivity at kaya’t ay kami ay hinahanap namin lahat ng pamamaraan to take to full advantage of the new technologies that are available to us that will increase the productivity of our people.

Kayong nandito sa Amerika, lalong-lalo na dito sa California, this is very much the leading edge of some of those technologies. Nakikita naman ninyo kung paano makatulong, kung talagang ‘pag nagamit natin ‘yung mga AI na tinatawag, kapag magamit po natin lahat ng mga bagong teknolohiya ay talagang we become more effective, we become more efficient, we become more productive.

In the Philippines, sometimes we still hear about “mahina ‘yung internet”. But in the very near future, through these links that we were able to develop on this trip, we are very confident that we will no longer hear complaints about our internet, our online services. We will instead be hearing praise for the speed of our country’s internet connectivity.

Kaya’t nandito ‘yung ating Secretary ng Information and Communications Technology. Ipinangako ko na. Kailangan gagawin mo. [laughter and applause] ‘Wag tayong mapapahiya dito sa ano.

Hindi but… Nandiyan naman eh, and the technology is there. It is just up to us to adopt it. It is up to us to recognize what is appropriate technology for the Philippines and to bring it to the Philippines. ‘Yun lang naman ang kailangang gawin at hindi pa natin nagagawa. 

Pero ngayon, dahil nga sa aming pag-uusap sa mga iba’t ibang kumpanya sa iba’t ibang bansa na partner natin ay marami po tayong magagawa. And we hope to always take full advantage of the new technologies to provide the solutions to the challenges that this new era of digitalization brings.

Which brings me to our kababayans here in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.  It is very heartwarming for me to see you succeed 

and to become valued members of American society, not only in the places that you lived but also in the places that you work and beyond. I cannot repeat it often enough. The reputation that you have earned for our country is something that we back home are so proud of you. And we cannot say enough. [applause]

Sumikat talaga nang husto ang Pinoy, lalong-lalo na noong COVID dahil hanggang ngayon lahat po – ‘yan, ito mga frontliner ito siguro. [cheers] Iyong serbisyong ginawa ninyo, hindi lamang ‘yung mga healthcare workers, lahat po ng mga Pilipino na hindi na, wala ng kinalaman sa ospital, walang kinalaman sa mga clinic ngunit tumulong pa rin.

At ‘yan ang pakikilala ng Pilipino dahil sa inyo, dahil sa inyong ginawa, dahil sa inyong kabaitan, dahil sa inyong pagmamahal sa inyong kapwa at nakikita po natin. At ngayon lamang – hindi naman ngayon lamang pero ngayon talagang ang buong mundo ay nakita kung ano ang mga katangian ng mga Pilipino, ano ang kagalingan ng mga Pilipino, [applause] at kaya naman kapag ako ay nakakausap ko ang aking mga kapwa na pangulo, na mga hari, na mga prime minister, hindi ko na kailangan ibenta, hindi ko na kailangan sabihin “ang galing ng Pilipino.” Alam na namin ‘yan, sabi nila. Alam na namin ‘yan. Saan pa kami makakuha? Puwede pa ba? Magpadala pa kayo. Kulang pa ‘yung Pinoy dito. [laughter]

Baka kung minsan hindi nababanggit nang sapat. Baka hindi niyo naririnig kaya’t ako na magsasabi sa inyo, kami na nasa Pilipinas na nanunuod sa inyo, na nagiging beneficiary ng inyong sakripisyo at ng inyong sipag at ng inyong galing ay pumuputok po ang puso namin kapag nababalitaan namin kung gaano kagaling na naman ang Pilipino. [applause]

There are approximately [4.4] million Filipinos in the United States. Majority are here in Southern California, making the geographic spot [in] the world the home of the biggest Filipino diaspora in the United States and outside of the Philippines. 

Sa Census ng Amerika, Filipinos rank high in terms of income and educational attainment. [cheers and applause] So, given your number and your success, I cannot overemphasize the strength that you can harness to be a force for good – both in your own respective communities here in the US but also for the Philippines.

So, continue to please be ambassadors of goodwill for our country, for our people, [applause] especially in light… Ito hindi ko po maintindihan ‘yung mga hate crime na ginagawa na kontra sa atin, that are being committed against some members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities time and time again.

Wala na po tayong magagawa, magtulungan lang po tayo. Magkapit-bisig tayo and let’s support one another in the face of this. Siguro naman all it takes is patience and a continuing attempt to make people understand that we are different, but we really are the same.

It is said that people fear what they do not know; and fear sometimes leads to rash actions. So, continue to show your communities and your work places our people’s inherent kindness and care, and our love of life. We reach out to wherever we can, whenever we can. [cheers and applause]

Alam ko na mayroon sa inyo na nakaramdam really unpleasant experiences because you look and maybe you sound different. So, that’s why we make sure that our Embassy and the Consulates in the United States are continuously monitoring these reports, [and] will provide assistance to those affected, in cooperation of course with our friends here in the United States.

So, in behalf of our countrymen back home, I appreciate the remittances that you have sent, and continue to send. Personal remittances over – of Filipino workers ganito na kalaki, 2.2 percent, rose 2.2 percent. Bawat taon umaakyat, umaakyat. Siguro lahat kayo mayaman na ‘no? Wala ng mahirap dito. [laughter]

Eh papaano kaya nga ang biro nga sa Pinoy eh sabi nila na ‘yung mga Pilipino, they are the kings and queens of overtime. [laughter] Hindi sila… Ang akala ko noon ang mga Ilocano lang ‘yung masipag, mukhang lahat ng Pinoy masipag. [laughter]

So, the remittances that you are sending back have become a very important part of our economy. We have increases every year and it continues to be not only of help as I said, to your own families but even to your communities and it helps transform those communities.

So, that amount – what you have helped our country and people whether some of the most difficult global and regional financial and economic crisis in – for many, many years has been invaluable and for that, we cannot thank you enough. 

But beyond that, I ask you to encourage your families and friends to visit and invest in the Philippines. For those of you who have not been to the Philippines for a long time, now is the best time to visit our country once again. [applause]

We have – and bring a friend, bring a friend. Mayroon tayong kampanya – wala dito si Secretary Frasco, Christina Frasco, siya ‘yung tourism natin, mayroon tayong programa. ‘Yung mga OFW ‘pag uuwi kayo, magbabakasyon kayo, magsama kayo ng kaibigan ninyo na Amerikano o kung ano man. Para mayroon tayo – para madagdagan ang ating mga tourism doon sa Pilipinas.

Dahil nagiging malaking bahagi rin ‘yan sa ating mga plano, eh napakadali naman i –napakadali i-sales talk ang Pilipinas dahil hindi lamang napakaganda ng Pilipinas, napakaganda ng mga Pilipino. [applause] Ang babait. Masarap kasama, masaya, hindi ba?  Ngayon, lalo na ngayon ay nakikilala na tayo sa lahat.

So, we have introduced a lot of improvements, a lot of innovations making, so that a visit to our country’s various tourism sites is a good experience that they can have in any – in a lifetime. Our best tourism offering is the incomparable hospitality of the Filipino. [applause]

My dream, and that of the entire Philippine government, the state, is to one day make working overseas just one of your many options available – many options available to  our country.  

But we cannot make this dream come true all by ourselves, we need your support and we know that you will gladly walk, and continue working with us in realizing our goal.  

After all, your love for our country and people has not been extinguished by the years 

that you have spent away from our motherland.  Proof of this is your presence here tonight, and the support that you continue to provide your loved ones, our countrymen back home.

So, let us – so, help us realize this dream.  Continue being the ambassadors that you have been for our Filipino culture and relentless champions of the Philippines as a tourism, trade, and investment destination in Asia.

So, I call on all of you, help the country that nurtured and gave you all the wings to – that you have used to fly, and to explore, and to be successful,  and the foundation that helped you to achieve your success here.

Continue to proudly claim and celebrate your Filipino identity and heritage, teach them to your children, to your grandchildren.  Pass on your love of the Philippines to the next generation and the generations after that.  

They say home is where the heart is, and when they love their Filipino identity as you do, they will always belong to the Philippines, no matter where they might be. [applause]

So muli, maraming salamat sa inyong panahon at pagpunta rito sa Los Angeles para magkapiling tayong lahat itong sandali na ito. [applause]

Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo. Mabuhay kayong lahat! Mabuhay ang Pilipino! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! [applause]   

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