Arroyo quotes saint: ‘Nothing is impossible’ Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 23, 2009
STA. RITA, PAMPANGA, Philippines—Nothing is impossible.
That lifelong tenet by St. Rita of Cascia became President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s rallying cry to rural folks here on Friday as she tried to spread optimism while her administration battles the local impact of two global problems: Recession and climate change.
Speaking to some 2,000 residents here, Ms Arroyo echoed the saint’s maxim, telling them in Kapampangan: “I continue to hope for your support and help. St. Rita said there is nothing impossible, which is the theme of this feast. Nothing is impossible as we provide solutions to the challenges facing our world, our country, Pampanga and Sta. Rita.”
Ms Arroyo’s visit here was her 13th in the province and 10th in her home district since Feb. 24. A Marian devotee, she came on the feast day of the saint whose body has not shown progressive decay in over a century. Apung Ditang is how local folks call their patron.
“Payback time to her provincemates,” was how deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo called the President’s frequent forays in the province.
The visits should not be seen as part of early campaigning activities because, in the first place, Ms Arroyo has not stated that she is going to run for a seat Congress in 2010, Fajardo said.
Critics of Ms Arroyo accused her and her allies of plotting to keep her in power by a shift to a parliamentary form of government.
Under one so-called plot, Ms Arroyo is to run and win for a seat in parliament and be elected prime minister.
Under such an arrangement, elections will still proceed next year, but a plebiscite will be held as well to pave the way for a shift to the parliamentary form of government.
In her speech, Ms Arroyo said easing the impact of global recession is a top priority in her administration. “The lesson we learned here is that economies should have sound taxation and banking policies, which we have… We are developing more markets in China and Middle East and reducing reliance on our commerce with the US.”
She said her administration has been developing new industries like having more call centers in Clark and promoting tourism.
“As we do business in the world economy, we need to strengthen our self-reliance. Our responses include putting up more infrastructures like the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, and strengthening our agriculture,” she said.
She talked about climate change, saying this could be stemmed through effective solid waste management, mainly through waste reduction and recycling. Tonette Orejas with reports from Charlene Cayabyab, Inquirer Central Luzon
