Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called on the Filipinos to go beyond personal interests and focus on moving the country towards greater peace, progress and prosperity for the most number of the people.
"Pursue with renewed zeal and resolve the worthy objectives we have set for ourselves the past year," the president said in her new year message on Monday, urging the over 76 million Filipinos to continue with hope and hard work for a better future.
She said her country has been undergoing a successful and peaceful transition in the administration of government in 2001, adding that slowly but surely, the people resumed building the national edifice upon a foundation of good governance.
"While we have surpassed many difficulties in the process of healing and rebuilding, there is still a lot to be done. There remain daunting challenges but we have the great Filipino worker to lead the way in overcoming these challenges," she said.
In a series of year-end reports in the past days, Arroyo expressed her satisfaction on the economic performance of the country in 2001 amid unfavorable situations, both domestic and international.
The president also planned to go on a "road-show" to far-flung areas of the country to mark the first anniversary of her dramatic assumption of the presidency in late January 2001. This event, scheduled on January 2-19, is also set to cheer the country up for the coming year of 2002, reports in Manila said.
(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2002)
