MANILA, Philippines – Pinangunahan ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III ang pagtanggap sa nasa 500 panauhin sa palasyo ng Malakanyang nitong Lunes ng umaga para sa tradisyunal na Vin d’ Honneur para sa panibagong taon.
Sa tradisyunal na Vin d’ Honneur, nagtitipon-tipon ang mga matataas na opisyal ng Pilipinas at iba’t-ibang organisasyon, kabilang ang mga senador, miyembro ng kamara de representate, mga miyembro ng gabinete, hudikatura, diplomatic community, mga representante mula sa business sector at international organization.
Pagkakataon ito ng Pangulo upang makapagbigay ng pahayag para sa diplomatic community.
Naging sentro ng talumpati ng pangulo ang mga naging pagsubok ng bansa sa taong 2014 na kinaharap ng kaniyang administrasyon.
“When we look back on 2014 or when we look forward to our prospects in 2015, it becomes clear: we are very much on this earth. Be it the tensions in the West brought about by the problems in Ukraine, the increasingly erratic weather patterns brought about by global climate change; issues regarding the price of oil and the world market, the threat of pandemics like MERS-Corona Virus or Ebola, or selfish and senseless acts of violence as witnessed in Pakistan, Australia, Canada, or most recently in France: there are indeed many problems confronting us.”
Kaalinsabay nito ay muli ring nanawagan si Pangulong Aquino ng pagkakaisa ng mga bansa upang masolusyunan ang mga usapin katulad ng banta ng terorismo.
“We are responsible for our world and its future. Whether in combating climate change and its effects, or in fighting inequality, or in taking a stand against terrorism and instability: the time to act is now. We can work together: each person and each country doing its part to collectively solve all these issues. Or we can think only of ourselves, thereby allowing these challenges to grow more convoluted, and more insurmountable until we are all consumed by them.”
Umaasa naman ang pangulo sa kaniyang gabinete na sa mga huling taon ng kaniyang panunungkulan ay mapaglingkuran ang mamamayan na may dedikasyon at integridad. (Nel Maribojoc / Ruth Navales, UNTV News)