PHOTO from the Office of the House Speaker
TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — As she celebrates her 72nd birthday, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo bared Friday her plan to be a consultant of the Pampanga provincial government so she can “continue helping” her home province.
“Sinabi ni (Pampanga) Governor (Lilia) Pineda na sabihin ko sa inyo na upang patuloy ko pa na matulungan ang Pampanga, ako ay magiging consultant ng probinsya,” the Pampanga 2nd district congresswoman said after the morning Mass celebrated in her honor at the San Agustin Church in Lubao.
(Governor Pineda told me to tell you that I could better serve Pampanga if I become a consultant for the province.)
The former President also said that while her legacy may not be as dramatic as those of other world leaders, she would like to be remembered as the chief executive who brought fiscal stability to her country after a global crisis.
“I like to think that my legacy will center around restoring our country’s fiscal stability after the storms on financial crisis here and abroad. The restoration of fiscal stability was the platform for my program that built more and better infrastructures, and that reduced our poverty from 39 percent when I assumed the presidency, to 26 percent when I left the presidency,” she said.
Arroyo said her birthday wish was “the good of the Filipino people always.”
PHOTO from the Office of the House Speaker
The lawmaker reiterated that she would concentrate on writing her memoirs after she steps down as the House Speaker on June 30.
Before the Mass, Arroyo joined the opening of the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Pradera Verde in Lubao with Pineda. /ee
PHOTO from the Office of the House Speaker