President Benigno Aquino III salutes during wreath laying ceremony at the 74th commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mount Samat National Shrine, Pilar, Bataan on Saturday, April 9, 2016. Also in photo United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
PILAR, Bataan—Exactly one month before election day, and with a little more than two months left in office, President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday thanked the Filipino people for giving him the opportunity to be of service for six years.
In his speech on the commemoration of the Day of Valor here, Mr. Aquino spoke about the Filipinos’ courage during the devastating war as well as how his administration ensured that the war veterans received the benefits they deserved for their selfless service to the country.
“I can think of no other that will come close to matching this opportunity, and the honor that was given me. This is our final gathering, and I take my leave of all those here in Bataan,” he said.
On Friday, Mr. Aquino also credited the Filipino people for his high trust and approval rating—the highest ever received by an outgoing president.
At the Liberal Party campaign rally in Makati, President Aquino himself seemed astonished by the numbers.
The latest Pulse Asia survey on March 12-18 showed Mr. Aquino receiving a 52-percent approval rating, and a 49-percent trust rating—a 10-point jump from the 39 percent he received in January.
“In the last survey, the numbers are higher…compared to when I was elected,” he said.
‘You are my strength’
The President told the audience it was “proof that you remain my strength, you were the ones who made the change, you started it all, and you will continue all of this.”
The President has been campaigning hard for administration standard-bearer Mar Roxas and vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo, urging the public to vote for the tandem as the one that will sustain the gains of the past six years.
The President said that “with the coming elections, our country is facing another, crucial fork in the path.”
“Let me ask you: Will we choose a leader who puts his own interests first, and in so doing, guarantees the suffering of those below him? Will we choose a leader who wants to take shortcuts to achieve results, without a care for those who might be endangered in his path? Will we choose the lofty promises made by someone who does not seem to have a proper understanding of the processes that are necessary to achieve these?” he said.
“You know my position in these matters: I stand with what is right, with who has been true to our people, with who has significant experience in governance. We stand with those who will continue the straight path. You know of whom I speak and I am confident, that our dreams for succeeding generations are aligned,” the President said.
President Aquino said it is the veterans “who will likely be able to give the best testimony of how far we have come in almost six years.”
“You, more than anyone else, will be able to relate the depth of the positive transformation we are experiencing today. I am confident that you will be among those who will advocate what we are fighting for: Let us continue the change; let us continue realizing our dreams; let us continue the straight path,” Mr. Aquino said.