'Philippine economic growth despite Corona trial sign of international confidence'

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InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

An administration senator who voted to convict Chief Justice Renato Corona said the Philippines’ economic growth is an indication of increased international confidence.

Despite negative impressions about Corona’s impeachment trial, the Philippine economy expanded by 6.4 percent during January to March this year, which Senator Teofisto Guingona III considers as “significant” but not “unbelievable.”

He made these remarks during the 114th Philippine Independence Day Ball in Guam on Saturday.

“I personally view this positive development as a necessary consequence of the renewed air of transparency and accountability to the people that is now pervading the country … your country, my country...our beloved Philippines,” he said.

“This is significant – it is the highest growth rate among ASEAN countries and the second highest for that period in the whole of Asia,” Guingona said during the Ball that was organized by the Filipino community led by Guam Governor Eddie Calvo and Lieutenant Governor Ray Tenorio.

As the Philippines celebrates its 114th year of independence on June 12, Filipinos is opening a new chapter in their collective history—the freedom to believe in themselves, Guingona said.

“We should believe that we are capable of continually reforming both our society and government and that we are capable of moving our economy forward and on to greater heights,”

However, Guingona also said that an enemy is still lurking within the Filipinos’ collective consciousness.

“The enemy of this Freedom is not a colonizer. Nor an invader. Nor an ideology. The enemy of this Freedom is within us. It is called, “attitude” – the attitude of “cynicism”. The attitude of “hindi makapaniwala”. Worse, “ayaw maniwala,” he said.

He said that we need not show, display nor exhibit this proof, but all we have to do is ask everyone to look at one another.

“Please. Look at one another. There, my friends are your solid, unquestionable, incontestable proof. Now, I rest my case,” he said.

“It’s time to celebrate. Let’s celebrate our 114th Independence Day. Let’s celebrate the wonderful friendship between the Guam and the Philippines. Let’s celebrate the Filipino – the Filipino who, despite his many follies and foibles, continue to make his mark in the global stage,” he said

“Let’s celebrate your many successes here in Guam. Let’s celebrate – for you are proof that when we are free to believe in ourselves … then we are free to be what we are destined to become,” Guingona added. InterAksyon.com

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