From the Website of GPH - Government of the Philippines
links: http://www.gov.ph/2014/10/02/speech-of-president-aquino-at-the-ulap-national-executive-board-oath-taking-ceremony-october-2-2014/Speech of President Aquino at the opening session of the 7th Bali Democracy Forum
Statement
of
His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
At the opening session of the 7th Bali Democracy Forum on the Evolving Regional Democratic Architecture
of
His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
At the opening session of the 7th Bali Democracy Forum on the Evolving Regional Democratic Architecture
[Delivered at the Bali International Convention Center, Indonesia, on October 10, 2014]
Your Excellency Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia; Your Majesty Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan
of Brunei; Your Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister of
Timor-Leste; Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa of Indonesia; Mr.
Douglas Broderick, the UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia; members of
the various delegations, ladies and gentlemen:
Once again, good morning.
Allow me to express my gratitude for the
honor of co-chairing the Seventh Bali Democracy Forum with the leader
we all consider our big brother, President Yudhoyono. Our gathering
today provides me with an opportunity to share with you some ideas,
which, I believe, resonate with the Philippines’ own narrative as a
democracy.
As leaders of our respective peoples,
all of us represent the shared aspirations of our countrymen: the goal
of meaningful progress, the desire to live peaceful and dignified lives,
and the freedom to fully realize their potentials as individuals and as
members of a single community of peoples.
These are the very aspirations that have
united the Filipino people in our pursuit of building a nation where
human dignity and justice serve as the bedrock principles of society,
where each voice is heard, and where the interest of the majority, and
not of the powerful few, is the ultimate compass of government.
Might I share: In an open forum during
my recent trip to the United States, I was asked by a student who hails
from an ASEAN country if I missed the good old days, particularly the
stability fostered by authoritarianism. As you might know, my family and
I lived in exile in Boston for a good three years, and obviously, as a
member of a family victimized by an authoritarian regime, I could not
share the sentiment. Instead I wondered: What were good about those
days? The discussion with that member of our youth gave me the impetus
to reflect even more on the matter.
It can be said: In a totalitarian
regime, things get done faster, whether they are right or wrong,
precisely because there are no checks and balances in place. Very often,
the consent and support of the governed are neither sought nor
attained. Naturally, such a regime, one divorced from the desires of its
people, will have weak foundations. In that kind of regime, might I
point out, the opinions and wishes of the governed are only second to
the objective of staying in power. And as we have seen in history, all
authoritarian regimes, regardless of the cause of their coming to power,
will at one point make political survival the end all and be all of
government.
As leaders, all of us here have had our
share of frustrations borne of the many factors that sometimes hinder
the realization of our vision. This breeds the temptation to consider an
authoritarian method, as this might promise immediate gains. Sitting
down and reflecting on this idea, however, we realize that, with the
lack of consensus and consent from the people, such a mode, which offers
quick, short-term gains, may be detrimental to society in the long-run.
That lack of consensus, combined with the great degree of
dissatisfaction that inevitably arises, leads to instability and the
eventual collapse of that particular system.
On the other hand, in a democratic
state, which is the opposite of an authoritarian regime, government is
systematically attuned to the voice of the people; it represents the
people and works towards the betterment of its people. And while
consensus building, which is the foundation of such a state, may be a
long and complicated process, it nonetheless presents more stable, more
solid foundations for equitable advancement.
Democratic institutions, after all, seek
to free and enable its citizens, and the first freedom should always be
from hunger, as my father once thought. In turn, that empowered
citizenry becomes capable of nurturing and fostering democracy. This
ultimately redounds to a virtuous cycle of inclusiveness, stability, and
development.
Meanwhile, when a people are rendered
vulnerable and their rights and freedoms are undermined, they become
marginalized and more susceptible to coercion, abuse, and the temptation
to acquiesce to absolutism. Coupled with an increasing population, one
neglected by government, that specific populace is left in a much worse
state than the generation before it. Such a condition hinders them from
contributing to a nation’s growth, creating a vicious cycle of poverty,
patronage, and underdevelopment.
Indeed: when consensus is sought and
achieved on the basis of justice, openness, and democratic engagement,
then there will be permanence, in as much as it is humanly possible.
This ultimately paves the way for the creation of a truly just and
progressive society.
While this path has not been without
obstacles, the trials we have faced in the Philippines as a democracy
have only strengthened our resolve as a people. This was nowhere more
evident than in 1986, when the Filipino, after more than a couple
decades of oppression under a dictator, met tanks and armed soldiers
with vigilance, hope, and democratic will. The world would come to know
this historic event as the EDSA People Power Revolution.
People Power was the defining democratic
movement of its time. I believe it remains to be the absolute measure
by which all democratic actions in our country will be judged: to
respond to intimidation not with force but with peaceful determination;
to chart the destiny of a nation not with an authoritarian mindset but
with a consensus-seeking vision that aims to afford all opportunities to
advance, and to tirelessly forge a future together despite the
challenges that may arise.
It was upon this premise of hope that my
mother led our people in rebuilding our government and society, in the
early years after the dictatorship fell. It was also that principle that
enabled our people to carry on through the “lost decade” in our
country: a time when, under my predecessor, democratic institutions were
compromised and weakened by a culture of transactionalism and impunity,
where the very select few rode roughshod over the will and aspirations
of the vast majority. It was that very belief in People Power that
manifested once more in 2010, when Filipinos, after many years of
neglect and misgovernance, campaigned with us and voted for an idea
whose fruits we are already reaping today: and that idea was, “Where
there is no corruption, there will be no poverty.”
The results speak for themselves; one
only needs to look at our resurgent economy, a more empowered citizenry,
and the growing confidence of the international community in the
Philippines. What we have done is to bring back government to its core:
to be a provider of genuine service and by so doing, empower society and
enterprise; to champion what is right, fair, and democratic towards the
benefit of all, and thus enable our people to participate in fulfilling
the promise of our freedom.
This is why, in the Philippines, we have
sought to continue to empower our people by expanding the coverage and
depth of our social services and anti-poverty initiatives, so that they
themselves may serve as productive catalysts in building a more
equitable and more inclusive society.
All of our reforms in the domestic
sphere complement our approach in building meaningful consensus with our
ASEAN brothers and partners in the region. Like all of you, we share
the belief that stability and cooperation are fundamental in maximizing
the prospects of success brought about by democratic participation.
Whether in addressing concerns on the international front, or engaging
our fellow nations in a positive manner towards mutual gain, we have
always advocated a democratic approach, one that upholds our conviction
of advancing the rule of law and respecting one another.
As President, I believe that the most
striking example of this is the strong partnership that Indonesia and
the Philippines have enjoyed. Even before the establishment of our
diplomatic relations in 1949, our two nations supported each other’s
struggle for independence in the 1920s and 1930s. Our two peoples have
always found kindred spirits in each other, perhaps owing to the fact
that we share a common history and heritage as maritime peoples of
Southeast Asia. It is likewise evident that, even today, our shared
values fuel our drive towards equitable prosperity. We have worked, in
our respective ways, towards fortifying the institutions of democracy in
our countries and in our region, whether by encouraging discourse, by
holding free and credible elections and open debate, and most
importantly, by broadening the horizons of opportunity and relentlessly
pursuing inclusive growth.
Indonesia has indeed been a true friend
to my people. They have worked with us to address shared challenges,
such as securing our maritime borders, combating terrorism, and raising
awareness as regards climate change. They have supported us in our
efforts towards establishing a just and lasting peace in Mindanao, by
previously chairing key committees in the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation, and conducting consultation meetings between my government
and the Moro National Liberation Front, and by taking part in the
International Monitoring Team in our negotiations with the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front.
The ever-strengthening relations between
the Philippines and Indonesia owes much to President Yudhoyono, who has
indeed been a big brother and an able partner to many of us. A leader
committed to a vision of mutual prosperity, he sought to find solutions
to a longstanding concern between our two peoples, and did so while
bearing in mind what is best for all parties. With his assuring
leadership, our two nations were able to resolve in an amicable manner
the issue concerning our maritime boundaries in the Mindanao Sea and the
Celebes Sea, thus moving our nations forward with an even deeper trust
in each other. President Yudhoyono’s commitment to the rule of law has
likewise been crucial as we advance the peaceful and just resolution of
disputes in the South China Sea. Under President Yudhoyono, not only has
Indonesia seen impressive reforms that have redounded to economic
growth; Indonesia has likewise emerged as an influential voice in both
regional and international affairs.
To those who represent the different
ASEAN states here today, all of us know full well that the collective
growth of our citizenries may only be fulfilled in a regional context
where our shared ideals and individual beliefs are respected by our
partners.
As we have always emphasized ASEAN
centrality, we have likewise worked to strengthen our respective
institutions, accord our peoples the rights due them, and thus allow
them to fulfill their duties as citizens of our respective societies and
as members of the ASEAN community. As democracies, we share the view
that the path to sustainable progress must be one that redounds to the
benefit of our Bosses, the very people from whom our mandates emanate.
This said, we can say that the ASEAN
mode of engagement considers each one as a brother in the path to mutual
progress; it is one that encourages our fellowmen to embrace the
democratic way of life. While this process requires a significant amount
of time, the prospects it brings are promising, and we are seeing this
method bear fruit at present. Thus, it is incumbent upon us to continue
to show our brothers and sisters in ASEAN that they chose the right
path; we can do this by extending assistance to them, in every manner
possible.
What we continue to demonstrate here, I
believe, is one of the many manifestations of People Power: of
harnessing our united resolve towards a democratic regional community,
one where our respective peoples fully enjoy the freedoms borne of
democratic aspirations, where our peoples have the wherewithal to open
the doors of opportunity for themselves and their fellowmen, and where,
indeed, no one is left behind.
Today, I stand as a leader of a proud
nation, a country that is determined to contribute even more to the
discourse at hand. On this note, I look forward to the insights that our
partners will share in this forum, towards achieving our shared
objectives for our peoples, our regions, and the rest of humanity.
I thank you all.
GPH Website
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