Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pasay City
December 3, 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III joined the different mediamen and members of the Bulong Pulungan for their annual gathering and dialogue with the President that was held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.

In a speech, the President admitted that 2013 was full of challenges for his administration because of the many obstacles that the country faced, but he said that the government will not give up noting the contributions of Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman who have been in the forefront since the Zamboanga crisis, the earthquake in Bohol and the recent devastation of Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas that claimed many lives and left numerous families homeless.

President Aquino also expressed his contentment in seeing the improvements in Bohol during his last visit and vowed to rehabilitate and rebuild areas badly damaged by the super typhoon.

During the occasion, several outstanding men and women were recognized including the President himself who received the “Man of Steel” award for leading the country’s economy to greater heights.

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