Renaissance Hotel, Zurich, Switzerland
26 January 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III and his delegation were welcomed by members of the Filipino community all over Switzerland on the last day of his official trip in relation to the World Economic Forum held in Davos-Klosters. More than 10,000 Filipinos are working in Switzerland in various professions and almost seventy percent are married to Swiss nationals.

As part of their continued support to the Philippine government, they donated eight thousand six hundred fifty Swiss francs (8,650 CHF) to address the needs of Typhoon Pablo victims in the provinces of Davao and Compostela Valley.

In his speech, the President thanked the Filipinos for their very warm reception. He even shared some good news that the country has earned due to the ongoing reforms of the present administration. These include the positive results of his anti-corruption drive, the 7.1 percent GDP growth in 2012 and a record high rating of the Philippine Stock Exchange index signaling the stability of the Philippine economy and investment market.

“Nasa kamay muli ng Pilipino ang manibela: itutuloy ko ba ang paglakbay sa tuwid na daan? O pipiliin ko bang mag-U-turn pabalik sa kalsada ng katiwalian at kahirapan? Mahalaga pong ipaalala: ang pagsisikap ng bawat isa ay magsisilbing gasolina sa matiwasay na pagtakbo at tuluyang pag-arangkada ng ating bansa. Kaya nga po: karaniwang tao man o kasama natin sa paglilingkod-bayan, nasa Pilipinas man, o dito sa Zurich, saan man pong sulok ng mundo– bawat brasong nakikisagwan, bawat balikat na nakikipasan, bawat kakamping sumasagupa sa lumang sistema upang itawid ang ating reporma– kayo po, kayo ang gumagawa ng pagbabago, at hinihiling ko ang patuloy pa ninyong pakikiambag. Pasulong po ang ating martsa sa tuwid na landas; wala na pong atrasan ito, huwag tayong pumayag na dumulas pang pabalik sa dating kalakaran,” President Aquino stated.

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