Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
July 25, 2023
“Alam niyo po dahil ginagawa po namin ito dahil sinasabi ko ay isang pasasalamat ito, dahil kailangan kong magpasalamat sa inyo na mga OFW [overseas Filipino workers], na mga nandito…nasa iba’t ibang bansa dahil po sa suportang binigay ninyo sa amin,” conveyed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as he finally met the overseas Filipinos in Malaysia in a community gathering on the first day of his State Visit to the country.
According to Ambassador Charles Jose of the Embassy of the Philippines, there are around 900,000 Filipinos in Malaysia, whose hard work and contributions are largely recognized and respected in the Malaysian society. To this end, the President expressed heartfelt gratitude for their invaluable contributions that made a good name for the Philippines all over the world.
“Kaya naman, kailangan talaga kayo pasalamatan dahil ang naging reputasyon…naging reputasyon ng Pilipinas ay gumanda nang gumanda dahil sa performance na ginawa ninyo,” the President shared to his countrymen.
In his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday, President Marcos Jr. bared the Administration’s achievements in its first year that included livelihood projects, road and infrastructure development projects, and other endeavors in boosting the country’s economy as it strives to move forward post-pandemic, as well as efforts in forging more public-private partnerships (PPPs) and government-to-government engagements through his talks with different world and business leaders to bring in more trade, investment and tourism activities in the country.
“Kailangan natin ng malaking, malaking investment kaya’t nag-iikot po kami sa buong mundo, pinapaalam natin sa lahat ng ating mga kaibigan at sa lahat ng ating mga magiging kaibigan na nandiyan na ang Pilipinas, na maayos na ang takbo ng Pilipinas, handa na tayo para sila ay mag-invest sa iba’t ibang bagay,” President Marcos Jr. remarked.
The Chief Executive is embarking on his first State Visit to Malaysia upon the invitation of His Majesty Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Mustafa’in Billah, Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI (16th King) of Malaysia.
Noting the number of Filipinos in Malaysia, he further underscored that the Philippines needs to keep a close relation with its Southeast Asian neighbor to ensure that they are well taken cared of.
“Kailangan natin patibayin ang relasyon ng Pilipinas at tsaka ng Malaysia, unang-una dahil napakaraming Pilipino rito. Kaya’t kailangan nating tiyakin na lahat kayo ay naaalagaan at lahat kayo ay maaayos ang kabuhayan at nabibigyan ng mga pagkakataon…At kung meron mang problema ay nandito ang pamahalaan upang tiyakin lahat nga ng maaari naming gawin ay nagagawa namin upang tumulong,” he continued.
“At least meron tayong naging pagkakataon na tayo’y nagkasama, tayo’y nagsaya at tayo’y nag-celebrate doon nga sa ating pagbabago ng Pilipinas…dumating na po ang bagong Pilipinas,” the President ended in his message.
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