PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday hosted his last New Year’s Vin d’Honneur in Malacañang Palace, thanking the members of the foreign diplomatic community for maintaining close ties with the Philippines and assisting the country in overcoming major challenges during his five-and-a-half years in office.
“Today, in marking the New Year with you for the last time as President, I could not be prouder—or more thankful for everything we have achieved together,” the President said in his speech during the event.
“One hundred million Filipinos began the virtuous cycle of change in 2010 and worked with us to ensure its progress, aided by so many partners and friends from the world over, like all of you here.”
Forging stronger bilateral ties requires more than words and wishful thinking, the President told the members of the diplomatic community, noting that to produce actual results, there must be commitment and action.
He said that during his time in office, he had the good fortune to work with members of the diplomatic corps, citing their “deep desire to help Filipinos” and their own people, making their respective countries proud.
The President particularly expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, who he said has worked closely with the government, “not only in ensuring the success of last year’s papal visit, but also in uplifting the lives of Filipinos”.
He also thanked Ambassador Guy Ledoux, former head of the European Union delegation, “who was instrumental in our achievements in aviation, agriculture, trade, and even in the Mindanao peace process”.
United States Ambassador Philip Goldberg was also recognized by the President for playing a vital role in ensuring close ties between the US and the Philippines, especially in forging a strengthened bilateral defense cooperation.
The Chief Executive also extended his gratitude to former Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe and his successor, Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, who have worked to enhance the Philippines’ and Japan’s strategic partnership by facilitating significant humanitarian assistance and official development assistance, as well as the successful state visits to both nations.
President Aquino also acknowledged Urabe’s role in arranging the initial meeting between him and the top leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Tokyo that “served as the foundation on which both parties built trust and mutual good will”.
The President likewise thanked Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, Norway, the European Union, Libya, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the US for supporting the Mindanao peace process.
The cooperation between the Philippines and other members of the international community has already borne fruit, he said, citing the agreement reached during the COP21 in France, which embodies everyone’s commitment to address global climate change.
He hoped to maintain good relations with other countries to overcome the rest of the major challenges that the country faces, such as the rising number of refugees seeking sanctuary, the evil of extremism, and the ever-present battle against inequality and corruption.
“These are massive, daunting undertakings—that much is true,” he said.
“Yet they also represent opportunities for us to help millions of people to live peaceful, secure, dignified lives—to put enough food on their tables, to live free from fear, and to pull their weight, as we all do our part in building a better world.”
Vin d’Honneur, which is derived from the French term, meaning ‘wine of honor’, is the name of two official receptions hosted by the President of the Philippines at Malacañang Palace on New Year’s Day and Independence Day. It aims to strengthen the country’s diplomatic relations with other countries. (from PND)