GMA JOINS RELIEF EFFORTS / MESSAGE: AMIDST
DISASTER UNITE AND PRAY
[PHOTO -Filipinos eat inside a flooded restaurant in suburban
Pasig, east of Manila yesterday. Mike Alqunito /
AP]
MANILA, AUGUST 11, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By Ding Cervantes - Ignoring her
doctor's advice to rest, former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo distributed relief goods in her hometown of Lubao yesterday.
"It hurts me more to see my cabalens in this predicament much, much more than
the pains I'm experiencing right now," Arroyo said in one of her posts in her
Facebook account yesterday.
"The devastation caused by the rains sends a strong warning for humanity that
we are very vulnerable to nature's wrath and its destructive elements," was
Arroyo's other Facebook status.
"I enjoin our beloved kapampangans to show strength and unity in confronting
these challenges before us," read another of her posts.
Arroyo said "there is nothing more potent than the faith in God and faith in
our attributes to withstand misfortunes such as this."
"Let us be strong. Let us fight. Wounds will always heal, anxieties will
always cease, and sadness will eventually be replaced with glee," she said.
Arroyo urged her province mates not to "cry but come up with solutions and
actions to stand up once again."
"Let us hold our hands together, thank the Almighty for sparing our lives and
let's get to work. I love you all," she said.
After posting bail on election fraud charges last July 27, Arroyo visited her
constituents in Porac town, where she declared her plans for reelection.
Arroyo has a house near the San Nicolas church in Lubao, where she is a
registered voter.
Edith Gerona, one of Arroyo's Facebook friends commented: "Once again, Madame
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, you made me see the vast difference between
you and the other presidents of our country in terms of leadership and love of
our country and people. I really miss you and love you more than ever as my
leader and my president. I will always admire you. May God always protect you
and give you health and long life."
Her follower Jerry Ocampo shared a link blaming the Aquino administration for
the floods that battered Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.
The link cited a news report, which came out last July quoting Public Works
Secretary Rogelio Singson as saying that the government cancelled 19 approved
negotiated projects worth P934.1 million, which are part of the 139 projects or
42 contract packages funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency for
the urgent rehabilitation of flood control facilities.
The cancelled projects are in areas flooded by recent typhoons.
"One cannot help but think that if these projects were not capriciously
cancelled on the sole fact that they were initiated by the previous
administration, then the recent flooding could have been prevented or
mitigated," a message on the link said.
FROM THE RAPPPLER ONLINE
Amid disaster, Arroyo asks Filipinos to unite, pray
by Carmela Fonbuena Posted on 08/08/2012 12:17 PM | Updated
08/08/2012 12:21 PM
[PHOTO -MESSAGE TO FILIPINOS: Former President Gloria Arroyo tells
Filipinos to unite, pray]
MANILA, Philippines - She's the former President, after all. Amid disaster,
Pampanga Rep Gloria Arroyo has a message to Filipinos.
"Time and again, our resolve and strength as a people are being tested. We
have been through another calamity. And I deeply commiserate with the Filipino
people especially those who have lost their loved ones. Let this be another
occasion to show our courage to face all of life's trials," she said in a
statement emailed by her spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn.
"We should unite as a people to help one another. And most importantly, we
should not lose our faith in our Almighty that it is through Him that nothing is
impossible. God bless us all," she added.
When she was President, Arroyo took it a habit to immediately visit
disaster-stricken areas. She was both praised and criticized for it. While some
appreciated that she was on top of local situations, others saw it as a move to
project for the media.
In contrast, President Benigno Aquino III maintained that it's more
productive to monitor and coordinate government operations than visit
disaster-stricken areas to personally deliver aid. He is also both praised and
criticized for it.
Message to Cabalen, too
Mrs Arroyo has a message to her consituents in Pampanga, too.
"The devastation caused by the rains sends a strong warning to humanity that
we are very vulnerable to nature's wrath and its destructive elements. It hurts
me more to see my Cabalen in this predicament, much much more than the pains
that I'm experiencing right now. I enjoin our beloved Capampangans to show
strength and unity in confronting these challenges before us," she said.
Pampanga has been placed under a state of calamity. -Rappler.com
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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