P-Noy’s final New Year’s toast as President: ‘I could not be prouder’

Goodbyes are not always easy, even if one is looking forward to a respite from work after six years in office, with no vacation leaves taken.

But President Noynoy Aquino admitted that he was already feeling nostalgic. In his final Vin d’Honneur, the traditional morning New Year’s reception for the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries, he said it was a time for farewell and thank you. “Which is why this will be a longer toast than normal and I hope you can forgive me: this is, after all, my final New Year’s toast as President, and I find that there are so many things to recall and be thankful for.”

“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. 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,” he said.

Though President Aquino was nostalgic, at least four of his closest aides all told me separately when I greeted them, “One hundred sixty-eight more days to go!” From that day (Jan. 14) to June 30 are exactly 168 days. They seemed to be raring to go.

Vice President Jejomar Binay was conspicuously absent, but for the first time since he lost to President Aquino in the 2010 elections, former senator Manny Villar was present and circulating with other guests. The wife of one South American ambassador asked me, “Isn’t Manny Pacquiao going to be here?” Pacquiao, a congressman, is usually invited to Palace receptions.

Looking upbeat was Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, who said that despite the calamities and the negative publicity generated by the laglag-bala scheme at the airport, tourist arrivals breached the five-million mark in 2015. This is double the figure recorded in 2010. He said the laglag-bala was the least of his problems, it was really the travel advisories issued by jittery government whenever there was a terror threat perceived.

Boracay was still the top tourist destination, and he revealed that one particular resort, Asya, boasted at least 87 weddings last year!

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Bunches of flowers in vivid hues adorned the Rizal Ceremonial Hall, and Social Secretary Susan Reyes said that Malacañang never decks its halls with fakes, “not even the leaves are artificial.”

Guests were having their photos taken with the self-effacing Margarita Fores, Asia’s Best Female Chef for 2016, who was making sure the buffet tables were all teeming with Cibo’s specialties. Former Press Undersecretary Deedee Siytangco was raving about the duck with langka — which I didn’t get to taste but I’m certain was Filipino fusion cuisine at its best.

I headed straight for the cheese table, which had roasted pili nuts along with walnuts on the side of an assortment of cheeses.

P-Noy’s “sister on duty” that day was his ate Ballsy Cruz, gracious and low profile as usual. I’ve always believed that one reason P-Noy’s personal integrity is unassailable is that his sisters walks his talk of daang matuwid. They don’t throw their weight around, they line up in the airport and other places where there is a queue, they don’t ask for special favors. Kris Aquino pays hefty taxes in support of government projects. Except for Kris, the members of the First Family can walk down Ayala Avenue and no one will notice them from the rest of the passersby.

As the reception was winding down, I asked the President what his message was to his late mother Cory, whose 83rd birth anniversary will be marked on Jan. 25, and he said, “I wish she would be smiling down proudly — not just at me but at the entire country — because of what we have achieved since 2010.”

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President Aquino thanked all the members of the diplomatic corps since 2010, and highlighted the work of certain of them.

“There is of course, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, who has worked closely with us not only in ensuring the success of last year’s papal visit, but also in uplifting the lives of Filipinos. We thank Ambassador Guy Ledoux, former head of the European Union delegation in our country, who was instrumental in our achievements in aviation, agriculture, trade, and even in the peace process.

“Ambassador Philip Goldberg of America has played a vital role in the consistently close ties between the USA and the Philippines, especially in forging a strengthened bilateral defense cooperation. Former Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe and his successor, Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, have worked to enhance our countries’ strategic partnership, for instance, through facilitating significant humanitarian assistance and official development assistance, as well as the successful state visits to both nations. In particular, Ambassador Urabe helped to arrange the initial meeting with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Tokyo, serving as the foundation on which both parties built trust and mutual good will — which remain key to the peace process.

“We also thank former Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell and his successor Amanda Gorely, for the extensive assistance they have helped to facilitate: almost immediately, in the wake of calamities. There is also Korean Ambassador Jae-Shin Kim, who has been an able representative of his country: helping to strengthen trade and investment between the Philippines and Korea, and also to coordinate projects we undertook for our countrymen like the construction of schools in areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

“I cannot forget former and current Indonesian Ambassadors Yohanes Legowo and Johny Lumintang; as well as Malaysian Ambassador Dato Mohd Zamri Bin Mohd Kassim — they have all done extraordinary work in strengthening the cooperation and friendships between our people, particularly in the anti-terrorism effort and humanitarian relief.

“Of course, we express a special gratitude to those who have helped us along the path to peace: Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, Norway, the European Union, Libya, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and all those who continue to trust our determination to bring lasting peace to Mindanao. I am thankful that you did not give up on us, and that you remain advocates and champions of peace.”

President Aquino said, “The changes we see in the Philippines today were unthinkable when we first started in 2010. In those days, the problems seemed so vast. However, we were not intimidated. We saw the truth: no matter how great the challenge, no matter the lows we have experienced, these also always represented opportunities to rise to far greater heights.”

“In just five and a half years, we have come so far…It is clear: the Philippines has gained a new prominence in the world.”