Statement of Senator Mar Roxas on the 59th Death Anniversary of President Manuel A. Roxas, the first president of the New Republic

We commemorate today (Sunday, 15 April 2007) the death of my grandfather President Manuel A. Roxas by remembering and learning from his vital role in liberating the Philippines not only from foreign rule, but more importantly, from the clutches of poverty and the social devastation of World War II. Fittingly regarded as "the nation-builder", President Roxas was the architect of the first Master Economic Plan, the first known in developing Asia, which spurred the Philippines' return to normalcy and economic growth after the war. His brilliant economic plan and dedication to public service were instrumental in re-energizing the country and our people to believe that we will be able to bounce back and arise from the ruins of war triumphantly. President Roxas served for barely two years and yet he has achieved so much. The interest and welfare of the masses, the uplift and advancement of Philippine veterans and of their widows and orphans, a clean stable government, the development of Philippine industries to enable the republic to become totally self-sufficient ? these were all at the heart of his proclamations, orders, statements, and official acts during this critical period for our war-torn country. Today we don't have a war to recover from, yet we find ourselves as poor, as broken and wounded; and sadly, seemingly devoid of hope.

What we need now is to draw inspiration from President Roxas's exemplary leadership and the patriotic zeal of his generation so we may find a way to re-build our nation, renew our people's faith in government to bring about change for the better, and believe in our ability to defeat the hurdles to our dreams.

The task to rebuild our nation does not only belong to our leaders but through the vigorous participation of and strong partnership with the people. When we go to the polls next month to elect the politicians who will lead us, may we be guided by the life of President Roxas and his noble aspirations for our beloved country and the future generations of Filipinos. May we be inspired to find leaders who exemplify his integrity, idealism and passion, economic foresight, and commitment to public welfare.