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SENATE
President and Nacionalista Party (NP) chairman Manuel
Villar led NP stalwarts in marking the NP’s centennial
anniversary, highlighted by the unveiling of the book,
Building the Nation: First 100 Years Nacionalista Party
1907-2007, in ceremonies held Wednesday night at the
Philippine International Convention Center in
Pasay City.
The
book, which explores the early days of the organization
to the present, details how the Party flourished and
struggled through the days of glory and trials of the
Filipino people in building the nation in the last
century.
“It
tells us a story of how the past Party presidents—Sergio
Osmeña, Manuel L. Quezon, Jose Yulo, Eulogio ‘Amang’
Rodriguez Sr., Gil J. Puyat, Jose B. Laurel, Jr.,
Salvador ‘Doy’ Laurel navigated through the colonial,
neocolonial, and independent stages of the country
producing, in the process, six Philippine Presidents,”
Villar said.
Extolling the virtues of the NP founding leaders, Villar
said these should be emulated by those engaged in public
service. He also encouraged future leaders to follow the
lead of the NP leaders, keeping in mind their
responsibility as public servants and practitioners of
change.
Villar
voiced hopes that the event will inspire leaders to
always put the welfare of the country at the forefront.
He assured that the Nacionalista Party will continue to
actively pursue measures that would provide lasting
solutions to poverty and steer the country to
sustainable development.
“We are
the new breed of Nacionalistas—young, dynamic and
vibrant. Guided by the wisdom and virtues of our
forefathers, we will continue to move forward toward the
realization of our goal to provide a better future for
the Filipino people,” Villar said
As
public servants, he added, “we should keep in mind the
NP motto—“Ang Bayan Higit Sa Lahat” (The Nation Above
All Else) as we go along with our responsibility to
provide a better future for our people,” Villar said.
NP’s
centennial anniversary likewise marks the launching of
“Pondo sa Sipag-Puhunan sa Tiyaga,” a nationwide project
spearheaded by Villar aimed at promoting
entrepreneurship and providing Filipinos livelihood
opportunities that would help them better their lives.
Through
the Sipag at Tiyaga Livelihood Caravan, Filipinos from
all over the archipelago will be provided with
livelihood and skills training. Those who excel in
their respective fields will then be provided with a
gift of P100,000 to help them in their own businesses.
A
successful businessman who rose from poverty prior to
his entry to politics, Villar hopes the project will
produce the next breed of entrepreneurs who would lead
the country to economic recovery. “A nation of
entrepreneurs will have a winning chance in the economic
arena of the world,” he said. |
