The power of one, if fearless and focused, is formidable, but the power of many working together is better.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
We must weed out corruption and build a strong system of justice that the people can trust.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Real government is about looking beyond the vested to the national interest, setting up the necessary conditions to enable the next, more enabled and more empowered generation to achieve a country as prosperous, a people as content, as ours deserve to be.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
The Philippines and the U.S. have had a strong relationship with each other for a very long time now. We have a shared history. We have shared values, democracy, freedom, and we have been in all the wars together in modern history, the World War, Second World War, Cold War, Vietnam, Korea, now the war on terrorism.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
As I have shown, I will defend democracy with arms when it is threatened by violence; with firmness when it is weakened by division; with law and order when it is subverted by anarchy; and always, I will try to sustain it by wise policies of economic progress so that a democracy means not just an empty liberty, but a full life for all.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
We must promote solid traits such as work ethics, a dignified lifestyle, matching actions to rhetoric, performance rather than grandstanding.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Optimism is infectious, and opportunity irresistible. Progress follows progress. Someone, even government, just has to get it started.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I will follow my father’s footsteps by doing what is right, and God will take care of the rest. My father is my role model. My living role model is Cory Aquino.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
The Philippines was with the U.S. in the Second World War, in the Korean War, in the Vietnam War, and now in the war against terrorism.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
We have to be bold in our national ambitions. First, we must win the fight against poverty within the next decade. Second, we must improve moral standards in government and society to provide a strong foundation for good governance. Third, we must change the character of our politics to promote fertile ground for reforms.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
We may disagree among ourselves, but let us never lose sight of that greater battle for one people, one country, one Philippines.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
The roof cannot collapse when the value pillars of government and society are sound and strong.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
In 1995, we had evidence of the brother-in-law of Osama bin Laden being in the Philippines, living in the Philippines. We had evidence of front organizations set up in the Philippines. And we uncovered evidence about, which would help the U.S. with – about the perpetuators of the World Trade Center bombing.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I sow; my successor reaps. This is the majesty of democracy.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Nature did not gift us with a mighty Mekong like Thailand and Vietnam, with their vast and naturally fertile plains. Nature instead put our islands ahead of our neighbours in the path of typhoons from the Pacific.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Now I ask you to make your sacrifice. Take a gamble. I took the plunge and I’m glad of it.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Even before 9/11, the Philippines was already fighting terrorism in southwestern Philippines. That’s why when 9/11 happened, we could understand the pain.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
As the leader of the nation, I say in behalf of the Filipino people to the world: we are strong and principled believers in democracy.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
We have scaled the heights of Mount Everest, dominated the Southeast Asian games, we have won international beauty titles, and of course punched our way to triumph in the boxing world. Our people compete and win every day in every imaginable job throughout the world.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Filipino businessmen must have the ability to compete freely in the global economy.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
We look at the world and analyze the world, and see what we can do that is in line of our mutual interest and also in line with, you know, what the whole world needs, because this is a world where we really have to all work together.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I stand in the way of no one’s ambition. I only ask that no one stand in the way of the people’s well being and the nation’s progress.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
As a country in the path of typhoons and in the Pacific Rim of Fire, we must be prepared as the latest technology permits to anticipate natural calamities when that is possible, to extend immediate and effective relief when it is not.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I can say that I have not done any culpable violation of the constitution.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I shall work with Congress, civil society groups and local government executives who are convinced that charter changes are needed to enable the country to surmount the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Our educational system should make the Filipino fit not just for whatever jobs happen to be on offer today, but also for whatever economic challenge life will throw in their way.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I want justice to be so pervasive that it will be taken for granted, just as injustice is taken for granted today.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
The Constitution says that troops can be in the Philippines if there’s a treaty that provides for it, and we have two treaties with the United States.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Our investments in social justice and basic needs are as vital to our future as fiscal and macroeconomic reforms. A nation deeply divided will not stand. And it certainly will not move forward.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Agrarian reform should not merely subdivide misery, it must raise living standards. Ownership raises the farmer from his, but productivity will keep him on his feet.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I want ordinary people to enjoy a decent standard of living, with ever increasing security, comfort and joy.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
In the time one is given, the steward must make the most of the talents one is given by the Lord.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
We have the hardest working people in the world, the most adaptable and the most congenial to employ.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I’m not worried. I’m in control.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
It is simply the truth that the political system that I am part of has degenerated to the point that it needs fundamental change.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
While there’s been much progress on terrorism, there’s still much work to do and it is very important that the countries work together in order to address this threat together.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
In all the things I’ve gone through as a politician, I have seen that in this system it is really very difficult to make any headway without being somehow tainted. And let me say, ‘Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.’
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
The military is very constitutionalist, and I have my faith in them and in the cooler heads of the people.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
It is the civilian part of the politics that is very, very bad, and we have to change that.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
On the economy, the U.S. cumulatively is our most important investor, most important trading partner, most important sort of tourists, and we have now a tie that will… a link that will be here for many, many years to come, and that is the big Philippine-American community in the United States – three million of them.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I am very grateful to our Muslim population. One of the things we’ve been doing is stepping up our inter-faith dialogue with the Muslim population. And I think that helped very much in their support for me.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
We’ve supported the U.S. every step of the way. The Philippines was the first government in Asia after September 11, in fact, the night of September 11; it was nighttime for us then. It was daytime here. We were the first government in Asia to come out and say that we’re supporting the U.S.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
In a global arena, what our businessmen need in order to be competitive is transparency and a level playing-field.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Our political system needs changing. It needs to move away from personalities and patronage to a system of party programs and consultation with the people.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
The military is faithful to the constitution. They will come in only to protect the people from the enemies of the state.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I believe that the war against terrorism and the war against poverty in these times of turmoil go together. So you – when you fight one, you have to fight the other.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I follow my father’s philosphy; ‘Do what is good, do what is right, and God will take care of the rest.’
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
The contracts for Iraqi rebuilding are commercial contracts. I think being in the coalition of the willing puts us in the radar screen, but we also have to compete with other countries that are in the coalition of the willing, but the Philippines is a country that has produced world-class skilled workers that we have seen all over the world.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
I feel that if I am freed of the burden of politics, then I can do more and I can take more unpopular decisions. I can have as my guidance for decision whatever is right, not whatever is popular.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
We have our own home-grown terrorism, and to the extent that we can obliterate terrorism all over the world, then our own terrorism will be much easier to neutralize.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
You have 60 countries in the world with a terrorist problem. That’s two-thirds of the world. We have this group in Basilan, which is a small island in the far south of the Philippines, and the island itself has a population of – what? – 300,000.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
In my presidency I’ve been guided by what’s right, not what’s popular.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo