More and more Filipinos in the "E" (very poor) and "D" (masa) social groups have expressed increasing satisfaction (nasisiyahan) with the way President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is helping the poor.

A growing number of the "masa" and very poor also voiced satisfaction with the way the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is handling national security and public safety issues, including terrorism and criminality.

A survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations from March 8 to 20 this year showed that the overall net satisfaction rating (% satisfied minus % dissatisfied) of the administration on helping the poor went up six percentage points to +15% compared to the +9% in November 15-December 2, 2002.

The survey showed that among the "E" or very poor sector, 51% said they were satisfied with the way the administration is responding to their needs while 33% said they were dissatisfied.

This meant a +18% net satisfaction rating compared to the +4 net satisfaction rating from the same social class in the previous survey.

Among the "masa" or "D" sector, the net satisfaction rating also went up +14% (47% satisfied compared to 33% dissatisfied) while in the "ABC" (upper to middle class) sector, the net satisfaction rating went up from 0% in November-December to +17% (49% satisfied minus 32% dissatisfied).

On the issue of national security, the SWS survey showed that the President gained an impressive +15 net satisfaction rating (46% satisfied minus 31% dissatisfied), compared to a +12% net satisfaction rating (44% satisfied minus 32% dissatisfied) in November-December last year.

In the "E" group, the administration got a net satisfaction rating of +23% (51% satisfied minus to 28% dissatisfied) on the issue, compared to the +9% net satisfaction rating (42% minus 33%) in the last survey.

In the "ABC" sector, 42% said they were satisfied while 37% said they were dissatisfied, for a net satisfaction rating of +5%, compared to the –2% net rating in November-December ((37% satisfied minus 40% dissatisfied).

On the question of public safety, the SWS survey showed that the administration maintained its +5% net satisfaction rating (41% satisfied minus 36% dissatisfied).

Sa araw na ito ay ating ipinagdiriwang ang Linggo ng Pagkabuhay na pinakamahalagang kapistahan sa daigdig ng Kristiyanismo. Ito ang tagumpay ng Panginoong Hesukristo upang tubusin ang ating mga kasalanan.

Ang Kanyang muling pagkabuhay ay hudyat ng isang mas magandang umaga—ng bagong pag-asa—para sa sangkatauhan.

Na sa kabila ng mga agam-agam at mga pag-aalinlangan na ating dinaranas ngayon, nariyan ang katotohahan—ang bawat hirap ay may katapat na ginhawa—at ang Mahal na Panginoong Hesukristo mismo ang nagpapatunay nito.

Ang kaniyang muling pagkabuhay ay patunay na kailan man ay hindi niya tayo pababayaan, at ang pangakong iyan ay magpakailan man.

This is a day of hope as well as thanksgiving. We proclaim our thanksgiving for all the great blessings that have come our way in the name of the Almighty. We thank the Lord for sparing our people from the effects of war halfway across the world, from sparing us from the scourge of dreaded illness that has continued to take its toll in other lands, for all the things that have kept our nation and people from grave harm and travesty, despite the difficulties and trials that pervade our lives.

Ang mga pagsubok na dinaranas ng buong mundo at ng ating bansa ay ating malalampasan dahil na rin sa wagas niyang pag-ibig sa atin at sa walang hanggan niyang patnubay.

Let us pray for peace, harmony and redemption for all mankind from poverty, injustice and war.

BAGUIO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today announced the escape, rescue and recovery of two more hostages of the dreaded terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu.

The President identified the former ASG hostages as Amilie Mantic and Cleofe Montolo, who are both on their way to Zamboanga City to reunite with their families.

Mantic and Mantolo belong to the Jehovah's Witnesses religious sect.

She also commended the military for keeping up the pressure on the terrorists and the community for tipping off authorities on the presence of the ASG leading to recent government successes against terrorism.

In a press conference at the guesthouse of the Mansion House here, the President said the hostages were able to escape from their captors Friday night in the middle of a gunbattle between their ASG captors and combined forces of the Philippine Marines and the Army along the border of Paglibi and Patikul towns.

The President thanked the Lord for the hostages' safe return.

She likewise commended the troops for keeping up the pressure.

"This is a very good start for the new Southcom (Southern Command) chief Gen. Roy Kyamko," she said.

The President noted that a month ago, she gave Gen. Narcisco Abaya (the former Southcom chief and now the Chief of Staff) 90 days to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf.

"So, we're a little over 30 days and Gen. Kyamko is continuing to carry out the instructions," she said.

The President further noted that the Task Force Comet is the group that is in charge of neutralizing the Abu Sayyaf.

She said the task force was in the thick of the fight on Good Friday. "This is part of the sacrifice that they are taking to serve and safeguard the people," she said.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo pointed out that the ensuing confusion in the enemy camp enabled the two women to abscond.

She said the two were later aided by Mindanao State University professor Rizal Radan who delivered them to the hands of the military authorities and "who likewise deserves our appreciation."

"Continuous military pressure and strong community support are bearing upon the successful attainment of our objectives. Day by day, we are nearing the dawn of stability and peace in Sulu. There's no turning back. The terrorists are nearing the end of the road. And the hopes of the people of Sulu will soon be redeemed," the President said.

Earlier, the President noted government gains against domestic terrorism.

She said that at least two Indonesian seamen also taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in June last year have also escaped and have been recovered.

BAGUIO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that if everything goes well with the adoption of the China hybrid rice in the Philippines, the nation could attain rice sufficiency by next year.

The President made the statement while welcoming at the Mansion Guesthouse here visiting Chinese Professor Yuan Long Ping, considered as the father of hybrid rice.

"If everything goes well, perhaps by 2004, we can be self-sufficient in rice. This is what we're aiming for," the President said in a press conference.

She said Professor Yuan is in the Philippines. Chinese authorities are documenting Yuen’s success stories.

"And the Philippines is one of his most welcoming environments, that's why he said, he would always give first priority to the Philippines in this technology transfer. And we thank him for that," the President said.

She noted that the professor had worked with Philrice executive Leo Sebastian on how to adapt the hybrid rice of China to Philippine conditions.

"In the ensuing exchange of scientific information therefore, they have developed already Filipinized variety of Yuang Long Ping's hybrid rice," she said.

"Our hybrid rice program therefore is a vital component of Philippine food security," she said.

Last year, after the President's visit to China, she issued an executive order saying that the development of hybrid rice is a flagship project of the modernization program for Philippine agriculture.

"Just to compare, the average production of rice in the Philippines is three tons per hectare planted to palay per season. For those who have joined the hybrid rice program, there is 6.6 tons per hectare under the program and for the most productive of them, they have up to 10 tons per hectare, even 11.1 tons in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro.

The President said the hybrid rice program is steadily moving forward.

This season, she said, almost 50,000 hectares would be planted with hybrid rice and next season, almost 100,000 hectares.

"These varieties were developed by Professor Yuan. Of course, they were developed for China, and then they were adapted to Philippine conditions by Philrice," she said.

The President noted that the Chinese professor exemplified the historic ties of friendship and cooperation between China and the Philippines.

"There are many great blessings that we must be thankful for as we anticipate Easter. One of these is the abundance and affordability of food for our people, especially rice, the main source of nourishment of half of the world," she said.

Professor Yuan traces his work back to the revolutionary period of his country.

The President noted that she met the Chinese expert when he accepted the Ramon Magsaysay Award two years ago precisely for the hybrid rice he developed.

She noted that she made a state visit to China later that year. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji told her that one of the technical assistance and technology transfers that he hoped China could be of help to the Philippines is the hybrid rice.

"Because in China, no matter how many floods they have, how many typhoons they have, they still have a surplus in rice. That's why they're one of the biggest rice exporting countries in the world," she said.

The President said such technology had enabled China to be self-sufficient and a rice-exporting country, even during the worst of times in terms of the weather.