Malacaņang today said that the fact that the budget deficit for the first seven months of this year was 20 percent below target only indicates that government revenue collection agencies are doing their jobs.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that the Department of Finance (DOF) reported on Tuesday that the budget deficit for the first seven months was recorded at P95.4 billion, or 20.1 percent below the P119-billion target for the period.

Bunye particularly commended the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for overshooting their collection targets set for the period.

Aside from increased revenue collections the government has also been more judicious in spending, resulting in lesser deficit, Bunye said.

Bunye is also hopeful that the foreign exchange rate would improve with the onset of the "ber" months, referring to the months between September and December when overseas foreign workers (OFWs) usually remit around $8 billion dollars from abroad.

Former President Corazon Aquino today assured President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of her continued support and prayers, saying that the President has "done many good things for our country."

In an interview with the popular television show, "Morning Girls," hosted by Korina Sanchez and Kris Aquino, Mrs. Aquino said that during these times when the country is facing a lot of challenges, the President all the more needs our support.

"I want to tell President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that I will continue to pray for her and I support her," Mrs. Aquino said.

Mrs. Aquino and the President were special guests in the "Morning Girls" show that was telecast live from the Manila Memorial Park where the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino was buried.

The special edition of "Morning Girls" was part of the commemoration of the 20^th death anniversary of Ninoy, who has been declared a national hero.

"Bakit hindi pa natin siya tulungan lalung lalo na sa mga panahon na ito na marami talagang bumabatikos sa kanya (Why are we not going to support her particularly now that a lot of people are hitting her?" Mrs. Aquino said.

Mrs. Aquino said that the success of the President and her administration would also mean the success of the Filipino people and the nation.

It was a siege of Makati all over again.

This time, there were no mutineers, only a bunch of people who knew how it was to fight for democracy. Instead of bombs, confetti rained in wild abandon from the skyscrapers dotting the now historical Ayala Avenue.

Instead of grievances, chants honoring the memory of slain Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. echoed in the country’s financial district as the group led by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos marched this afternoon from the RCBC building to the Aquino monument along Paseo De Roxas

A far cry maybe from the sea of humanity that attended the funeral of their idol whose assassination 20 years ago awakened a nation, the marchers, all dressed in yellow shirts, didn’t mind.

After all, they were there to mark 20 years of the martyrdom of a man fondly called Ninoy, whose death at the tarmac in the hands of an assassin signaled the fall of a regime of terror.

The three years after his death saw a whole generation marching in protest to oust the dictator and restore power back to the people.

At the intersection of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas, the marchers were met by members of the August Twenty-One Movement (ATOM) led by the slain senator’s brother, Makati Congressman Agapito "Butch" Aquino.

The three Presidents then offered their respective wreaths at the foot of the monument where Ninoy is seen being escorted by two soldiers who fetched him from the plane on that fateful day of Aug. 21, 1983.

As those who gathered around the monument were singing the now familiar "Bayan Ko," a helicopter flew past the crowd dropping more confetti.

It was a heart-tugging scene to see so many eyes moist while flashing the then popular Laban sign of the opposition.

Perhaps, nothing could describe the historic event more than the inscription at the foot of the Ninoy Aquino monument.

It reads:

No less than Ninoy’s widow, Cory, who overcame seven coup attempts during her presidency acknowledged the importance of preserving the Filipinos’ democratic way of life when she unveiled the marker and statue of her husband later on at the Roxas Blvd. Baywalk, facing the famous Manila Bay sunset.

"Kailangang magkaisa na tayo at tulungan natin ang ating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo upang mapangalagaan ang ating demokrasya."