President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today announced the appointment of Dr. Amable Aguiluz V, founder and chairman of the AMA Education System, as her special envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The council is composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the first synchronized webcast graduation of the AMA Education System at the Araneta Coliseum, the President asked Dr. Aguiluz to go to Saudi Arabia to extend the President’s condolence to Filipinos killed in Monday’s bombings in Riyadh.

"This is a risk inherent in the deployment of millions of Filipinos worldwide. It is also a risk we carry for being part of the global war against terrorism," she said.

"The world has known for a long time that the tentacles of terrorism stretch across borders and can only be destroyed by international action," she said.

The President directed the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia to work closely with Saudi authorities in Riyadh to get at the root of the incident and "obtain justice for the victims."

The Chief Executive likewise directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to see to the welfare of the bereaved families of the bombing victims.

Reports said more than 30 people, including two Filipinos, were killed in suicide bombings that rocked three expatriate housing compounds in Riyadh.

The President lamented that the tragedy showed the utter helplessness of civilians against agents of terror.

"We are experiencing this in our own country where we are now taking punitive actions against terrorists in Mindanao," the President said.

She stressed she would not relent in the campaign until justice is achieved for the victims of senseless murder.

The President said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) must renounce links with international terrorists.

Surrender the terrorists who murdered innocent civilians and stop all forms of terrorism," the President stressed, saying that the people would like to read this from the lips of the MILF leadership.

Anything short of this, she declared, would be considered half measures which would not do.

She said that punitive actions would continue and political and military measures escalated as necessary.

The President stressed that this is not a fight against Muslims. "This is a fight against terror being waged by all decent and civilized Filipinos," the President said.

"We will not acknowledge the false offers of peace or succumb to political pressure," she said.

It’s going to be another long weekend for the working class on the week of Independence Day next month.

Thanks to the administration’s holiday economics, families who have been longing to find time for themselves and travel together can do just that as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared Friday, June 13, as a special non-working day and Thursday, June 12 as a regular working day.

The President, through Proclamation 373, however said "all activities and celebrations in observance of Independence Day shall remain to be observed on June 12 to enable all government officials and employees to participate fully in the activities and celebration for the historical commemoration."

She directed the Department of Labor and Employment to issue appropriate circulars to implement the proclamation in the private sector.

In her proclamation, the President said a longer weekend "encourages families to travel and get together with a view to strengthening their relationship towards a more productive society."

"A longer weekend promotes domestic tourism and enables employers to plan their work schedules effectively and efficiently, resulting in improved productivity," she said.

In another proclamation, the President also declared Oct. 31, a Friday, as a special non-working day throughout the country for the public sector.

This, according to Proclamation 374, would give the people full opportunity " to properly observe the day with all its religious fervors which invariably requires them to travel to and from different regions of the country."

All Saints Day, Nov. 1, falls on a Saturday.

Heads of departments, offices, instrumentalities or government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) may, if required by the exigencies of public service, direct their employees to observe regular working hours and provide regular services to the public on Oct. 31.

For Ana Marie Liamzon, it was overwhelming enough that no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was there when she stood on stage to deliver her response in behalf of some 12,000 graduates of the AMA Computer University today.

After all, the presence of the country’s highest official taking time out from hectic routine to be with the graduates, was for her already a big, big honor.

But when her dad, an overseas Filipino worker in Dubai whom she had not seen for 18 years, appeared on stage to personally greet her, she got the grandest surprise gift of all.

Ana Marie, chosen by school officials to represent this year’s batch, acknowledged the great support and sacrifice of her parents for her education as she tried to contain her tears as she had a grand reunion with her family on stage of the Big Dome.

It was a heart-tugging scene witnessed by the President and the AMA graduates and their parents during the synchronized graduation held at the Araneta Coliseum, Folk Arts Theater, Cebu Grand Convention Center and Davao Convention Center.

AMA Computer University flew Mr. Liamzon to Manila, all expenses paid, for this event.

Ana did not know that her father will be appearing personally to be with her. After delivering her message and after calling her Mommy on stage, the host, Marie Kaimo, announced that Ana has a message from her father in Dubai.

While delivering the message to her daughter, Daddy Liamzon walked in from back stage to the surprise of her family.

The President, in her speech, related that in United States where she studied, as soon as a student graduates, all she or he wants is to get away from his old home and live by himself alone, independent of his parents.

"Here we witnessed that the student graduates acknowledge the great support of their parents and they dedicate their education to their parents. Family life continues beyond graduation," the President said.

Greeting all the graduates and their parents represented by Mr. Liamzon, "Malaking sakripisyo para makapag-aral sa magandang universidad ang kanyang anak. Ganoon din ang sakripisyo ng lahat ng mga mga magulang na nagtratratbaho at nagsakripisyo," the President said.

Through AMA’s webcast facilities, the event was also beamed live through the internet, accessible to more than 650-million internet users worldlwide.

Distinguished guests from AMA’s international partners also arrived to honor this year’s graduates. Present were Dr. Allan Fisher, president and CEO of iCarnegie, Inc., a subsidiary of the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA, the No. 1 Computer Science school in the world.

AMA’s partnership with iCarnegie is expected to boost AMA’s computer science curriculum and provide its students the most advanced tools in software systems development through e-Learning and other online facilities.

The National Computing Center of the United Kingdom (NCC-UK), AMA’s London-based partner in its Double Diploma program, also sent its representative, Michael Haigh, Head of Quality and Standards.

AMA’s partnership with the NCC-UK entitles graduates with a second international diploma recognized in more than 80 countries worldwide. This Double Diploma system, another pioneering program of AMA, gives students the striking advantage of competitiveness and high-employability in the Philippines and abroad.

AMA Education System, has an annual student population of 150,000 in its 200 campuses in the Philippines and in other parts of the world.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today sworn in74 newly-promoted generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in simple ceremonies in Malacanang.

Inducted to the rank of major general were erstwhile Brigadier Generals Raul Relano, Glenn Rabonza, Reynaldo Rivero, Samuel Bagasin, Neon Ebuen, Pedro Cabuay Jr., Jose Reyes, Allan Cabalquinto, Diosdado Tabamo, Arcadio Seron, Ralph Flores, Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Triponio Salazar, and Delfin Lorenzana.

Promoted to rear admirals in the Philippine Navy were former Commodores Edgardo Israel and Antonietto Ferrer.

Promoted to brigadier generals were former Colonels Victor Corpuz, Edgar Calvo, Amador Alojado, Edwin Galzote, Edgar Elona, Eduardo Lena, Jacinto Cordero Jr., Vladimir delos Trino, Edwin Vargas, Pedrito Magsino, Ricardo Nobleza, Dionisio Torina, Roberto Dimayuga, Manuel Ibanez Jr., Segundo Dimapilis, Rafael Romero, Jaime Viernes Jr., Romeo Alamillo, Exequiel Cruz, Gabriel Habacon, Pedro Ramboanga Jr., Ferdinand Bocobo, Robert Gervacio, Sergio Candelario Jr., Severino Estrella, Christie Datu, Antonio Romero II, Valentino Prudencio, Charles Hotchkiss, Jose Nano, Carlito Gamit, Ericson Aurelio, Agustin Dema-ala, Benedicto Corona, Cesar Tiongson, Antonio Seville, Efren Orbon, Cardozo Luna, Alexander Aleo, Benito Ramos, Ignacio Illenberger, Santiago Casauay Jr., Silverio Ilagan, Marcelo Santos, Alexander Yano, and Efren Veran.

The new commodores in the Philippine Navy were former Captains Quirico Evangelista Jr., Normando Naval, Amado Sanglay, Constancio Jardiniano, Franklin Mangonon, Alfredo Abueg Jr., Victor Parawan, Rufino Lopez Jr., Ceferino Dacanay, Edsel Lumawag, Tirso Danga and George Uy.

In the public sector, also appointed were Agnes Devanadera as undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Alonso Tan as director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Fisheries/Private sector.

The police, the military and local government units are ready to either prevent or ward off any attack the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) may launch in the wake of possibilities that the latter may be classified as a terrorist group.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye today stressed this as he noted that the terrorist "attacks are expected and anticipated."

Bunye, however said the government remained hopeful that the MILF would return to the negotiating table to thresh out a lasting, meaningful and peaceful resolution to the Mindanao problem.

He said the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security, after careful deliberation, decided to give the MILF at least two weeks to show they are sincere in pursuing the peace process.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had earlier dared the MILF to make a categorical and unequivocal declaration that the rebel group is not allied with any of the terrorist groups like Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiya or Al-Qaeda.

The President also demanded that the MILF turn over the perpetrators of the bombings in Mindanao – particularly those in Davao City, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte and Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

She likewise challenged the MILF to stop committing further atrocities against innocent civilians and peaceful communities in the South.

Bunye said the MILF should show the "indication that they are prepared to talk."

"That would probably pave the way for the resumption of the exploratory talks" between the government and the separatist group, he said.

He also raised the likelihood that the MILF issue might be discussed during the President’s visit to Washington next week.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today challenged the graduates of AMA Education System to continue to be model citizens of an electronically enabled Philippines.

In a speech at the synchronized graduation of some 12,000 students of the AMA Education System at the Araneta Coliseum, Folk Arts Theater, Cebu Grand Convention Center and Davao Convention Center, the President said that as government install more ICT and ICT-based projects in the different programs of effective governance, investment promotion, agriculture modernization and poverty alleviation, the demand for ICT workers, especially those graduating from an excellent school like AMA is bound to increase.

The Chief Executive said the graduates of AMA have what it takes to succeed. "I ask you to help others do the same," she said, stressing that as model citizens, they should never lose sight of their equally important roles in the fight against poverty.

To some of the graduates who will be looking for jobs after graduation, the President reminded them of the jobs fair at the SM Megamall under the auspices of the Department of Labor and Employment. This was started last April and will end on June 10, this year.

Available are some 100,000 jobs, the President said, out of which some 16,000 have been applied for.

"So there are still 84,000 jobs being offered for new graduates," the President said.

The President also told the graduates of her determination to make ICT ensure clean and honest elections from 2004 onwards.

"I am determined to lead and support all efforts, as I have made a budget available from many sources, to ensure that the national elections next year will make full use of computerized canvassing of returns and thereby minimize if not totally eradicate the cheating that’s usually done through the traditional mode," the President said.

The President said she will continue to depend on the graduates unremitting excellence and patriotism.

Graduates of AMA University, you are blessed with an excellent education, the President said.

According to Dr. Amable Aguiluz V, founder and chairman of the AMA Education System, for the first time in the history of AMA and of Philippine education, the first nationwide graduation among AMA’s campuses in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao was held.