Now it can be told.

A presidential promise that they would be brought back to the Philippines was what kept the spirits of 22 Filipino seamen jailed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) alive.

Losing hope and overly cynical of their fate, the Filipino seamen who had languished in UAE jails for three years for a crime they never committed, was ecstatic that their prayers were answered.

"Nagpapasalamat po kami kay Pangulong Arroyo na hindi nagpabaya nang marinig niya ang paghingi namin ng saklolo sa pamamagitan ng aming mga pamilya dito sa Pilipinas (We thanked President Arroyo for not failing us when she heard about our plight through our families in the Philippines), " beamed an ecstatic Paulito Gemina, designated leader of the group upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International airport Wednesday afternoon from Dubai.

"Sa halos tatlong taong inilagi namin sa piitan ay talagang idinadalangin namin na isang araw ay tugunin ang aming dalangin at magising kami na tapos na ang aming problema at kami ay nakauwi na sa aming mga pamilya (For almost three years while we were languishing in jail, we prayed that one day, we would wake up that we have already returned to our families)," he added.

Ambassador Amable Aguiluz V, special envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council, said the repatriation of the seamen was a fulfillment of a promise by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to bring them back to the Philippines.

"I told them, kahit anong mangyari huwag kayong bibitaw (whatever happens, don’t lose hope). I conveyed to them the President’s promise that we will bring them back," Aguiluz said.

The Filipino seafarers were freed from Al Mamurah Jail in Ras Al Khaimah in new UAE only Tuesday night. They were personally fetched and brought back to the Philippines by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and Aguiluz.

The duo raised P7.5 million and P1.5 million, respectively, for the settlement fee of the Filipino seamen.

Emotions were high when the seamen were reunited with their families for the first time after years of separation from their loved ones.

Upon arrival at the NAIA the freed seamen did not go through the normal procedure but were immediately greeted by their families.

They embraced tightly and cried profusely as they thanked God and the people who helped them in their repatriation.

"Thank God, that they are back with the help of the President and the First Gentleman and the other people with golden hearts," Fatima Agustin, mother of Nestor, one of the 22 seamen, said in Pilipino.

In a brief press conference at the NAIA, the First Gentleman said he was so touched when he saw the Filipino seamen and their families reunited.

"It is worth the all hardships we encountered during the negotiation, and the final repatriation of these seamen," he said.

"We are very happy that all our ordeal is over. Masarap ang pakiramdam ngayong nakikita kong kasama na nila ang kanilang pamilya at mga magulang (It’s a nice feeling to see them reunited with their parents and their families)," the First Gentleman said.

The First Gentleman recounted that when he and Ambassador Aguiluz had lunch with the seamen Monday prior to their homecoming, most of them could hardly believe that they are really free and going to celebrate Christmas in the Philippines.

Another Filipino seaman, Nicasio Dagsa, was however not allowed to be repatriated because he has to settle another civil case also involving bank fraud in Abu Dhabi amounting to more than P1 million.

Aguiluz said they only learned about Dagsa’s other case when they were acquiring exit clearances for the 23 seamen.

Like his fellow seamen, Mr. Arroyo assured that his case will be worked out and he will be repatriated as soon as possible.

Gemina thanked the President, Mr. Arroyo and other people who assisted them in their moment of need.

The Filipino seamen were given $200 each by Mr. Arroyo and Ambassador Aguiluz for them to buy some gifts for their families in the Philippines.

They were also given P10,000 each by President Arroyo, through her staff, upon their arrival in Manila.

Mr. Arroyo also committed to provide P10,000 seed capital money for the seamen to start small income generating activities as well as training by government agencies to help them sustain these income generating activities.

The seamen, duped by their Indian national boss into signing bank loans, were arrested, convicted and sentenced to four months in jail. However, the Indian national filed another case for the unpaid loans in the amount P1.8 million dirhams, or about P28 million pesos.

However through negotiations, Ambassador Aguiluz was able to secure an agreement that allowed the release of the Filipino seamen after payment of 600,000 dirhams or P9 million.

LAPU LAPU CITY, Cebu - After her successful participation in the three-day ASEAN summit in Bali, Indonesia, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here Wednesday night and proceeded with the distribution of land titles this morning to some 1,500 poor urban families.

The President attended the 9th summit of the heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali and witnessed the signing of agreements expected to result in a stronger security and economic community.

The President, together with her official entourage, arrived at 9:45 P.M. Wednesday at the Mactan International Airport, Cebu City. Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo led officials in welcoming her. Also at hand at the airport were Cebu Governor Pablo Garcia, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza, Interior Secretary Jose Lina, and Reps. Raul Del Mar and Monico Fuentebella.

After the brief welcome ceremony, the President motored to the Waterfront Hotel where she stayed for the night. She was also welcomed by Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian whose family owns the hotel.

In her prepared arrival statement, the President said that the Philippines had a fruitful and rewarding presence in the ASEAN summit in Bali.

She said that she joined the leaders of ASEAN member countries -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- as well as those from Japan, Korea, China and India in shaping a stronger security and economic community.

She said that they signed the ASEAN Concord II that lays down the directions for the future and commit the ASEAN leaders to push economic integration, increase trade and consolidate vigilance against terrorism.

"This is important for our people because it will bring more jobs, more knowledge and skills and more stability to our country," she said.

She said that she conferred with Malaysian Prime MInister Mahathir to close ranks in going after kidnappers in Sabah, where joint search and rescue operations from the two nations are focused to network intelligence and operations to close the dragnet.

During the summit China and India acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, while ASEAN and Japan signed an agreement on a framework for comprehensive economic partnership.

China likewise signed a joint declaration with ASEAN member states on strategic partnership for peace and prosperity.

"The Bali summit has tightened the ring of regional integration and consolidation in East Asia," she said.

The President said that she called for closer integration and more investments in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) so as to bring additional commercial and industrial resources into MIndanao.

She noted that Japan has committed to provide more development assistance to MIndanao.

"In the near future, we shall have a merger of peace and development never before seen," she said.

Singapore expressed interest in investing in the power sector in the Philippines, while China promised to double the $5 billion two-way trade with the Philippines in two years, she said.

She added that she discussed potential investments with India and Thailand in the Philippines.

The President said that Philippines will closely cooperate with Thailand to ensure mutual food and energy security and to work out a framework for the development of a joint petroleum supply hub for the region.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to attend a high-level meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Kuala Lumpur on October 16. She is also expected to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, later this month that will take up pressing economic and security issues across the Asia-Pacific.

The creation of a monitoring team is one of the primary requisites for the resumption of the formal peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Malacaņang said today.

Exploratory talks are going on and Malaysia has agreed to send a monitoring team to Mindanao, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said this morning in a radio interview.

Even some members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) have expressed their desire to be part of the monitoring team, Bunye said.

Once the monitoring team is in place, Bunye said he believes the peace talks with the MILF will begin.

Malaysia has offered to broker and host the peace talks and the OIC has promised to extend economic support for the development of Mindanao, particularly in areas affected by the conflict, once a peace agreement is forged.

Outgoing Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who will be chairman of the OIC, has invited the President to attend the OIC meeting to be held in Kuala Lumpur on October 16, Bunye said.

The invitation from Mahathir to a non-member and non-observer comes as a signal from him for the OIC members to really extend their help to the Philippine government so that it can achieve a lasting peace in Mindanao.

A major farmers’ party has endorsed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s bid for a full six-year term in the May 2004 elections.

BUTIL party list, the political arm of the National Farmers Supreme Council (SANDUGO), called Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo the "best President to Philippine agriculture and the Filipino farmers" and said that "her continued stay in office will be supported by the farming sector."

BUTIL has two members in the House of Representatives – Reps. Benjamin A. Cruz and Leonila V. Chavez.

Cruz and Chavez said that in her three years in office, President Macapagal-Arroyo has funded strategic agricultural programs, supported pioneering production technologies, stabilized the prices of palay, and fought to level the playing field in international agricultural trade.

The price of palay has been averaging P7.50 to P8.00 per kilo under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration as a result of concrete price stabilization programs that have shielded farmers from drastic drops in prices and gluts, Cruz said.

The two sectoral representatives said that the President also initiated the farmers-as-importers program, which allows farmers to import part of the country’s annual rice requirements.

Like his previous exposes, we expect Senator Lacson’s so-called Chapter 3 to be a dud. It will be a hodge-podge of innuendoes not backed by solid evidence.

He still has nothing to show for his Chapter 1 and 2 speeches.

You will recall that transactions alluded to in previous speeches covered the deposit and withdrawal of private funds. They were not the fruits of drug operations. Neither were they results of kidnapping and bank robberies.

Accounts were opened and subsequently closed prior to the enactment of the Anti-Money Laundering Law.

So what is the violation?

We expect his well-hyped Chapter 3 speech to be no different.

CEBU CITY– After years of waiting, some 1,500 poor families here finally got their land titles from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today.

The President who planed in Wednesday night from Bali, Indonesia where she attended a three-day ASEAN summit, personally distributed the land titles to the recipients who trooped to the Cebu City’s Sports Complex this morning.

Some 20,000 members of urban poor groups from all over Metro Cebu did not mind waiting for more than two hours when President Macapagal-Arroyo met them at the Sports Complex.

The President also gave P1.3 million in small livelihood grants to 117 recipients, as well as 2,000 Philhealth cards and some Pag-IBIG checks.

The occasion also coincided with the celebration of the Urban Poor Congress.

Cebu Governor Pablo Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeņa III led local officials in welcoming the President.

Seventy two Cebu City barangay captains, who supported Mrs. Arroyo in her bid for vice presidency in 1998, were also invited to lunch with her.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said the government is doing everything and would continue working hand-in-hand with the transport industry to avoid an increase of public transport fares in the wake of another round of increase in the prices of petroleum products.

Four oil companies – Petron Corporation, Pilipinas Shell, Total (Philippines) Corporation, and Unioil Philippines – raised the prices of diesel, gasoline, and kerosene by 25 centavos effective last night reportedly due to the increase in world crude prices.

"We will continue to work with the transport sector to keep fare hikes at bay," the President said in a statement.

The President said the price of petroleum products is dependent on the world market.

"We have to live with the vagaries of the free market. Oil prices in the country are dependent on world prices so we must learn to get used to price hikes and price rollbacks," the President said.

In her previous meeting with the leaders of the various transport groups in the country, the President laid down various measures to stave off fare hikes such as the outright discounted prices for diesel fuel and the discount coupon systems for the members of the jeepney associations in the country.

These are being implemented in 46 different selected gasoline stations, mostly along EDSA, that provide 20 to 50 centavos discount for passenger vehicles.

Last month, she also lauded the selflessness of the transport industry for thinking of the welfare of their countrymen because they have not increased their fares since she assumed office in 2001.

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu - President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, in her arrival speech here, said that members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are bent on peace and socio-economic growth in the region.

"We signed the ASEAN Concord II that lays down our directions for the future and committed ourselves to push economic integration, increase trade and consolidated vigilance against terrorism," the President said.

The President emphasized that the Philippines is a part of ASEAN and East Asia, as they are part of the Philippines’ future.

"Millions of our countrymen travel, work and earn their living in this part of the world. Millions of Asians pass our shores in the course of business or tourism. We are a melting pot, the hub of growing dynamism and expansion of wealth, talent and culture," the President said.

The President said that she has called for closer integration and more investments in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

She said that BIMP-EAGA would bring in more commercial and industrial resources into Mindanao.

"The surge of development will run alongside the peace process that we are relentlessly undertaking with the help of allies such as Malaysia, the US and the nations of the Islamic world," the President said.

The President said that the result of her 3-day working visit to the 9^th ASEAN Summit includes Japan’s commitment to provide more development assistance to Mindanao and Singapore’s expression of interest in investing in the power sector in the Philippines.

"Japan is the principal source of official development assistance for the Philippines. Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi also committed to put more development assistance to jack up the peace dividend in Mindanao," the President said.

The President also said that Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong discussed with her potential investments in the power sector.

"It is important for us to anticipate the growing energy requirements emerging in the wake of heightened economic growth," the President explained.

The Philippines and China are also set to review the prospects of more business.

The President said: "We have a two-way trade figure of $5 billion running in favor of the Philippines," and that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has committed to double the figure in two years.

"China likewise said that they would also help us with the finances to build the North Rail and General Santos City port. We will not allow irritants in the South China Sea to get in the way of flourishing trade and cooperation," the President said.

Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, during discussions with President Macapagal-Arroyo, gave the Philippines eight aircraft to bolster the Philippine government’s anti-insurgency campaign.

The President said that we will cooperate more closely with Thailand in ensuring mutual food and energy security. "We are working on a framework for the development of a joint petroleum supply hub for the region," the President said.

CEBU CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged the Senate anew to pass the franchise of the National Transmission Corporation (Transco) as this will make the transmission company attractive to foreign investors.

In a press conference after a multi-sectoral assembly at the Cebu City Sports Complex here, the President said the government cannot continue running the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) transmission company because it is bleeding the nation’s finances.

"We’ve been losing maybe P30 billion a year from the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR). We really have to privatize it," the President said.

She said that the long-term fundamental reform is needed to solve the problem of interconnection, especially in the Visayas. "Because you have to interconnect the grid through underwater cables," the President said.

The privatization of Transco would pave the way for the sale of NAPOCOR’s generating assets, 70 percent of which must be completed by June 2004. This would also mean more efficient power distribution in the country.

The passage of the Transco franchise bill would also help reduce the purchase power adjustment (PPA) or the cost of excess electricity generated by independent power producers (IPPs).

Giving a status report on the latest Cebu interconnection project, the President said it was awarded last September to a winning bidder.

The President said yesterday, the Department of Finance and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) were scheduled to finalize the terms of the loans.

"After this, the Napocor and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Board will approve the project terms after which the project will be officially awarded and confirmed on December 3^," the President said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has drawn up five measures to ensure strict security in the handling of detainees in Camp Crame, Deputy Presidential Spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said today.

Saludo said that primarily, the Special Action Force (SAF) is taking over the security supervision of Camp Crame and all tenant units there. The SAF will report directly to the PNP chief.

Second, Saludo said, selected detainees from different tenant units in Camp Crame shall be immediately transferred to the PNP Custodial Center. Two of its quadrants have already been activated while the PNP Engineering Services is fast-tracking the completion of the two other quadrants.

Third, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on security shall be reviewed by all tenant units within Camp Crame, Saludo said.

Fourth, all tenant units shall observe strict implementation of and compliance with all security SOPs under pain of disciplinary measures or other administrative sanctions.

CEBU CITY— President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today said that what the country needs now is a united effort to spur economic growth to fight poverty.

"We need to heal the deep divisions in our society," the President said in a press conference mostly in Cebuano.

At the same time, the President announced that the government is ready to sign a peace agreement with Muslim rebels in Mindanao.

She said justice and reconciliation will bring about a "new beginning" for the country.

The Chief Executive politely refrained from commenting on politics as she refused to answer when asked her choice for her running mate in next year's elections.

She also parried questions on the raging political conflicts in Cebu, saying it is too early yet to talk about politics.

The President explained that last Saturday she was forced to announce her intention to run in next year’s elections to asssure foreign creditors and investors of a continuity in governance and program of government.

In the same press conference, the President also pushed for a shift to a parliamentary form of government to effect badly needed fundamental economic and political reforms in the country.

The President said that under a parliamentary form of government it is easier to institute reforms.

CEBU CITY -- Over a hundred urban poor groups in Metro Cebu, who are beneficiaries of the government's housing programs, today presented a resolution thanking President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for making their dreams of owning homelots come true.

A spokesperson for the urban group cited the President for realizing their dream of owning the piece of land they have been occupying in just a little over two years in her presidency.

"At long last, we can no longer be called squatters in our own country," she said.

Among the lands declared for housing by the President were the more than 30 hectares within the military reservation near the Armed Forces Central Command (CENTCOM) in barangay Apas, Cebu City; the Central Bank property in Busay, Cebu City; and the Department of Health property in barangays Kasuntingan and Jagobiao in Mandaue City.

Some 20,000 members of urban poor groups trooped to the Cebu City Sports Center here this morning to welcome the President who arrived here Wednesday night from Bali, Indonesia, where she attended the 9^th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Of this number, 5,000 were housing beneficiaries, organizers said.

Better late than never.

On this note, Nicasio Dagsa, 48, the last of 23 Filipino seamen who was left behind bars in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when the 22 were  repatriated Wednesday, would be released from prison and finally reunited with his family on Monday.

The announcement was made by Special Envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council, Amable Aguiluz V, today during a luncheon at Malacanang with the 22 repatriated seafarers.

The luncheon was hosted by First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo who was also the prime mover in the release of the seamen who had been in jail in UAE for three years.

Aguiluz said the First Gentleman earlier promised to the family of Dagsa that the government would do everything to bring him back as soon as possible.

Aguiluz said Dagsa's repatriation was a result of negotiation with UAE authorities. This was also in fulfillment of Mr. Arroyo's promise.

He said one of his technical staff would be flying Friday night to Dubai for the final arrangement for Dagsa's return to the country.

Fortunata, Dagsa's 65-year old mother, was overjoyed upon hearing the announcement. "Naiyak ako sa tuwa dahil makauuwi na ang anak ko. Nagpapasalamant ako ng marami kay First Gentleman dahil sinagot niya ang matindi kong pakiusap na tulungan ang anak kong makauwi," she said.

The mother said she was very much worried about his son's fate after he was not among those who arrived Wednesday from UAE.

Mr. Arroyo said he was so touched by the pleading of Dagsa's mother at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Wednesday.

The seamen were repatriated after the First Gentleman and Aguiluz paid the P9 million settlement fee for their release.

Also during the luncheon, Acting Labor Secretary Danny Cruz announced that the repatriated seamen would be extended welfare assistance under the Philippine Re-Integration program of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Under the program he said the seamen would be provided livelihood loans of up to P100,000 each to start a small income generating business.

The loan amount with minimal interest would be released through the Land Bank of the Philippines, Cruz added.

The program also includes retraining, scholarship for OFWs children, counseling, job referrals, and job placement.

The OFWs would also be provided with medical assistance. According to Cruz, the government came up with the reintegration program because of past experiences of OFWs who became unemployed upon returning to the country.

For his part, OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo said that the program would be implemented within two weeks and the freed seamen would be the first beneficiaries.

The Malacanang luncheon was fiesta-style serving Filipino foods such as kare-kare, adobong manok, dinuguan, pansit canton, fish, ginisang sigarelyas, leche plan and assorted delicacies.

The seamen and their families said they were so honored to be invited in Malacanang and personally met President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.