Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) will remain in the Philippines after all as it junked its plan to relocate to China.

Moreover, it will invest $450 million to expand and move operations of its Asia-Pacific hub from Subic to Clark to continue providing revenue to the government and employment to Filipinos.

FedEx signified plans of moving to China in August last year but the move was averted, thanks to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declaring open skies in cargo in SBIA and DMIA, thus resolving differences between Philippine and American transport officials.

Over this clearing action by the President, FedEx also prefers doing business with the Philippine government and the many advantages of operating in the country, according to Clark International Airport Corp. president Adelberto Yap.

FedEx prefers the country’s cheap and skilled labor, the work culture of Filipinos who can readily adapt to Americans and has no problems with communicating here.

Also, Clark already has a two-runway capacity at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport which has yet to be built in China.

Yap said he will sign a 25-year lease agreement with FedEx on April 11 in Memphis.

FedEx signed a letter of intent with the Guangzhou Airport Authority in August last year as it considered leaving Subic and transferring there because Philippine transport officials did not grant the demand of their US counterparts in July last year for seventh freedom operations in the country.

Seventh freedom rights allow a carrier to fly to other destinations from a particular hub without first passing its home base, which Philippine transport officials deemed a violation of the Constitution and the RP-US air transport agreement.

This led FedEx to sign a letter of intent with the Guangzhou Airport Authority in August last year to signify its plan to move to China.

But President Macapagal-Arroyo resolved the differences, issuing Executive Order 253 in December last year, declaring open skies in cargo in SBIA and DMIA

Subic Bay became the Asia-Pacific hub of FedEx in 1995, connecting 19 key Asian cities. The hub enables overnight delivery to the US West Coast from Penang, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and East Timor.

Construction of FedEx’s new hub at Clark should start next year for a smooth transition from Subic from which it will continue operating for two more years. The contract between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority extends up to 2007.

That is the birthday wish of thousands of her kinsfolk for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who returned today to her hometown for the celebration of her 57^th natal day.

President Macapagal-Arroyo’s birthday celebration began with a mass at the St. Augustine Church here, with members of her family in attendance.

From Malacaņang Palace in Manila, the President reached the church in time for the morning mass, which she traditionally attends every year she celebrates her birthday.

Thousands of people gathered at the church area, many of whom could no longer be accommodated inside and had to stand in front of the gate just to catch a glimpse of the President.

There is no more I can ask for on this day than for peace and solidarity among our people.

Let us celebrate the Holy Week in the tone of sacrifice, forgiveness and concern for one another.

Let us make it a time to contemplate the blessings that have come our way from the Almighty: the wholeness of our families, the peace of our communities and the unity of the Filipino despite the trials of a harsh and uncertain world.

The Muslim faith is for peace and we respect Islam as a way of peace.

It is unfortunate that Islamic principles and beliefs are being twisted and exploited to justify sinister acts because we know that our Muslim breathren condemn terrorism as much as we Christians do.

But the problems besetting the Islamic faith in regard to terrorism are not only for Muslims to address, but also for all of us since what is at stake here is the security of the whole citizenry and the whole nation.

There is no hate campaign or witchhunt directed against Muslims.

The Philippine government adheres to the peaceful, civilized and collective settlement of disputes among country-claimants on the Spratly Islands.

All our policies and actions have consistently been oriented toward this direction.

The government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF), political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), are confident they can overcome any obstacle that may hinder progress of their peace talks.

GRP Chief Negotiator Silvestre H. Bello III made this point in a formal statement read at the Malacanang press briefing this afternoon. Bello has just returned from another round of peace talks in Oslo, Norway, on March 30-April 3.

Bello assured the people that the "partners in these peace efforts … pursue the track of the peace negotiations towards the attainment of a just and lasting peace in our country."

According to Bello, the GRP and NDF peace panels have agreed on three important goodwill and confidence-building measures. These are:

• The GRP shall work for the freedom of 32 prisoners and detainees, including nine covered by a presidential release order in 2001, within 30 days starting today (April 5).

The government has released 98 alleged political offenders out of a total of 121 individuals whose names were in the NDF list submitted to the GRP in 2001.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already earmarked P8 billion from the Marcos family’s Swiss bank accounts returned to the government.

• Both GRP and NDF reaffirmed commitment to comply with their obligations under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

Bello said that this aims at ensuring the protection of rights of individuals to freedom of thought and expression, freedom of conscience, political and religious beliefs, freedom of movement and travel, as well as the rights to free speech, press or assembly.

"The reaffirmation was made by the panels in light of complaints received by either side regarding reported attacks on human rights workers, leaders and supporters of legal organizations, as well as reported attacks on communities, civilians and properties," Bello said.

The next round of talks will be held from April 26 to 29 at a venue mutually agreed upon by both parties, in consultation with the third party facilitator, the royal government of Norway.

The Second Oslo Joint Statement, issued after the March 30-April 3 peace talks, noted that both panels initialed the guidelines for the conduct of work on social and economic reforms.

They also completed negotiations on the introductory sections, including the Preamble and the Declaration of Principles, of the draft Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms, it said.

According to the Oslo Joint Statement, the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) initialed, at its first formal meeting, the rules of procedure that will guide the members and observers of the JMC in carrying out their mandated duties.

There is no hate campaign or witchhunt directed against Muslims, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo emphasized today as she deplored anew efforts to taint the government campaign against terrorism.

"The Muslim faith is for peace and we respect Islam as a way of peace. It is unfortunate that Islamic principles and beliefs are being twisted and exploited to justify sinister acts because we know our Muslim brethren condemn terrorism as much as we Christians do," the President said in an official statement.

The problems besetting the Islamic faith in regard to terrorism are not only for Muslims to address, but also for all of us since what is at stake here is the security of the whole citizenry and the whole nation, the President furthered said.

"They too play a vital role in nation-building and their concerns are being looked at and properly addressed," the President said.

Last week, the President said terrorism is a crime against all humanity and there are no political or religious undertones to the anti-terror campaign.

The legitimacy of the arrests can be fully addressed in court, she said, as she lauded the military and the police for their diligence and hard work.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said there is "no politics or ethno-religious discrimination" in the government’s anti-terrorism drive that has rounded up a number of suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf terror group and seized a cache of explosives, averting what could have been a Madrid-type bombing attacks in Metro Manila.

"The AFP and the PNP have always conducted themselves professionally and without bias in targeting terrorist cells," Bunye added.

What is important here, Bunye said, is that our armed forces and police, with cooperation from the citizens, are doing their job to fight the threat of terrorism.

He said that criticisms against the military and the police will not deter the authorities from performing their mission.

Front-running vice presidential candidate Senator Noli "Kabayan" de Castro, together with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, joined some 1.5 million Yahweh El Shaddai followers in the celebration of the midnight Palm Sunday mass that ushered in the Holy Week.

President Macapagal-Arroyo and Senator de Castro were seated beside El Shaddai spiritual leader Brother Mike Velarde and his wife, Sister Belen, during the mass at the AMVEL Business Park in Barangay San Dionisio, Paranaque City.

The President called on her fellow El Shaddai supporters to pray for peaceful, orderly and credible elections on May 10 and for a high level of campaign that focuses on platform of governance instead of mudslinging, black propaganda and character assassination.

De Castro leads his rivals for the vice presidency by a wide margin in the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations for Manila Standard.

Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4) senatorial bets Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Ramon Revilla Jr., Manuel Roxas III, Robert Jaworski, John Osmena, Lito Lapid, Robert Barbers, Parouk Hussin and Orlando Mercado also attended the El Shaddai mass.

LUBAO, Pampanga – Even on the occasion of her 57^th birthday today, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has nothing in mind but the welfare of the nation, wishing for peace, prosperity and unity for the Filipino people.

In remarks after the birthday mass celebrated in her honor at the St. Augustine Church here, the President, a devout Catholic, said that this week being "Semana Santa, "should be celebrated with sacrifice, forgiveness and giving support to each other."

"Ito ang panahon para magnilay-nilay sa mga biyaya sa atin ng Maykapal, ang kabuuan ng ating pamilya, ang kapayapaan sa ating pamayanan at ang pagkakaisa ng ating lakas at sa hindi katiyakan sa mundo (This is the time to thank God for the blessings, solidarity of the family and peace in the community as well as unity in the face of uncertainties)," she said.

After thanking the Lord Almighty for the gifts that she received on her natal day, the President expressed her gratitude to all her friends and all Filipinos all over the country who greeted her.

Former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Corazon C. Aquino greeted the President personally by attending the birthday mass. Also present were House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., members of the Cabinet, members of the First Family composed of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, daughter Lulli and sons Mikey and Dato, as well as the members of the K-4 team, namely vice presidential candidate Senator Noli "Kabayan" de Castro, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, former Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Richard Gordon, Orly Mercado and Parouk Hussin.

Before the start of the mass, former President Ramos said that his birthday wish for the President is for her and the whole K-4 team to win in the coming elections.

Former President Aquino, on the other hand, said she wished the President all the best, good health and success. "I hope that she will receive all the blessings she is asking for," Cory said.

Former Senator Santiago, who shook hands with President Fidel V. Ramos before the arrival of Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo, recounted her conversation with the former President. She said Ramos told her that "I am campaigning for you."

"So I said, I believe you," Santiago said, emphasizing that this being the Holy Week, she should be filled with forgiveness and tolerance.

The two were among the protagonists in the 1992 presidential elections where Ramos won and Santiago lost.

According to daughter Luli, the President will spend her time resting in Malacaņang after the birthday mass here, adding that the whole Arroyo family will be gathered at the Palace for an intimate dinner.

"We will continue to campaign for the President here," Luli said, after the President left, expressing her fervent hope that her Mommy will be able to continue her programs and realize her dream of a progressive Philippines.

Later, Luli represented the President in the inauguration of "Gloria Village," a housing project for indigent families in Cauyan, Angeles City. The village was built by the Friends of PGMA and Cabinet ladies in cooperation with the Gawad Kalinga and the city government of Angeles City as a birthday gift for the President.

Other activities during the President’s birthday were as follows:

• Conducting a blood donation activity nationwide. A recognition ceremony for 2,401 barangay health workers was led by Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit also in Lubao, Pampanga;

• Presentation of an audio-visual production showing the testimonies of farmers who have increased their yields through the use of "Gloria Rice," hybrid variety and thanking the President for her efforts in improving their lot. The presentation was produced by the Department of Agriculture.

Officials of three government information agencies denied today having conducted mock elections among their officers and personnel last March 30-31 saying the published reports "are baseless, to say the least."

Philippine News Agency (PNA) Executive Editor Iluminado Varela, Philippine Broadcasting System (PBS) Director Rafael Dante Cruz and National Broadcasting Network (NBN) Channel 4 General Manager Jose Isabelo all denied there was such a poll, which was allegedly topped by Senator Panfilo Lacson.

"We are disappointed that such a story, which was built around statements like ‘employes and officials who requested anonymity, are given credence at all by the reporter," Varela said referring to Bulletin Reporter Roy Sinfuego.

In his letter to Bulletin Editor in Chief Cris Icban, Varela said it is unfair to mention PNA without providing details substantiating the allegation.

"It is on record that in its 30 years of service to the nation, PNA has never been involved in mock elections or has been the subject of election surveys," he said.

Another story which came out in Malaya had no byline, but mentioned that officials of the three government agencies under the Office of the Press Secretary "were taken aback by the results of the mock poll."

It also stated that officials "even made an attempt to hide the results of the mock elections to the media for fear that they could reach the President."

BAYAMBANG, Pangasinan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked the people of this town Sunday night to help change the life of the ordinary Pangasinense for the better now that their leaders are together with her in Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan Para sa Kinabukasan (K4).

During the Balikbayan Grand Ball and Coronation Night of "Pista’y Baley 2004" in honor of the town’s patron saint Senor San Vicente Ferrer, the President reminded Pangasinenses that Gov. Victor Agbayani, Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, and the board members and Bayambang Mayor Leocadio de Vera are running under her coalition, K-4.

She said that they are all behind her platform of creating one million jobs each year, emphasizing that her administration produced a million jobs each year since taking over in 2001 compared to the half million in former President Estrada’s time.

The President recalled she acquired funding for the San Roque Irrigation Project in the province during her last visit to Japan.

The President vowed to deliver not only irrigation project, but also clean water to all barangays in the country.

The President crowned Merinessa Fernandez Junio Miss Bayambang 2004 with the assistance of Mayor de Vera before addressing the huge crowd at the Bayambang Park Auditorium.

Pangasinan officials headed by Gov. Agbayani surprised the President with a prayer, wishing her success in the May polls on the eve of her birthday, and presented her with a cake. The President gamely blew out all the candles.

After the occasion, the President motored to Clark Air Base where she spent the night.

TANZA, Cavite – What used to be a clandestine drug laboratory producing tons of shabu worth millions of pesos is now a rehabilitation center named after former First Lady Dona Eva Macaraeg-Macapagal.

No less than the First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo led the inauguration of the rehabilitation center which, he said, is President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s gift to the Filipino people on the occasion of her 57^th birthday.

The First Gentleman flew here from Lubao Pampanga, where he and the President attended mass at San Agustin Church on the occasion of the President’s 57^th birthday.

Present during the inaugural ceremony were Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations (AID-SOT) Task Force Chief and PNP Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay and Center for Ultimate Rehabilitation of Drug Dependent (CUREDD) Director Bonaparte Francisco.

The President approved Aglipay's recommendation for the conversion of the 3000-sq/m former shabu laboratory into a drug rehabilitation center to decongest the PNP-administered drug rehabilitation facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

This is the first time a former shabu laboratory has been converted into rehabilitation and treatment center for the victims of drug abuse.

The First Gentleman stressed that Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo is the first president to do so.

He likewise cited the anti-illegal drug team of the president and their dedication.

According to Francisco, the Doņa Eva Macapagal Rehabilitation Center would serve as a halfway house for drug patients undergoing rehabilitation in Camp Bagong Diwa.

He said from Camp Bagong Diwa, drug patients would be transferred to the facility here one to two months before the release and formal integration to the society.

Already, he said, the Center has 100 drug patients.

Aglipay said the newly-opened facility will initially accommodate at least 250 drug dependents coming from Southern Tagalog provinces, with preference to those coming from Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, and Quezon.

On July 25, 2003, the shabu lab was raided by a team led by Aglipay and confiscated some 113 kilos of shabu, 700 kilos of ephedrine, a yacht, two motor boats, two jet skis, a van, and assorted shabu-making equipment.

The seacrafts were believed to have been used in transporting precursors and finished shabu product through the sea to facilitate the immediate transportation.

The raid was done a day after authorities arrested Li Ya Lan, alias Jackson Dy, a Chinese national and believed to be the leader of the Jackson Dy group that was nabbed in Paranaque City.

To date, the AID-SOTF has raided and dismantled a total of 22 laboratories and warehouses with a total value of P22 billion.

Dy is among the 31 top drug traffickers and shabu manufacturers arrested by the task force.

LUBAO, Pampanga—Agriculture Secretary Luis "Cito" Lorenzo thanked more than one thousand farmers from Central Luzon who gathered here to show their support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on her birthday.

Lorenzo said the farmers came early and were excited about meeting the President who introduced the commercialization of hybrid rice, also known as "Gloria Rice," which has led to an increase in their income.

"They wanted to show their appreciation and affection to the President who has been a consistent advocate of agricultural modernization and rice-sufficiency," Lorenzo added.

A group of hybrid rice farmers belonging to areas outside Central Luzon also prepared a video tape containing their greetings and birthday wishes for the President in different dialects, which was presented by the Department of Agriculture to thousands of the President’s supporters, including K-4 senatorial candidates.

In the said videotape, Antonio Villanueva, a hybrid rice champion farmer of Ilocos Sur, led other farmers from Laguna, Pampanga, Cavite, Pangasinan and other parts of the country in wishing the President a happy birthday.

According to Villanueva, farmers like him who have shifted to planting "Gloria Rice," have experienced a higher yield, and better income. He said he was able to harvest as much as 10.7 metric tons per hectare using the hybrid rice seeds endorsed by the Department of Agriculture.

Villanueva’s sentiments were echoed by other hybrid farmers who joined a visit to a technology farm in Victoria, Laguna last Saturday. Farmer Jaime Morados of Cavite said he has been able to help his married children with their family’s needs because of "Gloria Rice."

Among the farmers who sent their greetings were Rudy Placino of Victoria, Laguna, Roberto Julao of Guagua, Pampanga, Terry Balatibat of Pila, Laguna, and Luciano Galicia. There were also birthday messages from " Gloria Rice" farmers from as far as Kalinga-Apayao, Bohol and Davao City.

Lorenzo personally conveyed to the President the warmest wishes of the hybrid rice farmers. "She was deeply touched by the personal stories of these farmers on how Gloria Rice improved their lives," Lorenzo added.

Malacanang today said that the government will consider a limited ceasefire with the communist rebels during the Holy Week and in next month’s elections.

Chief Government Peace Negotiator Silvestre H. Bello III said at the press briefing in Malacanang, that the ceasefire is an important matter that the negotiating panels of the government and the National Democratic Front should discuss.

"There is a possibility of ceasefire for the Holy Week, maybe from Thursday up to Easter Sunday but these things have to be discussed by both panels," Bello said.

He said there is also a possibility of an election ceasefire.

Bello, however, said that ceasefires during the Holy Week and the elections should be only for a limited period.

He said that the declaration of a ceasefire will depend on the recommendation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

A clear platform on how each candidate would solve the ills now plaguing the country should be the main issue in next month’s presidential polls.

This, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo believes, is what will make or break each of the candidates gunning for the highest post in the land.

In a television interview over the Iglesia ni Kristo-owned Cable Channel Net 25, the President told ‘Con Todos Recados’ hosts Ellaine Fuentes and Totoy Talastas that in her consultations with the people all over the country, she found out that what they really want to know is the platform of each of the presidential candidates.

"Gusto nilang malaman ang balak ng ibat ibang kandidato tungkol sa pagbabago ng kanilang buhay lalo na sa mga bagay ng ekonomiya, trabaho, presyo, hanapbuhay… hindi yung mga generalities kundi yung specifics. Yun ang kanilang pinagbabatayan (They want to know how each of the candidates can change their lives particularly on issues affecting the economy, employment, prices, jobs … not generalities but specifics. That would be the basis of their decision)," she said.

The President deplored that the campaign had degenerated into character assassination and black propaganda instead of purely tackling issues.

"Okay lang po kung isyu, puwede nating pag-usapan, puwede nating linawin. Ang problema kapag character assassination at black propaganda, yan ang problema (It’s okay if it’s issues, they can be talked about, they can be cleared. The problem is if it’s character assassination or black propaganda)," she clarified.

The President noted that like her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, she believes that the basic issue now confronting the country is poverty.

In her four-point agenda against poverty, the President revealed that creating jobs is of paramount importance, that is why she said the government is focused on creating an environment conducive to investors.

In the countryside, focus is on agriculture and land reform, which, according to her, was her father’s legacy during his presidency.

Direct services to the poor has also been taken care of, she said, like her water for the waterless program, housing and medicare benefits.

The fourth agenda in her program, she said, is good governance.

On the issue that she has the undue advantage of using government resources for her campaign, the President said she is not the first President nor the first politician running as an incumbent.

The Chief Executive cited the case of former President Marcos who was even charged but subsequently cleared by the courts.