Citing the Philippines as an important market that offers tremendous growth opportunities, global financial services company Citigroup has decided to increase its direct foreign investment in the country by close to P3 billion,

Citigroup country officer James F. Hunt said the added capitalization, which brings its equity investment in the Philippines to approximately P7.6 billion, is proof of Citigroup’s long term commitment to doing business in the Philippines.

"Clearly, the Philippines is an important market for us and continues to offer tremendous growth opportunities," Hunt said. "We are looking to do more deals that will help fastrack the development of the local market."

The added capitalization, according to Hunt, will allow Citigroup to have a total regulatory capital of up to P38 billion as provided for in Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Manual of Regulations on foreign bank capitalization.

Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Purisima said Citigroup’s additional investment augurs well for the country "especially in a critical period like this."

Citigroup is known to exercise prudence, good judgment, and an acute business sense in making its investments so I thank the bank for forging ahead and deciding to further invest in the Philippines," he said. "We are very pleased with Citigroup’s continuing support and vote of confidence for the country."

Hunt said Citigroup would take advantage of its vast resources to bring the most innovative products and solutions to its clients.

"With the strength of our systems and quality of our people, operationally, we are poised to do more business process outsourcing activities that can be done for our other branches within the region. This infusion underscores Citigroup’s commitment to the Philippines, for generations to come," he said.

Citigroup is represented in the Philippines by its Global Corporate and Investment Bank, its Global Consumer Group, the Citigroup Private Bank, and Citigroup Global Markets.

The firm has embedded itself in the local business community, providing financing, advisory and innovative banking products as well as services to government, the utility and energy sectors, local corporates and MNCs, other financial institutions and individuals.

Over the last decade, Citigroup has located three of its regional offices in the Philippines – Citigroup Business Servies Asia, Citibank Infrastructure and Technology Center, and the Asia Pacific Banking Institute.

Malacaņang said today that people’s involvement in the synchronized national and local elections tomorrow, May 10, would help make the political exercise clean, honest and credible.

In a radio interview with the RMN Network this morning, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that holding "clean, honest and peaceful elections" forms part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s political platform.

"Our President has won all her elections fair and square," Bunye said in dismissing speculations on possible cheating in tomorrow’s polls. "Nakita natin noong nakaraang siya ay tumakbo, she got the biggest number of votes na ipinagkaloob ng ating mga manghahalal (When she last ran in an election, she got the highest number of votes)," he said.

Bunye called on the people to get involved in tomorrow’s balloting. "Tayong lahat ay magtulung-tulong, nasa tao na rin, nasa taumbayan ang pangangalaga ng sanctity ng ating mga balota (Let’s all help. The people can help protect the sanctity of our ballot)," he said.

He declined to answer charges aired by the opposition at its miting de avance in Makati City, Saturday night. "Hindi naman sumasagot ang ating Pangulo sa mga batikos (Our President does not respond to criticisms)," he said, adding that her style of campaigning is to articulate on her programs for helping the poor and developing the economy.

Mga Kababayan:

Ako ay nagsasalita sa inyo bilang Pangulo at hindi bilang kandidato sa pagka-Pangulo.

Ang mahabang panahon ng kampanya ay tapos na, halalan na bukas at ang taumbayan ay pagpapasiyahan na ang kapalaran ng ating bansa. Ito naman ang dapat talagang mangyari.

Kaninang umaga nagdaos tayo ng isang sama-samang panalangin para sa pagkakaisa.

Isinantabi na ang mga armas ng pulitika at pinalitan ng palaspas ng kapayapaan. Sama-sama tayong dumalangin upang ang ating bansa ay magkaisa.

Ngayon, nasa pagpapala ng Diyos at sa kagustuhan ng sambayanan ang desisyon kung sino ang mamumuno sa ating bayan.

Mahaba na ang landas na ating tinahak. Tayo ay isang dakilang lahi na may dakilang kasaysayan. Marami tayong mga pagsubok na nalampasan.

Sa EDSA 1 at EDSA 2, ang kapangyarihan ng mamamayan ay lumantad sa mga lansangan upang patatagin ang ating demokrasya.

Nangibabaw ang sambayanan.

Dapat nating ipagmalaki ang ating pinagdaanan. Bilang unang demokrasya sa Asya, nanguna tayo sa rehiyon bilang huwaran ng masiglang demokrasya at lumalagong ekonomiya.

Ang eleksyon ay may kapangyarihang gunitain ang urna ng balota bilang wastong paraan ng pagpapahayag ng ating kalayaang pulitikal. Sa pamamagitan ng mapayapa at kapani-paniwalang halalan, mapairal natin ang dignidad sa ating demokrasya at dangal sa bawat mamamayan na tumutupad sa kanilang tungkuling iboto ang bansang kanilang hinahangad.

Habang ako ay nagsasalita ngayon, libu-libo nating mga kababayan ang nakahandang maging tagamasid ng eleksiyon sa bawat lalawigan hanggang sa bawat barangay, upang tiyakin na ang halalan ay magiging mapayapa at

kapani-paniwala. At ngayong gabi, mahigit sa isandaang foreign observers na aking inimbitahan ay naririto na upang tiyaking ang ating eleksiyon ay makikilala sa loob at labas ng ating bansa bilang makatarungan, walang daya at magandang halimbawa ng buhay na demokrasya.

Habang ang lahat ng mga partido ay nagsama-sama ngayong araw upang manalangin para sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa, ako naman ay nananawagan na gampanan ang inyong tungkulin at bumoto sa mapayapang paraan. Ang kapangyarihan ay nas aloob ng urna ng balota, hindi sa karahasan, panggugulo at pananakot sa presinto.

Ang presinto ng botohan ay isang sagradong lugar tulad ng simbahan. Kaya, dapat tayong magbantay laban sa mga nagnanais na tanggalin ang tiwala sa kabanalan ng presinto at ng ritwal ng pagboto.

Nananawagan ako sa bawat makabayang mamamayan na manalig sa kahalagahan ng inyong karapatang bumoto, at nananawagan ako sa bawat taong may karahasang balak na pakaisipin na ang eleksiyon ay para sa kapakanan ng taumbayan at hindi dapat guluhin.

Magkakaroon tayo ng malaya, mapayapa at kapani-paniwalang halalan.

Sa bisperas ng dakilang araw na ito, ako ay nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagtangggap sa akin sa inyong mga tahanan upang pag-usapan natin ang papel na dapat gampanan para manatiling matatag ang ating demokrasya at buo ang ating damdamin.

On the eve of election day, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made one final call on the people to unite, vote and guard the sanctity of the ballot to ensure peaceful, clean and credible elections.

"I call on every concerned citizen to believe in the importance of his right to vote and I call on every person with violent plans to think the election is for the welfare of the citizenry and must not be disturbed," the President said in the face of rumors or reports there are foul plans afoot

The President made it clear she speaks as the President not as a presidential candidate, in her message aired on radio and television,

All five presidential candidates attended a unity Mass for peace and credible elections, celebrated after noon by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila.

"The arms of politics have been shelved and replaced with the palms of peace. Let us pray together so our country will be one," appealed the President who stressed in her very first State of the Nation Address her administration will be remembered for free, peaceful, credible elections.

The long campaign period is over, we go to the polls tomorrow and the people will decide the future of our country. This is what should happen, the President noted.

"Now the decision on who will run the country lies in the hands of God and the will of the people," she said.

The President recalled we have been through a long journey, we are a great race with a great history and we have surmounted numerous trials.

In EDSA I and EDSA II, people’s power emerged on the streets to strengthen our democracy and the citizenry prevailed, she observed.

We should be proud of our past, being the first democracy in Asia that led in the region as a showcase of an energetic democracy and a prospering economy, the President asserted.

"The election provides the ballot box as the proper means to express our political freedom. With peaceful and credible elections, we can keep the dignity of our democracy and it is incumbent on every citizen to fulfill his duty to vote," she said.

"As I speak, thousands of our countrymen are ready to be guardians of the elections in every province and every barangay to ensure the elections will be peaceful and credible. And tonight, more than a hundred foreign observers I invited are here to ensure our elections will be recognized within and without the country as just, devoid of cheating and an example of democracy," the President said.

The precinct is a sacred place like the church so we must guard against those who wish to remove the confidence in the sanctity of the precinct and the exercise of voting, the President noted.

Leaving behind bitter rivalry and partisan politics, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and four other presidential candidates literally joined hands and prayed together for the holding of peaceful and credible elections as the Filipino electorate is set to vote in tomorrow’s local and national polls.

In a symbolic Unity Mass spearheaded by former President Corazon Aquino, the five presidentiables—President Macapagal-Arroyo, former senator Raul Roco, Sen. Panfilo, Lacson, actor Fernando Poe Jr. and Bro. Eddie Villanueva--prayed for "humility to accept the true outcome" of the elections.

President Macapagal-Arroyo led in reading the Presidential Candidate’s Prayer" that ushered in the 12.30 p.m. Holy Mass at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila.

"Let no one dare to substitute with one’s own the voice of the people that is also Yours. Give me the humility to accept the true outcome, whether it goes for or against me, so that defeat be glorified by grace, and victory be tempered with modesty," the candidates prayed.

Roco, also formerly education secretary, arrived first with wife Sonia, followed by Poe and wife Susan Roces and running mate Sen. Loren Legarda.

Lacson came in with a son, followed by Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo.

Villanueva arrived last with his wife.

All five presidential contenders were greeted by Mrs. Aquino at the main entrance of the church. The former leader also joined the presidentiables at the first pew. President Macapagal-Arroyo and Lacson sat next to each other.

In a short message, Mrs. Aquino thanked the presidential candidates for attending the Mass and for their willingness and cooperation in ensuring the conduct of honest and credible elections.

Mrs. Aquino also enjoined the people to pray for Armed Forces chief Gen. Narciso Abaya and Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane who have been tasked to secure the electoral exercise.

Other prominent personalities who attended the Unity Mass were former President Fidel V. Ramos, Senate President Franklin Drilon Speaker Jose de Venecia, Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Commission on Elections Commissioner Ressureccion Borra, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting leader Henrietta De Villa and businessman and National Movement for Free Elections leader Jose Concepcion.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales who officiated 70-minute mass, underscored in his homily that the 82 million Filipinos wanted peaceful elections.

In an interview Lacson revealed that while the Mass was going on, he and President Macapagal-Arroyo agreed to hold another unity mass after the polls, and that both of them were committed to help whoever wins the presidency.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today congratulated Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao for putting up a gallant fight, but had to settle for a draw with his Mexican opponent in their 12-round featherweight championship bout in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Despite the tie, the President said Pacquiao is still the champion for the Filipino nation.

"Ikaw ang kampeon kahit na mayroon pang desisyon na gagawin at kailangan lalaban ka pa. Pinagmamalaki ka ng mga Pilipino (You are the champion even if a decision has yet to be made and you still have to fight)," Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo said.

Pacquiao was on the verge of knocking out Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez who hit the floor thrice in the first round, but the latter just kept getting up and somehow, managed to stay on until the bell rang.

Marquez went on to give all he’s got to Pacquiao, and finally saved a draw to retain his WBA and IBF 126-pound titles.

Pacquiao said he thought he could put Marquez out for good in the first round, "but there wasn’t enough time."