President Arroyo lauds the prestigious victory of Olympian boxer Harry Tañamor who just won the silver medal in the 48 kilogram division at the World Amateur Boxing Championships.

Tañamor represented the Philippines with true grit and excellence.

The President leads the nation in looking forward to cheering him on as he prepares for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and vies for that elusive gold medal in our people’s behalf.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said over the weekend that contrary to speculations, the Lakas coalition remains solid and the government is undivided, as the ruling party charts its directions for 2010 and beyond.

The President’s statement summarized what transpired at the caucus she hosted Saturday in Malacanang for key leaders of the administration coalition, including former President Fidel V. Ramos, Lakas Party chairman emeritus; House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in his weekly column, The View From the Palace which comes out tomorrow (Monday).

Also present at the caucus were Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, House leaders Reps. Raul del Mar, (1st dist., Cebu); Prospero Nograles, (1st dist., Davao City); Eric Singson, (2^nd dist., Ilocos Sur); Arthur Defensor, (3^rd dist., Iloilo); Matias Defensor, (3^rd dist., Quezon City); Edcel Lagman, (1st dist., Albay), League of Municipalities and ULAP head Ramon Guico, League of Cities president Jerry Trenas, League of Provinces president Loreto Ocampos, Mandaluyong City Mayor Neptali Gonzales ll and Bunye.  

The President said the Malacanang caucus squelched “all rumor and speculation that this Government is divided. It is strong and focused on the business of the people.”

“We ask our people to join us in our journey to a future of national stability, peace and solidarity,” she added. 

The President revealed that she and the coalition leadership had “agreed on a process of national consolidation, gathering all our allies around the common vision” towards national consolidation “based on a coalition of principle and action.”

She pointed out that leadership “controversies within the legislature shall be put to an end as we reinvigorate the tools of a strong executive-legislative partnership such as the LEDAC and the NSC.”

“I have just met with former President Ramos, Speaker de Venecia and several key leaders of the ruling party. The meeting was warm, constructive and forward looking. We agreed to revitalize the administration coalition behind our vision,” she said.

The Filipino dream, she declared, is for the Philippines to join the global circle of rich countries in 20 years. “By then poverty shall have been marginalized; and the marginalized raised to a robust middle class.

“We will have achieved the hallmarks of a modern society, where institutions are strong, characterized by responsible citizenship and responsible governance,’ the President said.

She pointed out that Lakas leaders agreed that “teamwork in nation-building, unity of purpose, solidarity in values should always prevail and not allow small hurts to get in the way of staying as one family and fulfilling our hopes for the people.”

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