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Thank you Nini for that nice introduction. Thank you for the invitation and making me and my family a part of this important event.
This is the very first time to bring along with me my entire family in a Filipino Affair. This goes to show how much I admire your efforts to establish this association. And I would like to congratulate you all for coming up with the birth of your association, which I understand, is composed of several members from different parts of the United States. I understand you have members from Virginia, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. In behalf of the Filipino community, I would like to welcome you all to New York. (Those from other states.)
(audience applauded)
If Dr. Jose Rizal were alive today, he will be very happy to see his townmates carrying out his vision for his country and people. He would glad to find out that Calambenos in America are not only successful professionals, but also assuming leadership roles in their respective communities and united in their efforts at promoting national unity and cooperation. He would also be proud to see that Calambenos are working to promote nationalism and the preservation of our cultural heritage.
Looking at the pledge that you have printed in your program, you would most likely, happily notice the phrase in which you commit and I quote, " ..To stand vigilant against injustice and slander to our people..". This is rather a unique and special phrase, which you have committed to undertake as you move forward in your organization. Because too often we have Kababayan, unfortunately, who sometimes forget the past. Ang sabi ni Rizal,"Ang hindi daw lumilingon sa pinanggalingan, ay hindi makakarating sa paparoonan", hindi ho ba? (audience agreeing) Tama yon ano ho? Pero ang sabi daw ng doctor ang hindi daw lumilingon sa pinanggalingan, may stiff neck iyon. (audience laughed) Sabi ni Dr. Arambulo iyon. Anyway, mayroon tayong kababayan na ganoon, kung minsan ay naandito na at medyo maayos na ang kabuhayan ay kung minsan ay hindi na mahusay ang pagtingin sa ating kapwa kababayan, at minamaliit ang pagtanggap ng ating kapwa sa kanilang mga kabuhayan.
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And so by your special pledge, you have committed and you have proven true to the nationalist ideal of your townmate and relative, Dr. Jose Rizal. At this point, I would like to congratulate your officers, Tonette Alonzo and the rest of the officers for taking on the difficult task of running this organization. I am sure that they will succeed in accomplishing the goals of your organization, and I can tell you that they are already on their way to success, by the number of the people who have attended, I think na, ay "sumobra" ang guests, ano? At kinulang yung pagkain. So this is an indication, this is a (audience laughs & applauded), "dalawampu ang sumobra", this a beautiful problem on your part already. Now, they will succeed with the cooperation of course and the unity and support of one and all of the other members.
There is one secret to success which I can tell you at this time in this season of Christmas, and it is "caring and sharing", which is the very essence of what Christmas is all about. And it is what will bring success to all of you, if you care for and share with all the other members. Sharing can include material things, but also spiritual things. It can also share problems and all the solutions that you have for each other, I am sure that you will succeed in all of your activities.
Now in a few days, since you are from Calamba, the birthplace of Dr. Jose Rizal, I would like to remind you that we will be celebrating the Centennial of Philippine Independence and that, how many days from now?, this is the 13th, in 17, or 18 days we will start the celebration of Philippine Centennial. And I would like to invite you to join in the whole year celebration of Philippine centennial and I hope you find yourselves to be counted among all those leaders and members who are leading the activities in different parts of the country. Since you are from different states, I would advise you to get in touch with different coordinators who can inform you where you can all fit in.
Now we want to have a very meaningful celebration for our centennial, because the next important centennial which will be the bi-centennial, will be in the year 2098, by that time palagay ko, wala na ako duon, ewan ko sa inyo kung naandon pa kayo, ano? But let us all celebrate and make this one, a very memorable one, worthy of the name and the image of the greatest Filipino and the greatest Malayan hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
Having said that, I wish all a very Merry Christmas and congratulations again to all the officers and members. To those again from other states, welcome to New York,
Maraming pong salamat, Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa iyong lahat
(transcriber guarantee's only 98% accuracy)
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