Aquino calls for unity, bayanihan in 2011

Saying the fight for reform against corruption is by no means over, President Benigno Aquino III called on Filipinos to show unity and “bayanihan" in the coming New Year. In his New Year message, Aquino said that while Filipinos made significant progress towards the “straight path" in 2010, there are still many obstacles in their way. “Kung patuloy tayong magkakaisa magiging mas makabuluhan ang mga hakbang na magagawa natin upang sa wakas ay makamtan na natin ang ating mga pangarap. Nawa’y ipagpatuloy ninyo ang inyong pagkalinga sa ating kapwa, ang inyong pagbabayanihan at inyong pakikiisa sa ating pagtahak ng tuwid na landas," he said. (If we remain united, we can do more to achieve our goals. I hope Filipinos will continue to look after each other and practice the bayanihan spirit in following the straight path.) Aquino won the presidential election last May on a platform of reform, centering on efforts to eradicate corruption. He said that upon his assumption to office, the government gained the trust of people both from home and abroad. Because of this, he said he expects the country’s progress to accelerate in the coming year. But Aquino said the fight for reforms is not over, since there are still those who want corruption to remain a way of life. “The fight is not yet over. There are many wrongs we have to make right. There are those who want to bring us back to the darkness. If we give up now, we will stray from the light. Therefore we must keep up our efforts to do what is right," he said in Filipino. Aquino’s video message posted by Radio-TV Malacañang on video-sharing site YouTube. — LBG, GMANews.TV