PNoy notes govt's 'sacrifices' in Holy Week message

Calling attention to his administration’s gains, the President in his Holy Week message said the government has kept itself faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose passion and death Christians commemorate this week. In his televised message that began to air Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III said, “Binibigyang-halaga ng inyong administrasyon ang pagkakataong ipinagkaloob ng taumbayan. Kaya naman, alinsunod sa mga aral ni Hesukristo, nagsasakripisyo ang inyong pamahalaan para maghatid ng makabuluhang pagbabago." The proof that his administration is on the right track, Aquino explained, is the outpouring of blessings and good news in the country. “Hangga’t pinapantayan natin ng sipag ang ating mga dasal, hangga’t sama-sama tayong pumapasan sa ating bayan, hangga’t nakatuon tayo sa kapakanan ng nakakarami kaysa sarili, wala ni anumang kalbaryo, wala ni sinumang Herodes ang makakapigil sa atin tungo sa pagbabagong inaasam," he said. Aquino made the message less than a week after the survey firm Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported an 11-point dip in the optimism levels of the Filipino public. Two weeks ago, SWS also reported a rise in the number of hungry and poor Filipinos. Late last month, pollster Pulse Asia reported that majority of Filipinos still trust Aquino despite the problems that plague his administration. — With Paterno Esmaquel II/VS, GMA News