VIDEO:

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Speech
of
His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
During the 25^th Anniversary of Campaigns and Grey

[Delivered at the Rockwell Tent, Makati City on September 13, 2011]

Please sit down. Good evening.

Ayaw magpormal po ni Yoly, ako na lang po ang magpo-pormal.

Ms. Maria Yolanda Villanueva Ong; Senator Franklin Drilon; Secretary Lacierda; Secretary Robredo; Mr. Nirvik Singh; of course, Tita Sonia Roco; distinguished members of the business sector; friend and clients of Campaigns and Grey; fellow workers in government; honored guests; mga minamahal ko pong kababayan:

Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat.

Talagang ‘pag kakampi ho ninyo, ang ganda ho noong picture. Akala ko si Frank lang ang pinaguwapo eh. [Laughter] Yoly was complaining that they’ve been kind: not to many grey hairs. Ako, I will accept grey hairs.

To be honest with you, Yoly Ong, Marl Villapando, and the rest have taught me so many things, and this is one of the few occasions I was very conscious of how I looked, lest they say that they failed in trying to teach me a thing or two. [Laughter]

Just two weeks ago, I was in China, and as is often the case, media from the host country and our local media back home covered my trip heavily. It was in that trip, if you recall, that my so-called Coca-cola joke debuted—actually it was somebody else’s joke that I just copied, but it seemed so appropriate.

My love life, I said, was just like Coke: once, it was “regular”; after some time, it became a little “light,” and now, finally, it is approaching “zero.” [Laughter]

The newspapers had a field day with that quip, and with one other soundbite, which, fortunately, was much more relevant in terms of the national agenda. I said that the principle behind dealing with the government and our programs can be summed up with five R’s: right project, right price, right people, right cost, and right on time.

I had initially attributed that soundbite to Secretary Babes Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways, but only belatedly—in fact, tonight—have I learned that the five R’s line in fact came from my good friend Yoly Ong.

Yoly, I’m taking this chance to thank you personally for that line, and for all your contributions to my career in public service.

Yoly has always been there for me, and Campaigns and Grey has always given me good ideas to work with, and good words that resonate with the Filipino people. Circumstances forced me to enter both the senatorial race and the presidential race at a very delayed time. As you know, we live in a very mediacentric campaign environment, especially as regards the national elections, and my late entry was perhaps one of the biggest handicaps I had to work with during my campaign. Conceivably, a candidate had to reach more than 40 million Filipinos. I do admit to having a tendency to be very precise with my pronouncements, which does not lend itself very easily to this era of eight-second soundbites.

We did not, in the beginning, have too many resources, and I had to campaign against candidates who sometimes had a three-year head start against me. And yet, I believe I was able to communicate the message, the vision that stuck to people and inspired them toward victory. I would like to think that God had put in my path dedicated advocates like Yoly Ong and Marl Villapando, and the rest of Campaigns and Grey.

These were people who brought in not just their talents but, more importantly, their passion—the zeal of advocates, who were willing to take a stand, willing to put their stake on what they believed was right. This is especially commendable, since advertising and marketing communications is an industry that traditionally has shied away from partisanship. It is doubly commendable because I must admit, I was not the most lucrative client back then. More than profits, they believed in being part of change; they approached their profession not merely with a drive to earn, but with compassion and a sense of responsibility for our fellow Filipino.

And you did not stop there. You have always made it a point to use your skills for worthwhile advocacies—from increasing AIDS awareness, to getting our countrymen interested in politics, to protecting our country’s biodiversity.

I know that you could easily sit back and watch your bank accounts grow. After all, one look at your list of awards tells me that you will never run out of companies seeking your services. And still, you go out of your way to make a difference in your country, and for that you will always have my respect.

From “Lagot ka sa Nanay mo” (which was actually “Lagot kayo Cory,” dahil pati ho si Frank at si Butch—na nangumbinsi po sa nanay ko at nangakong mananalo kami doon—ay malalagot rin po sa nanay ko kung kaming lahat ay pumalpak), up to “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap,” which up to now is the driving force behind my administration, Campaigns and Grey has always been behind me as I tried to get my message across. You have raised my voice above the noise and static. You have made clear to the Filipino people that I indeed share their vision; that I share their hopes. You share their hopes: for the past quarter of a century, Campaigns and Grey’s work has reflected the tangible realities of the Filipino people, as well as their highest aspirations. When I step down in four years and nine months, may we look back with smiles on our faces, testaments to the significant transformation that is our contribution to our nation’s history.

Again, congratulations and thank you on behalf of all those whose lives have been improved.

Thank you. Good evening.