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[av_heading heading=’Senators hope for kindness, resilience, unity in 2018′ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Senators were hopeful that 2018 brings with it hope, kindness, resiliency, and unity to all Filipinos.
Francis Pangilinan urged the public to work to make the New Year “kinder” for everyone, especially the children.
“Toy guns are a fad again. Some children who may have received toy guns for Christmas are going around their neighborhoods playing war games, hurting themselves and bystanders and passersby alike,” said Pangilinan.
“This is the danger that a culture of violence promotes,” he said.
“The children smell it in the air, are infected by it, and spread it among themselves and to the next generation,” added the senator. “At nasa ating mas nakakatanda at nakakaunawa para itigil at baguhin ito.”
Leila de Lima prayed for the truth and justice to prevail and for the current administration recognize every person’s dignity.
“Samahan ninyo po sana akong manalangin para sa mas maaliwalas na bukas para sa lahat – hustisya para sa mga biktima, kaligtasan para sa mga naiwan, at pagdadamayan ng mga Pilipino saanmang sulok ng mundo,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nancy Binay hoped those devastated by natural disasters will be able to overcome the sufferings and rise up.
“We Filipinos were challenged by the past year 2017 but like the bamboo that sways with the fiercest winds, we Filipinos survived and soldiered on,” Binay said.
She added: “Sa 2018, haharapin natin ang pagtatayo at pagsasayos ng mga komunidad at buhay na sinalanta ng mga bagyo at mga sakuna. Magtatagumpay tayo sapagkat ang Filipino ay handang tumulong sa bawat isa at may isang bisyon ng isang mas masagana at pinagpalang buhay.”
Juan Edgardo Angara wished Filipinos would work together to improve their lives.
The passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law was “just the beginning,” Angara said. “There is more work ahead of us in making taxes work for us, especially the poor, who must benefit more from government services.”
For their part, Loren Legarda and Grace Poe hoped that the challenges the Philippines faced in 2017 would help the people do better in this year.
According to Legarda, the 2018 national budget recognizes the actual needs and aspirations of Filipinos, specifically the poor.
“The Filipino people deserve more, and that is what we aim in 2018 – to give more of what our citizens need and rightfully deserve,” she said.
Poe wanted “lasting peace” and a “prosperous life” for all.
“Amid the crisis in Marawi, typhoons, earthquakes and other natural and man-made calamities, we remained united and resilient as a nation and turned the corner relying on each other’s strength,” she said.
“We face the year 2018 with a renewed hope that we shall rise above everything that will come our way,” Poe added./PN
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