INTRODUCTION
Let me extend a very warm and rousing welcome to all of you to Malacañang.

Young Filipinos account for most of our people and for much of their spirit. As of 1992, four out of every 10 Filipinos were 15 years old or younger. If you include people under 30, that figure will be even larger. We Filipinos have always valued the young, as you come to know this country better, you will learn of the glorious contributions of the youth to Philippine history.

A hundred years ago, a generation of brave, idealistic young men and women gave their talents and energies — and, for many of them, their lives — to the cause of freedom and a better future for the Filipino.

We are living in that future now. We are the heirs of the legacy of such heroes as Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Emilio Aguinaldo, and Gregorio del Pilar.

These Filipinos were barely out of their teens or were in their early twenties when they assumed the greatest responsibility of their time — to free this country from foreign domination.
A NEW CHALLENGE
Today, a new generation of young Filipinos is facing another, and no less monumental challenge — that of helping prepare this nation to take its place in the world of the 21st century.

Upon the sharpness of their minds, and the stoutness of their spirit, we have placed our hopes for steady and enduring progress in a climate of peace.

The next century, as you already know, will be radically different from the present one. It will be a period filled with many new challenges and many new opportunities.

The changing global economy will require each nation to compete successfully with others in the world. And yet we also realize that we shall have to cooperate with each other even more closely, if we are to attain peace with prosperity.

Happily for all of us, we in this part of Asia have had a long and productive history of cooperation among us. We are linked together by centuries-old ties of blood and culture.

I was personally — and gladly — reminded of these commonalties during my recent round of visits to most of Asia’s capitals. Everywhere I went, I saw the same smiles of goodwill and understanding.

I found it easy, and very productive, to meet with my Asian counterparts, because of our long and common traditions of friendship and cooperation, and of our shared optimism in the prospects of our region, and the capabilities of our people to prove themselves in the eyes of the world.

We live in one of the world’s fastest-growing economic zones. Many of you come from countries where, within the span of one lifetime, tremendous economic progress has been achieved.

This is also a region with one of the world’s youngest populations. What this means is that, as the youth of your countries, you will inherit both the privileges and responsibilities of growth.
AN IMPORTANT MEETING
Thus, I consider this opportunity to meet the young people of ASEAN and Japan as one of those most important to our future.

I believe you feel the same way. Your experiences aboard the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) are a dream come true for each of you. Well, that dream is not yours alone, but is shared by the leaders like me, and peoples of our nations, the same way that I share the dream of our young Filipino delegates here for a brighter future.

We have the common dream of turning the Asia-Pacific, our part of the world, into one of its most progressive and peaceful communities.

With youth leaders such as yourselves, I am confident that the best of Japan and Southeast Asia is about to be realized, if you maintain your focus on regional cooperation through a sense of brotherhood, leadership and unity.

I would like to thank the Japanese government for sponsoring this program. Likewise, the active participation and cooperation of the other Southeast Asian countries involved deserve commendation.

We know that many problems prevail all over the globe. Many countries like the Philippines have achieved political freedom, and an equal measure of peace. But still, many of our peoples remain mired in poverty and injustice.

The leaders of my generation will certainly do all we can to leave a better world for you. By working in harmony with your peoples and your leaders, you can help us make sure that we can effect an orderly, progressive and peaceful transition of leadership from this generation to the next.
CLOSING
In closing, let me thank you again for coming here, and I wish you the best on your program.

I hope you will also take this opportunity to discover the best of what the Philippines and our people have to offer. I expect many of you to return, many years from now, as leaders of your countries — and that you will have many pleasant memories of the Philippines to bring home with you.

My congratulations to the organizers and participants of SSEAYP ’94, and mabuhay to all!

A bright merry Christmas and a happy bright New Year to all!