INTRODUCTION
I congratulate the steering committee headed by Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Leonardo Quisumbing, the Kabisig People’s Movement and the Presidential Security Group for making this formal launching happen.

In launching the OP-Moral Recovery Program within the Office of the President, we do not mean to imply that OP people need moral recovery more than others.

But it seems only fitting that if we are going to preach moral renewal in our society and government, we must begin with the Office of the President, which is the heart of government. By being among the first, we demonstrate how high we regard and how much we support the program.

We also assert that we here at op are not afraid, indeed are even eager, to undergo change, if change can make us more effective stewards of the public trust.
THE IMPERATIVE OF MORAL RECOVERY
It is heartening to note that the momentum gathered since the launching of the National Moral Recovery Program on September 30th last year has been sustained.

Just last Thursday, the Moral Recovery Program council of advisers presented to me the first-year report on the status of the program. Much has been done. Of course, with the high quality of the chairperson and members constituting the council, how can we expect the program to be ignored?

With the guidance of the MRP Council of Advisers, the stewardship of the Kabisig People’s Movement, and the support of both government agencies and NGO’s, I am confident that gradually, we shall be able to make every Filipino realize the importance of a solid moral foundation for meaningful change and progress.

Our vision of development, which is now popularly known as “Philippines 2000!!!”, seeks to build our economy, our politics and our culture on a stable moral foundation. The ultimate goal of our development efforts and reform measures is the empowerment of our people towards their competitive excellence and productivity.

But before this can happen, there must be first an awakening of our people to their capacity to support reform and help chart the course toward the future. It is empty rhetoric to talk of reform, growth and prosperity unless we as a people respond to our nation’s longing for honesty, efficiency, order, discipline and respect for law.

We need no less than a spiritual revolution in this country. We must return to the roots and values of our heritage — our reverence for God, our regard for fellowmen, our respect for nature, and our deep love of country. Kailangan itanim natin sa ating isip at puso ang pagpapahalaga sa mga bagay at gawain na maka-diyos, maka-tao, maka-bayan at maka-kalikasan. Then we must let these values govern our local and national communities.

This reform from within recognizes that the Filipino, and only he alone, can be the salvation of this nation.
THE CALL TO CHANGE
Our moral recovery program aims to help eradicate the social ills that have plagued our country for decades and underpin our failure and decline as a nation. It seeks to grow new roots for our public life, a new anchor for our nation’s future, a new source of energy for our collective life to fortify our faith in ourselves and in our country. It asserts a new ethic for national survival and progress.

Within this framework, we hope to build and sustain the moral recovery program in the Office of the President. No less can be expected of us. The first hurdle, of course, is getting the commitment of every one of us in the Office of the President.

The priorities identified under the OP-MRP — imbuing everyone with a sense of nationalism and patriotism, spiritual nurturing, moral recovery, food and nutrition, health, sports and cultural activities, cleaning and greening beautification campaign, and employees’ welfare — all these must be translated into meaningful activities with the full support of op officials and staff. And our support must not be borne out of fear of reprisal, or even kahiyaan, but of genuine, internalized interest and conviction in what the program stands for.

Where our moral foundation is weak, progress can only be meager and uneven. Where our spirit looks to others for its sustenance, it cannot become the vehicle for national transformation.

We must brace ourselves for a long-term and sustained effort at moral strengthening.
THE TEST OF REFORM
In this effort, we have a ready test for success that we must always keep in mind. And that is the test of reform.

Unless we can change the way we do things in government and act in our public life, all the talk of moral recovery will be only that — talk.

Unless we succeed in regaining the full confidence and trust of our people in government, there is no renewal, only propaganda.

Unless we succeed in a civic revolution among our people, which means awakening them to these responsibilities in our society, there will be no change in our society. There will be no explosion of social energy that will enable us to catch up with our vigorous neighbors and turn us into a newly industrializing economy by the year 2000.

We must make our people realize that we cannot continue to pursue only their self-interest. This anti-social behavior — so like the quarreling of crabs caught in a bamboo trap — cannot go on. We must accept and make our fellow Filipinos realize that national society is much, much more than just an aggregation of individuals or families or clans. We must all put back meaning to the words faith, patriotism, integrity and selflessness and restore them at the core of our lives.

It is especially timely to focus on these imperatives as we find ourselves in the middle of the decade of nationalism — just 5 years away from our Centennial of Philippine Independence in 1998. A broad outline of activities is now being drafted by the National Centennial Commission under Chairman (Dr.) Salvador H. Laurel, former vice president, which underlines these values. The historical and moral dimensions of the centennial celebrations are complemented by a strong program for economic growth, poverty alleviation and global competitiveness.

There is much to do and we have so little time. Each and all must do their share.

Here in the office of the president, let us resolve together that we will not rest until our reform goals are won. We will not stop until every member of this office becomes an apostle of reform.

To this I commit my unwavering support, and I ask you all to do the same.

Mabuhay kayong lahat at maraming salamat po.