INTRODUCTION
Mga minamahal kong kababayan: isang masaya at magandang umaga sa inyong lahat!

Malayo pa ako ay naririnig ko na ang inyong pagsasaya. Para akong nasa isang barrio fiesta. Iba talaga ang Pinoy, maski pa rito sa Alemanya!

Kaya naman maski ganito pa ang aming pagpapagod — sa walong araw, limang bansa ang aming napuntahan — basta marining ko ang puntong Pilipino, ay lumulukso na ang puso ko. Nagkakaroon ako ng kakaibang lakas, ng panibagong sigla.

At sana naman ay nasisiyahan rin kayong makita ang inyong Pangulo.

Hindi lamang pananagutan para sa akin ang makipagtagpo sa ating mga kababayan — sa loob man o sa labas ng Pilipinas. Ikinalulugod ko ang bawat pagkakataong makisalamuha sa taumbayan. Ako, kayo — tayong lahat ngayon ay kumakatawan sa pilipinas dito sa alemanya, at isang karangalang mapabilang sa inyo.
OBJECTIVES OF THE VISIT
Naparito po ako upang batiin ang bagong pangulo ng Alemanya, at upang pagtibayin ang ating magandang relasyon sa bansang ito.

I have come here at the invitation of His Excellency President Roman Herzog — on a courtesy visit to extend my congratulations upon his election as the new president of the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as to strengthen the economic and political ties that bind our two countries.

The Federal Republic of Germany, my countrymen, is our most important partner not only in the European Union but in Europe as a whole. Germany is our biggest export market in the continent and, after the United States and Japan, our third-largest trading partner in the world.

This country is also our staunchest friend in the European Union — a steadfast and consistent giver of political as well as economic support in the difficult task of rebuilding our nation.

It has also been very generous in its commendations, citing us for the economic and political reforms we have undertaken in our country — in particular, recognizing the Philippines as the role model for democracy and human rights among developing countries.

Germany has also strongly endorsed the implementation of the peace process in our country — the process whereby our government is reaching out to communist insurgents, Muslim rebels, and military mutineers.

There are, as well, other reasons which closely connect the Philippines with Germany. Our homeland is the first and the only country in Asia to be governed by a Christian Democratic government — or the CDU, as it is known here in Germany.

Nagkakaisa tayo ng Alemanya sa ating pilosopiya ng pamamahala.

It is through the realization of Christian Democratic ideals and principles that my government hopes to uplift the lives of our countrymen. And we hope as well to bring our country closer to the fulfillment of our objective: to make the Philippines a newly industrializing economy by the end of this century.
THE FILIPINO-GERMAN COMMUNITY
But more than all of these is the presence of almost 25,000 Filipinos and Filipino-Germans in this country. Filipinos in Germany, I have been told, are more united than any other Filipino community in Europe.

I understand you have organized yourselves into constructive Filipino-German associations helping your kababayan within Germany and promoting Filipino arts and culture among the Germans, while taking the effort to assist your fellow Filipinos back home, not only individually but as a group, as an organization.

Kilalanin rin natin ang mga nauna sa ating Pilipino rito. Pinakadakila na sa kanila ang ating bayani, si Dr. Jose Rizal.

During the darkest period of our history, Germany was home and haven to Rizal and other Filipino patriots who rose to the call of our motherland.

I am told that in the city of Heidelberg, specifically in the village of Wilhelmsfeld, a monument to our national hero stands. A street — Rizalstrasse — has been consecrated as well to his memory.

Kayo po ang mga Rizal nitong bagong panahon. Umaasa kaming may maitutulong rin kayo sa ating kaunlaran, sa kalayaan ng ating mga kababayan mula sa kahirapan.
A BETTER PHILIPPINES
Still, like most Filipinos I have met elsewhere on my foreign visits, I know that, given the choice, you would not want to be here.

Batid ko pong kung maari lamang ay doon na kayo sa atin maghahanapbuhay. Nauunawaan ko po ang bagay na iyan, bilang inyong pangulo, at bilang isang Pilipino. Malungkot ang mapalayo sa sariling bayan at pamilya.

Maganda man ang mga tanawin at pagkakakitaan dito sa Alemanya, iba na rin ang nasa atin.

Kaya’t kinikilala ko po ang aking pananagutan na pagandahin at paghusayin ang ating ekonomiya — upang sa gayon, balang araw, ay hindi na ninyo kakailanganin pang mangibang-bayan upang kumita ng sapat.

I recognize our responsibility to create a healthier economy and a more compassionate society which no Filipino should have to leave to earn a decent living.

We dream of a strong and prosperous Philippines where every Filipino can realize his potentials, and where no Filipino shall want of life’s essentials.

We dream of a Philippines that we can all be proud of — a country unique in its heritage in Asia, and a nation fulfilling its rightful destiny in our region.

Ito po ang ating pangarap na tinagurian nating “Philippines 2000!!!”.
A VISION WITHIN REACH
My fellow Filipinos: our shared vision of “Philippines 2000!!!” should put that dream within reach by the turn of the century.

Hindi na po nalalayo ang pagtamo ng pinapangarap nating iyan. Ngayon pa lamang, bumabangon na ang ating ekonomiya. Dumadagsa ang mga mangangalakal sa ating bansa. Lumiliit na ang bilang ng mga walang trabaho.

Unti-unti ay nagkakaisa ang mga Pilipino, sapagkat batid nating lahat na ito na marahil ang huli at pinakamaganda nating pagkakataong sumulong at umunlad.

Fulfilling this dream will not be easy. It will take much discipline and self-sacrifice, and it will require from every Filipino unswerving dedication and selflessness.

And we need your help. We call on the support of every Filipino, at home or abroad, to help us attain our objectives.
SHARE OUR DREAM
Share our dream, and be a part of it. Take the initiative in seeing what you can do to build new bridges of friendship between Germany and the Philippines.

Isipin po natin kung ano ang ating magagawa upang makatulong sa Pilipinas, at sa ikabubuti pa ng ugnayang namamagitan sa Pilipinas at Alemanya.

At titiyakin ko naman sa inyo na ang inyong pamahalaan ay nakahandang tumulong sa inyo upang mapabuti naman ang inyong kalagayan dito.
SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS
Help us spread the good news. Ikalat natin ang magandang balitang inihahatid ko sa inyo ngayon: sumisigla na at sumusulong ang ating bansa.

Nitong unang semestre ng 1994, umunlad ang ating ekonomiya ng 5 porsyento. Mataas na po ‘yan kung ihahambing sa ating pinagdaanan, at tataas pa.

Foreign investments and tourist arrivals have risen sharply, proof of the new confidence that the world is finding in the Philippines.

Ordinary Filipinos have begun to invest their savings in our stock market, today among the strongest and healthiest in the world.

The power crisis is over — wala na pong brownout sa Pilipinas. Ang sabi nila noong isang taon lamang, hindi natin ito makakaya. Ang sabi ko naman, bigyan niyo kami ng pagkakataon, at aayusin natin ‘yan. Ayos na po ang problema.
TRUSTING IN THE FILIPINO
Nagawa natin ito, sapagkat nagtiwala tayo sa kakayahan ng Pilipino — sa ating sarili. Kung tutuusin, madalas ay tayo na rin — ang ating kahinaan ng loob, ang ating isip-talangka — ang sarili nating kalaban.

Sometimes, other people of other countries trust Filipinos more than they trust themselves. Ang lagi nating naririnig mula sa mga dayuhan ay ito: ang gagaling ninyong mga Pilipino — bakit ayaw ninyong magkaisa, at umunlad tulad ng ibang bansa?

And we should answer them now, clearly and loudly: we can, and we will. We have new reasons to have faith in ourselves, in our capabilities as a people.

Dito man sa Alemanya o mismo sa Pilipinas, ipamalas natin ang kahusayan at pagkakaisa ng mga pilipino. Let us be proud of our achievements, and strive to do more.

Pag tinanong po tayo kung bakit tayo narito, sabihin natin: tumutulong po kami sa pagpapaunlad ng aming inangbayan. Pilipino kami — mahusay, matatag, at maasahan.

That is what i will be telling the German government and people. Help us spread the word: we are here to help our homeland, wherever and whoever we are.

At pag-uwi po ninyo, maaasahan ninyo ang maalab naming pagsalubong.

Maraming salamat po, at mabuhay tayong lahat!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!