INTRODUCTION
Beloved countrymen, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ:

Isa pong maganda at maaliwalas na umaga sa ating lahat, nitong Pasko ng Pagkabuhay ng ating mahal na Poong Hesukristo!

On this bright April morning, we gather to look back, to remember and to reflect upon that first easter two thousand years ago, when Jesus Christ returned to life and to his people, triumphant over death.

Not only did Christ’s resurrection prove that he could survive physical mortality. He returned for a much broader and far-reaching purpose: to ensure the establishment of the Kingdom of God, under which all of us would have the same opportunity to leave our old selves and to be reborn into God’s love and salvation.

If Easter is so meaningful to our Christian nation and to our Christian communities, it is because of its enduring message of hope and salvation.

With faith in God, we can survive what may seem to be the worst of things, the worst of fates, and emerge into our finest possibilities as humans and as God’s people.

My friends, I can think of nothing more appropriate than this deathless truth for us to reflect upon today. I can think of nothing more enlightening and comforting in its wisdom than Christ’s promise of our deliverance from darkness unto a new morning of life.
A PERIOD OF TRIAL
The past few weeks have been a period of painful trial for our nation’s soul. In responding to the tragic death in a distant prison of one of our own sisters, our national family not only found common cause for grief.

Flor Contemplacion’s death became an opportunity for all of us to take stock of our own lives and our values, and to reaffirm and strengthen our connections to one another. Rich or poor, high or low, we came face to face with the grim reality of our mortal state.

And yet many of us rediscovered those basic Christian virtues that have allowed our country and people, time and again, to transcend the anger and the despair of the moment — and to transform pain and even death into an opportunity for learning, for courage and for compassion.

Flor may have died, but through her, and through our own soul-searching, we have been reborn as a national family, mindful of our obligation to care for one another, especially for those without the means to sustain or to protect themselves.

Today, as we celebrate Christ’s presence among us, let us devote a special moment to the memory of those of us who gave their lives so that we may live — and to those who continue to bear a greater part of the burden of providing for others.

Alalahanin po natin at pasalamatan ang ating mga kababayan na nagbigay ng kanilang buhay at nagsasakripisyo upang makaraos tayong lahat.

At the same time, let us look deeper into ourselves and draw upon our own inner strength, our own spiritual resources. Let us pray for the vision to see the bright future ahead, the grace to accept both our triumphs and shortcomings, and the strength and the perseverance to achieve our rightful destiny.
REDEMPTION FOR THOSE IN DOUBT
Dear friends, brothers and sisters: while I have always believed in the best of the Filipino, and while I have never doubted that, united, we shall prevail in the end, I realize that there will always be those who will not share in our faith and optimism.

There will be those who would even enlarge and take advantage of our political differences for their own personal gain.

Easter is an opportunity for us to forgive and to try to bring everyone back into the fold, as it is an opportunity for each one to see the light and to mend our ways. The Lord’s redemption applies to all who sincerely believe in its purposes and its effects, and Christ’s example should make it possible for this Christian nation to heal its wounds and be at peace with itself again.

When Jesus reappeared, the Bible tells us that the disciples who had deserted him in fear and trembling and despair came out of their hiding places.

The people who remained indifferent to Jesus while he was doing his ministry and who later were herded to join the mob in shouting “crucify him!” — these people caught the easter message and were led to say, “Jesus is right!”

Great transformations are possible in the name of God and in the name of truth, for so long as we believe and have faith in God’s promise.
GOD’S DREAM FOR HUMANKIND
The Old Testament speaks of a dream that God had for humankind. It is a beautiful dream — a vision of peace and plenty that describes the best that we could ever wish of life. The Lord said: (from Isaiah 11 and Isaiah 65)

“I am making a new earth and new heavens. The events of the past will be completely forgotten. Be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. The place will be full of joy, and people will be happy… There will be no weeping there, no calling for help. Babies will no longer die in infancy and all people will live out their life span. Those who live to be a hundred will be considered young… People will build houses and get to live in them — they will not be used by someone else. They will plant vineyards and enjoy the wine — it will not be drunk by others. Like trees, my people will live long lives. They will fully enjoy the things that they have worked for. The work they do will be successful, and their children will not meet with disaster. Even before they finish praying to me, I will answer their prayers.

Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves and lion cubs will feed together and little children will take care of them. Cows and bears will eat together, and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace. Lions will eat straw as cattle do. Even a baby will not be harmed if it plays near a poisonous snake. In that place, there will be nothing harmful or evil. The land will be as full of the knowledge of the lord as the seas are full of water!”

This is a dream not only of material plenitude, but of spiritual harmony as well. Thus, it can and must be achieved on both levels of our earthly and heavenly existence.

It speaks of growth with compassion, prosperity with justice, abundance with sharing.

These are the same principles that have guided our shared vision of “Philippines 2000!!!”. If we keep faith with these principles, then we cannot stray too far from what Jesus would want us to do for ourselves and our fellowmen.

Mga kapatid sa Panginoon, mga minamahal kong kababayan, sa araw ng ating pagdiriwang ng muling pagkabuhay ng ating Panginoong Hesus, ito rin ang aking pangarap para sa bawat Pilipino.
A GOVERNMENT WITH GOD
Our dream for our country and people is no different from the dream that Jesus lifted to his people and lodged in the heart of his followers that first Easter morning.

We have articulated this dream on many occasions and in many different ways. But it remains the one and the same dream of all of us, for all of us.

We in government have the special and tremendous responsibility of making that dream possible — with your support, your trust, and your teamwork.

My administration will strive to see to it that government not only means or involves the concept of pamahalaan, but also the native Filipino concept of pamathalaan, which is to say, kasamamg mamahala ang Bathala!

God must go with us, and guide us in government, because we are all ultimately responsible to him for what we have done on behalf of our brothers. In fulfilling our civic and political responsibilities, we are well reminded of the need to be humble and pure of heart.
CLOSING
Easter assures us that we are not bereft of power — the power to do good, the power to change ourselves and to change others. It is an awesome privilege, and an awesome duty.

A legend tells us that when the risen Jesus was later met by the angels in heaven when he ascended, he had a dialogue with them.

The angels asked, “Lord Jesus, now that you have ascended to heaven, what will happen to your cause?”

The risen Jesus answered: “I have those who have decided to pursue my cause.”

The angels asked again: “Suppose they fail, do you have other plans?

The risen Jesus quickly and firmly answered, “I have no other plans!”

Mga kapatid sa Panginoon at mga minamahal kong kababayan: ang pagpapalago sa gawain ng Panginoong Hesus ay nasa ating lahat na nagpasyang sumunod sa kaniya. At wala na siyang iba pang inaasahan! Magkaisa tayong tumugon sa kanyang tawag sa araw ng ating pagdiriwang ng kaniyang pagkabuhay!

Let us welcome the Lord back into our hearts and homes, and let us raise ourselves up as a nation, as a family, into another day of joy and hope!

Maligayang pagdiriwang at mabuhay ang bayang Pilipinas!