Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

at
the 16th Ani ng Dangal 2024
Thank you very much to our Executive Secretary, Secretary Luc Bersamin.
[Please take your seats.]
Of course, the National Commission of Arts Chairperson Victorino Mapa- Manalo; The NCCA
Board of Commissioners and Committee; Ani ng Dangal Awardees; the most important group
who we are honoring here today, My fellow workers in government; ladies and gentlemen, good
afternoon.
It is wonderful to be in this building in all its glory and it is an appropriate place and time for
us to be here. I supposed that all the light are lit up and this hall is brightly lit for our function
this afternoon.
And I think the source of its glimmer is the star wattage of the talents who we have assembled
here with us.
For you represent the best of your craft, your luminous performances here and abroad
showcasing the best that our country can offer.
Those who act, dance, paint, sing, perform, sculpt, play, build also serve the flag because every
time they step into the limelight, a powerful spotlight also shines on our country.
Every applause that you draw from the audience wherever in the world is also an adulation for
the land of your birth which is rich in artistry.
You are ambassadors of our culture have won the hearts of audiences here and abroad.
It is time that you are honored by your own, in your homeland, to which you have given so
much pride and joy.
More than that, you are sources of inspiration, to fellow artists who view them as an example
in careers yet to be carved, or to their fellowmen, whose spirits, amidst the business of living,
are roused by your performances.
Art builds a strong nation, and a compassionate society.
Art does not only entertain. It enlightens, it educates, it elevates the quality of life.
And these are what past and present Ani ng Dangal awardees have been done for our country.
It is my view that many times we see us honoring the artists that we have here in the
Philippines and we say it is for the good work that you have done, it is for the beautiful works
that you have brought to the world. But there is another important reason why we must honor
our artist who in the end define our culture.
And the reason for that is the culture of a country, the culture of a people, that culture is the
shared consciousness of that people. Thereby, your defining of our culture is the creation of the
national consciousness, the shared consciousness of all Filipinos. Which is the way that we
define what it is to be a Filipino.
And that is how important is the work that you do.
The soaring songs that uplift the soul of the people.
The words that move the nation. The brushstrokes that evoke our dreams and aspirations. The
edifices that are monuments to our skills.
What they show in reel mirrors the real, for the better. What dance moves they dazzle us with
exhibit the energy of our race. What roles you portray are what we want in life to be manifest.
I am therefore delighted to join the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in conferring
the prestigious “Ani ng Dangal” award to Filipino artists who have made the world their stage.
This awarding ceremony is, indeed, a fitting event that concludes the National Arts Month.
I was told that there was no shortage of nominees; in fact, perhaps an oversupply of them. I
was not surprised.
In a country dense with talents, where there are more singers per square kilometer than
anywhere else in the world, this should no longer come as a surprise.
Where the arts and crafts, and the traditional arts and crafts are beginning to once again be
recognized then we should not be surprised.
I would like to thank the NCCA for the hard work they have put in to put together this honor
roll.
Each awardee has an extensive portfolio which cannot be abridged in just a few sentences.
In fact, many of your works are so beautiful that no prose can capture their majesty.
Like great art, to absorb such beauty, it can only be experienced, it cannot be described.
So, as we honor our awardees today, I extend a heartfelt invitation to every artist across our
nation: Continue to create, to innovate, to excel.
What you create are essential works that add to our Gross National Happiness.
So please act on your dreams, believe in your talent, dare to break ground, tear down the walls
that cage your creativity, hone your craft.
Rest assured, your government in the Bagong Pilipinas will create a nurturing environment
that will see your talent fully and finally bloom.
We know that art can only flourish under an atmosphere of freedom, and under Bagong
Pilipinas, this is something that we will guarantee.
Congratulations one again, to the 2024 Ani ng Dangal Awardees.
Mabuhay kayo at ang manlilikhang Pilipino!
Mabuhay ang mga ating mga awardee!
Magandang hapon po, marami pong salamat!
—END—
As-delivered Opening Statement for the Committee of the Whole House Hearing
on Constitutional Amendments

Arsenio M. Balisacan, PhD

Secretary

National Economic and Development Authority

House of Representatives, Quezon City

February 26, 2024

Honorable Speaker Martin Romualdez,

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales,

Deputy Speaker Jay-jay Suarez,

Majority Leader Manuel Dalipe,

Distinguished members of the House of Representatives,

Colleagues in government,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

I am deeply honored to address the members of the House on this most important and
most fundamental matter concerning the life of our nation: the proposed amendments
to the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

As stated in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the Marcos Administration

aims to attain and sustain rapid and inclusive economic growth – that is, growth that
creates more high-quality and better-paying jobs for our people. But growth is not an
end in itself: we are aiming for the ambitious and challenging goal of reducing poverty
to a single-digit level by 2028.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) believes that no less than
massive amounts of investments in both physical and social infrastructure, as well as
human capital, are needed to attain such a feat. Hence, NEDA recognizes the
importance of updating the economic provisions in our fundamental law.

Over the last few decades – during which we have witnessed our Southeast Asian
neighbors overtake us across a wide range of socioeconomic indices – these provisions,
in conjunction with other binding constraints to investments, have resulted in lower
levels of foreign direct investment or FDI flows to our country. Compared to our
dynamic neighbors, historical data show that the Philippines has obtained a smaller
share of FDI inflows that could have generated more economic and social
opportunities crucial for inclusive growth and development. Globally, evidence shows a
significant connection, on average, running from the extent of the country’s statutory
and equity restrictiveness to the country’s realized FDI flows.

As a member of the academic community and student of Philippine economic

development, we have studied and witnessed how our nation has missed several
chances to attract FDI, technological know-how, and managerial talent that our
economy needs to raise its productivity and competitiveness in the global arena.
Though we have made significant progress, our neighbors have proceeded at a far
more desirable pace. We must catch up, not be held back by uncompetitive markets
dominated by a few players, expensive inputs that result in higher prices for end
consumers, and incomplete value chains that prevent us from producing more
technologically complex goods and services.

President Marcos has given his directive: the Constitution must be updated to meet
the daunting challenges of the present and prepare us for the uncertainties and
complexities of the future. We must lift restrictions on critical sectors such as public
utilities, education, mass media, and advertising so that we can realize their untapped
potential and enable them to contribute to the country’s economic progress.

Opening up public utilities to foreign investment will improve the quality and
affordability of services, such as energy and water distribution, and offer viable
options to address the financing gaps in the infrastructure sector.

In the education sector, this initiative will ensure that Filipinos can access global
knowledge, skills, and technology that can nurture a culture of innovation, positioning
the Philippines as a competitive hub for knowledge exchange in the region.

In this era of globalization, allowing foreign investment in mass media will also enable
local media professionals to increase their global presence. More importantly, this will
allow the industry to modernize, expand markets, and keep pace with international
trends.

Additionally, allowing foreign investment in advertising will introduce new ideas,

technologies, and best practices that can enhance the effectiveness and reinvigorate
the creative excellence of our local advertising industry.

NEDA has been asked if the amendments to the Constitution are included among the
priorities contained in the PDP 2023-2028. While the Plan outlines the strategies that
we need to carry out to attain our medium-term targets, the reform agenda included
modifications to executive issuances and specific pieces of legislation, given our
current legal and regulatory framework.

To be sure, this initiative will not solve all our economic ills. Amending these economic
provisions is one complementary strategy to unlock the country’s economic potential.
Let me emphasize that we only reap the benefits I mentioned if we also address the
other problems involving energy costs, inadequate connectivity infrastructure, slow
bureaucratic processes, inconsistent local and national regulations, and highly
concerning learning poverty and malnutrition. Conversely, a policy environment
promoting openness to foreign investment can exert more significant pressure on the
government to urgently address the complex challenges I have mentioned.

In conclusion, I urge our legislators to proceed with deliberation and prudence in

considering these amendments. Let us work together to ensure that any of the
changes we make are not only responsive to the needs of our time but also serve as
the foundation for a more prosperous, resilient, and inclusive future for all Filipinos.

Thank you.