Our educational system should make the Filipino fit not just for whatever jobs happen to be on offer today, but also for whatever economic challenge life will throw in their way.

Over the years, our political system has degenerated to the extent that it is difficult for anyone to make any headway yet keep his hands clean.

As the leader of the nation, I say in behalf of the Filipino people to the world: we are strong and principled believers in democracy.

As I have shown, I will defend democracy with arms when it is threatened by violence; with firmness when it is weakened by division; with law and order when it is subverted by anarchy; and always, I will try to sustain it by wise policies of economic progress so that a democracy means not just an empty liberty, but a full life for all.

We have our own home-grown terrorism, and to the extent that we can obliterate terrorism all over the world, then our own terrorism will be much easier to neutralize.

It is simply the truth that the political system that I am part of has degenerated to the point that it needs fundamental change.