CAPITOL PRESS RELEASE

Republic of the Philippines
Province of Pampanga
Office of the Governor
PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE
Capitol Compound, City of San Fernando , Pampanga
Telefax: (045) 961-0917 Email: pio@pampangacapitol.com

11 September 2008

PRESS RELEASE

Gov. Panlilio arrives after a successful trip

Provincial Capitol, Pampanga. – After a whirlwind three-day speaking engagement in Los Angeles , California , Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio arrived in the Philippines Tuesday night, September 09, 2008.

"I am overwhelmed by how updated the Filipinos and Kapampangans are on the current events and issues surrounding our governance," the Governor said. "It not only stresses the fact that technology has made our world smaller, but also the fact that we must work double time in improving our service, for we are also under the scrutiny of our cabalens who are experiencing good governance in their adopted countries."

Gov. Panlilio gave speeches of encouragement to the different Fil-Am groups, but the open fora that followed were marked mostly on questions regarding present Pampanga issues.
Filipino leaders were thankful for being given the opportunity to listen to the Governor amidst the various news they have been receiving for the past few months.

Among the groups who had a dialogue with the Governor were the Club Minalin, the United Pampanga Leaders Council, the Pampanga Day Celebration Commission USA, and the Pampangan Crusaders USA (PamagCUSA), which celebrated its first anniversary last Saturday, as well as other Fil-Am organizations who expressed solidarity with the crusade for good governance

"We have grown accustomed to the American way of giving everyone a chance to air their sides," Alvin Ayusa, a PamagCUSA convenor said, "we see Gov. Panlilio as the face of good governance, while we acknowledge the need for greater reform in the matter of governance”.

For his part, another PamagCUSA convenor, Ram Pineda remarked that "thebackground of the current electoral process is a specific instance where we are afforded the chance to listen to everyone as we believe that this is the best way to reach an informed decision”.

"Our position will always be consistent, we are advocates of responsible citizenship in Pampanga, and this goes hand in hand with good governance," Pineda added. "Our experience of a healthy democracy, more specifically in the debate of issues we are witnessing in the current presidential race here in the US , is a paradigm that we hope our fellow Kapampangans will indigenize."

Gov. Panlilio was briefed on the current activities of the different Filipino and Kapampangan organizations in California , specifically on their advocacies on health and education for the province. "There must be a greater and tighter linkage between the Fil-Am organizations and civil society groups in Pampanga," Gov. Panlilio said. "Each can learn and benefit from each other, so that ultimately, the interest of the Kapampangans will be promoted."

His visit was capped by his attendance last September 7, 2008 to the Second Coronation of the Virgen de los Remedios and the homage to the Sto. Cristo Del Perdon in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, where 2,500 devotees came to celebrate the traditional occasion with him. In his homily, Bishop Pablo David expounded on the forgiveness and charity that grows out of the devotion to the Lady.

Before his flight back home, Gov. Panlilio gave a courtesy call to Consul General Mary Jo Aragon at the Philippine Consulate. /PIO