GMA to youth: Support peaceful reforms

Unite, support peaceful reforms and learn to sacrifice during times of crisis.

This was the message of President Arroyo at the awarding ceremonies of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) yesterday.

The President said this year’s awardees should "inspire us to believe in our country’s future and the capacity of the Filipino people to surmount obstacles in life."

Mrs. Arroyo was also obviously pleased when the representative of the awardees, Kip Oebanda of San Beda College, said the various students groups they belonged to would support the presidency and democratically-established institutions.

The embattled President smiled and clapped her hands along with the audience, composed of students, parents, teachers and organizers of the event held at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall.

"In our national life, students have, on more than one occasion, led in clarifying national issues and advocating change. Indeed, students represent a potent force in charting our nation’s history," she said.

"Today, I call on our youth to once again heed our country’s call for sacrifice and unity in the face of crises. This time, the task entails supporting peaceful reforms and preparing to do one’s share as a responsible citizen. Only in this way can Rizal’s words that the youth are, indeed, the hope of the nation be redeemed," the President added.

She wished the outstanding students a lifetime of success.

"Lessons on character and good morals, combined with excellence in academic subjects, have prepared these students for leadership," she said.

The TOSP is an annual search for the country’s best and brightest young people.

This year’s awardees are: Oebanda (San Beda), Mehlan Josol (University of Southern Mindanao), Beauregard Grant Cheng (De La Salle University), Bryan Ty (Ateneo de Davao University), Butch Saulon (University of Nueva Caceres), Anna Theresa Licaros (University of the Philippines-Diliman), Bryan Albert Lim (UP-Cebu), Joseph Patrick Echevarria and Kiran Tina Vaswani (Ateneo de Manila University), and Jeffrey Mora (Far Eastern University).

The awardees and the event’s organizers said they are committed to help improve the country.

TOSP national executive committee chairman Jose Concepcion Jr. said the awardees will be "active and visible agents of change towards a new beginning" for the Philippines. — Aurea Calica