On the final year of her term, what is your belated birthday message for PGMA?

Carlito Pajaro, Metro Manila: For me, PGMA is the most industrious President our country has ever had. She leads a healthy and positive outlook in life. She is God-fearing and faithful.  

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Belated Happy Birthday, Mrs. Arroyo. You have 13 months to do what is right. Do it now; you’ll never be President again. Please don’t waste the opportunity.  

(Editor’s note: Before we pore over today’s messages, Inbox recognizes its top texter as of April 7, 2009. Congratulations to C.B. Manalastas, who has garnered 454 points thus far. He is trailed by the next top texters, Ricardo  Tolentino of Laoag City - 427 pts., C.B. Fundales of Bulacan - 392 pts., Voz Butuyan of Pangasinan - 382 pts., Edwin Castillo of Tanauan City - 359 pts., Jim Veneracion of Naga City - 338 pts., Cris Rivera of Rizal - 332 pts., Leonard Villa of Batac City - 330 pts., William Gonzaga of Marikina City - 309 pts., Rodolfo Talledo of Angeles City - 309 pts., Lydia Reyes of Bataan - 308 pts., Rey Onate of Palayan City -305 pts., L.C. Fiel of Quezon City - 303 pts., Ed Alawi of Davao City - 297 pts., Rose Leobrera of Manila - 289 pts., Rey Ibalan of Antipolo City - 289 pts., Leandro Tolentino of Batangas City - 278 pts., Manuel Abejero of Pangasinan - 275 pts., Renato Taylan of Ilocos Norte - 271 pts., and Armando Tavera of Las Piñas City - 265 pts. Thank you and keep texting, Inbox fellows!)

Keep up the good work

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Please continue serving the Filipino people in the best way you can to make a difference in our lives, no matter what your detractors say.  

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Madam President, please complete your infrastructure projects. Our economy is doing fine; do not mind the bad businessmen and politicians, mga talangka.  

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: If I were to grade your performance, it would be a perfect 10. You have successfully passed the trials with flying colors. Good luck and God bless you.  

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: Forget unpopularity and keep up the good work, Madam President. History, not anyone or anything else, bears the final judgment on your presidency.  

Juan Deveraturda, Subic, Zambales: I hope that for the remaining days of her term she would avoid expensive and unnecessary foreign trips. She should always serve as the model of frugality in this time of financial crisis. She should keep up the good work despite her low ratings in the surveys and the never-ending political criticism. I wish her all the best. God bless our President and our nation!

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: Belated happy birthday to you, Madam President. Good wishes for you today and for the rest of your term. Be firm and stay the course. When everything seems to get you down, always think that a lamp of one house cannot light two houses.  

Leave a legacy

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Madam President, the whole nation wants you to leave a lasting legacy as a top leader, something that’s extraordinary. Belated happy birthday, Madam.  

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Belated happy birthday, Madam President. You have more than a year left to leave a legacy to Filipinos. You should prove your detractors wrong by declaring that you’re not running for any government position after 2010. You should also ask your sons not to run in the next election so you won’t be accused of establishing a political dynasty. Go after big-time tax evaders and corrupt officials. Have them convicted and jailed before you leave office.  

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: My message to her would be to spend time cleaning the image of her administration and ensure that before her term ends, she should leave behind a lasting legacy for for which she will be remembered.  

Concepcion Gaspar, Laoag City: Leave something good to remember you by. Focus your attention on the things you want to accomplish and don’t be distracted by issues. Your conscience dictates what is good for the country so beware of ill advice. It will either make or break you.  

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: I hope and pray that PGMA finally proves she can be a good president so Cong. Dadong may rest in peace in his grave. Cong. Dadong may likely weep wherever he is that his heir has dishonored his name by aligning with the much maligned Marcos-Erap-Arroyo trio los malos that sank us into the graveyard of shame and disrepute.  

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Her term and birthday are immaterial for my message to PGMA to declare the truth about all the accusations hurled against her and her own family. Her net assets ballooned last year, despite widespread poverty in the country. Her declaration of all the truth will be her lasting legacy to the Filipino people. If she is not guilty, she should explain it convincingly even if many will not believe her.

You’re a survivor

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Some people simply refuse to appreciate your efforts but we, your cabalen, do. Ano pa nga, pag mabunga ang puno lagi itong binabato.  

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: Happy birthday, Madam President. You’re a survivor. In spite of all the odds, you still managed to steer the ship of the state through dire straits. Hold on until 2010, please, to frustrate Ping, Loren, Mar, Binay, Chiz, Jinggoy, etc.  

Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: For better or worse, against all odds, Your Excellency, you have survived and kept in control amidst the steady barrage of flak from the opposition. I hope you had a jubilant birthday.  

Eddie Yap, Kabankalan City: My belated birthday wish for President GMA is to enjoy an enjoyable, fulfilling life with his family and to leave behind the rigor, pressure and problems she underwent as a President. I would congratulate her for her unshakable composure, firm decisions despite the criticisms and opposition and just doing what she believed is good for the country. And for her remaining years, spend more time serving the Lord through charity that can alleviate the life of the less fortunate Filipinos.  

Good health

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: Madam, I hope you had a meaningful birthday celebration with your family and cabalens. I wish you good health as well as more time to smell the roses and enjoy your apos.  

R. Santos, Isabela: I hope you will live another 100 years so she can see how historians will judge her.  

Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan: First of all, may she be healthy and strong even beyond the end of her term and secondly, that she’ll not seek for any government post anymore.  

Don’t extend your term

C.K. Yeo, Iloilo City: Pres. Arroyo should resign now and let VP de Castro take over until a new president is elected in 2010. This will bring unity, which we need badly because of the worldwide economic meltdown. The situation is going to get worse before it turns better. Resigning now will be her best legacy to the nation.  

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: A belated happy birthday, Mrs. President, and may you have a symbolic and a non-controversial transfer of power on your next birthday.  

June Deoferio, Cavite: I wish that PGMA will step down in 2010 and fulfill her promise to the Filipino people. Madam President, we would be happy if Cha-cha will no longer move forward in Congress.  

Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: Please allow the 2010 presidential elections to happen. Don’t extend your term through Charter change.  

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: I wish her the best of luck and good health for her husband and give advise for his two solon sons to stop pushing for Con-Ass.  

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: My message is brief and straightforward: Madam President, please stop entertaining thoughts of extending your term beyond 2010. Don’t tempt us to be harsh.  

Jose Parco, Aklan: Happy birthday, Ma’am! It’s the Holy Week, so please don’t release anymore Barabases. While contemplating the Passions of the Lord in some high-end retreat in Baguio, please consider that you could quit with honor when your term expires in 2010! Cheers, Ma’am!  

Make the most of your term

Noel Banias, Metro Manila: Forget all political debts, forget term extension, forget abetting massive corruption. For the remainder of your term, please sit down as a true President of the people. For at least 11 months, she could still do something to straighten out the mess that the government is in at the moment. Indecisiveness should take a backseat, statesmanship should be the order of the day. For a parting message, she should order her husband and children to stop further eroding the name of her late father with their continuous mischief.  

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: The thief crucified with Christ was pardoned from his sins on the last minute. You’ve got a year to repent, believe and obey the Holy Bible.  

Rose Leobrera, Manila: How sure are we that it’s her last term? However, I won’t be a killjoy this time. Here are my greetings: May happiness be with you because you are our ina ng bayan. May peace be with you because many want you to rest from the exhausting work. The time might come that all criminals will be free because mapagpatawad kang ina. Most importantly, ina, it’s time to pass the responsibility to one of your anak ng bayan.  

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: I would tell her to do her best with whatever remains of her time as President so that she would have a positive review when she leaves.  

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Happy birthday, Madam President. I hope that this is your last birthday as President of RP, but maybe you’ll enjoy more birthdays as Prime Minister, if Cha-cha pushes through.  

Only men can be president

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: I hope you enjoyed your nine-year tenure and now know that only men can be president. As the Chinese say: May you live in interesting times.  

Not your usual greeting

I. Calata, Parañaque City: I used to be pro-administration, but I now cringe in disappointment due to a chain of shameful superlatives and bad names that our country earned recently, such as the most corrupt, the worst in petty bribery, uncooperative tax haven, etc. But, on her next birthday celebration, I wish and hope that I shall be greeting her enthusiastically and congratulating her for what she will have done for the country by that time: A rebound from the ignominy that the Filipino nation has long suffered from in the sisterhood of nations due to all the maladies that have occasioned governance in all functionaries of government from the top, at Malacañang, to the bottom, at the barangay level!  

I wish her wisdom

Digoy Coro, Batangas City: I wish her well. I also wish her wisdom to see that what might be good to her friends and allies might not be good for the majority of Filipinos.  

Lita Kasala, Quezon City: My belated birthday message to GMA is to be more circumspect in all her decisions and to think more for the good of the public than for a particular group.  

Delfin Todcor, Quezon City: We pray that God will enlighten her to put real justice, political and economic reform that will free our people from poverty.  

Cris Rivera, Rizal: In the final year of her term, I wish that PGMA could make us feel that this government is no less a government by the people, of the people, and for the people.  

Be on the right side of history

Mario Tejada, Ilocos Norte :I wish you would come to your senses and work real hard to bring yourself to the right side of history.  

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: In your final year, Madam President, be a true president of the people. It’s not to late to redeem yourself, if you want. History will judge you fairly.  

Sahlee Reyes, Las Piñas City: Belated happy birthday, Madam President. Please allow me to share my thoughts with you. Do you remember that fateful day when the presidency was relinquished to you by your predecessor? I was among the mammoth crowd that cheered for you. Alas, as years passed, our countrymen’s hopes went to naught because you permitted yourself to be soiled in the mire of unprecedented corruption. I know you wanted to be a good President, but you allowed yourself to be president only to a select few, and not to an ailing nation who desperately counted on you. But you still have a year. You can still try to redeem yourself and leave your countrymen a legacy that can catapult you to the right side of history. Because we love you, Madam President, we still give you this one last chance to save this sinking country from the quagmire of detestable poverty. Nothing is too late for a good cause. May God guide you. Again, happy birthday po.

Fulfill your promises

Romeo Caubat, Masbate :Please finish the concreting of the 50km Cataingan-Experanza road in the third district of Masbate as you announced in your 2007 SONA.  

Edwin Castillo, Batangas City: PGMA, no term extension, please. Fulfill your SONA promise and please order your husband to behave.  

Wishing her all the best

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Good luck and God bless, in spite of the never-ending criticism and dissatisfaction in your administration and the global economic slowdown.  

Voz Butuyan, Pangasinan: I hope that as the years pass, you will glow and grow younger.  

Rene Poder, Manila: No matter what our political leanings are, we can only act as Christians and greet her a sincere happy birthday.  

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: Let the face of the Lord shine upon you, His hand protect you, His presence inspire you, His grace surround you and His power sustain you. Enjoy His blessings because life only travels once. Your today’s moment good or bad becomes tomorrow’s memory.  

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: I just wish her the best of everything: Good luck, good health. God bless her.  

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: I join the nation in wishing you all the best on your birthday. And in your final year in office, may you have the second wind to do the things you have always thought good for the country.  

God’s grace be with you

Dianne Aquino, Caloocan City: My wish for the President is for her to have continued good health and perseverance even after her term. May the hands of God lead her in all her undertakings.  

Ric Vergara, Calamba City: I’m praying Filipinos will have a GMA in the final year of your term. Belated happy birthday, Ma’am!  

Choose the best candidates for 2010

Nick Ocampo, Angeles City: I hope PGMA will select her best tandem for the administration candidates for 2010. Belated happy birthday, PGMA.  

Get a hold on your family

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: First of all, belated happy 62nd birthday to our Madame President! May you have many more birthdays to come! Personally, I believe that GMA is sincere in her efforts to improve our economy and her leadership as president. However, it seems she is so distracted by her family  with her husband perceived to be corrupt and two sons in Congress  that it’s impossible not to feel that she is not involved in corruption. Since delicadeza is becoming obsolete in our country, how I wish that anti-nepotism is strictly enforced to all our political leaders.  

She ruined our country

June Deoferio, Cavite: She made our country one of the most corrupt countries in the world with big debts to pay.  

THE WAY I SEE IT

Nito Aquino, Makati City: If we don’t want to be called a nation of servants, we should stop sending domestic helpers to Hong Kong to pull out those already there.  

Rey Onate, Palayan City: One best solution in the ICRC hostage crisis is to allow Gordon to be the replacement of remaining hostages. Puro daldal, walang gawa.  

T. Riva, Quezon City: Government probes should be called limbo rock, because that’s where they always end: In limbo.

Col Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: We have a high regard for Sen. Escudero, a promising elected official, but his defense of abusive public utility drivers is clearly meant to court their votes in 2010 when he runs for President.  

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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