On the economy, the U.S. cumulatively is our most important investor, most important trading partner, most important sort of tourists, and we have now a tie that will... a link that will be here for many, many years to come, and that is the big Philippine-American community in the United States - three million of them.

We must promote solid traits such as work ethics, a dignified lifestyle, matching actions to rhetoric, performance rather than grandstanding.

In the harshest possible terms, I condemn political killings.

It is the civilian part of the politics that is very, very bad, and we have to change that.

I was invited by President Bush to come to the United States on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the mutual defense treaty.

We have the hardest working people in the world, the most adaptable and the most congenial to employ.

I feel that if I am freed of the burden of politics, then I can do more and I can take more unpopular decisions. I can have as my guidance for decision whatever is right, not whatever is popular.