God, country,

T rainmaker, a with small pebbles, seeds or beans, symbolizing the rainforest, is believed to bring about rainstorms. Upended, its contents run to its other end, making a sound reminiscent of falling rain. This, for our country’s many farms and for the city of Bayawan, means torrents of heaven’s blessings.

As the nation transforms one city at a time into “islands of good governance,” Bayawan is also rediscovering its distinct role in the Filipino countryside.

A settlement founded by the Spanish friars in 1751, the community prospered as Tolong Nuevo 116 years later. The name changed to in 1953 and, 47 years after, in December 2000, Bayawan became a component city in the third district of Negros Oriental. Now, 15 years into its cityhood, Bayawan City crosses a threshold of hope and carves its niche of being the “Top Farm Tourism City in the Philippines by 2020” through the Performance Governance System (PGS). Guided by the program, Bayawan is rising to be part of the nation’s dream and redirects its resources with a renewed, aligned, and measured focus. Since 2007, Bayawan has been the only local government unit to pursue the uphill climb of PGS in the province of Negros Oriental.

our people’s resiliency—we surge above - portunities. What Bayawan has achieved today in the areas of micro-economics, environment, commerce, and agricultural sustainability are incentives to celebrate. What direction it now seeks to accomplish calls for multi- sector Most importantly, what Bayawanons can share with the rest of the country is

a combination of the local words (“to offer”), (“hero”), and (“harvest”)—that for us has come to mean simple acts of volunteerism of the heroic kind. Our people’s initiatives and advocacies, small seeds offered and nourished, can become rainstorms of grace. Every Bayawanon teacher, vendor, student, and farmer is a rainmaker for God, country, and Bayawan.

A melting pot of migrant ethnicities, Bayawan now pursues governance to honor those who sowed seeds of promise in the city’s 69,908 hectares of fertile land. The city, which is bordered by a 15-kilometer coastline facing the Sulu Sea, perceives agriculture to be its main economic opportunity. Once recognized as one of the Top 10 Best Cities to Live in (2007), Bayawan is now an agricultural hub with the most beautiful city plaza in the province and the longest boulevard in the country. Its produce includes sugar, rice, corn, rubber, and tuna.

Nature showcases itself in exalting, zero cool waterfalls: Mag- aso, Cave Falls. We also appreciate that myri- ads of tourists continue to come to learn our way of life and replicate best practices notably of organic farming, solid waste management, diversified agriculture, wastewater and septage ministration, inland aquaculture, riverbank re- vegetation, integrated college scholarship program, inspired entrepreneurship, DepEd senior high agri-program, peace and order, and award-winning disaster comes from the hand of God; the other half is made of true-blue commitment.

Bayawan’s devotion to its collective vision is strengthened by charismatic as he seizes each day as an opportunity to bring about innovation and sets his gaze on the future of our farms. Bayawan’s richest harvest is its people, and city government has remained open to their best ideas. In the days to come, Bayawan expects a breakthrough as it journeys toward becoming the country’s top farm tourism city by 2020. All it needs is constancy as it carries out a transparent and participative strategy, and brings to fruition a of shared responsibility.

For one, being investment- friendly is fundamental. While the LGU breaks ground for a modern medical center via public-private partnership, it offers alternative trade opportunities to farmers such as activation of the essential oils processing industry. Taxation reforms are set while infrastructural provisions like - minal and processing zones, and advancing farm-to-market roads are foremost. Bayawan deserves only our best, and this scorecard to track long-term goals, accreditation of quality organic farms and consumer products, exciting outdoor and interactive farm-recreation experiences, outstanding farm sites, accommodating families and guests, and wellness and sports centers. Counting all these can showcase the overall eco-industrial difference, culture of governance, and inclusive economic impact.

Bayawan’s story of governance hammers on the corporate wisdom of city administration, empowered employees, and the many rainmakers of our cause. A new dawn is breaking for our city, and truly, there is no better place to enjoy the sunset, invest in business, feast on rice cakes, and dance to the beat of local celebrations.

YOUR - retary of Department of Foreign Affairs, Budget and Management,

Your Excellency Fidel Ramos, former President of the Philippines,

Your Excellency Joseph Estrada, mayor of Manila and former President of the Philippines,

Bongbong Marcos,

of the Diplomatic Corps,

Excellencies, colleagues lomatic Corps, Members of the Chinese Community, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good evening! On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to extend our warm welcome and sincere thanks to you for joining us in the celebration of the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

In the short span of 67 years, China has made remarkable achievements in its national development. We have successfully turned our country into the world’s second largest economy and have lifted nearly 1.4 billion people from a life of chronic shortage, and brought them initial prosperity and unprecedented rights and dignity. This is not only a colossal change in the lives of the Chinese people but and development.

People often ask me what are the secrets behind this great success. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you the secrets,

Secret number one, a strong leadership that is dedicated to the well-being of the people, and a leadership that takes improving people’s lives as the fundamental goal of national economic and social development.

Secret number two, a consistent and correct - ible changes and adjustments with the times. We are now implementing the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Development.

Secret number three, a hardworking and diligent people who are willing to work long hours and spare no efforts in striving for a better life.

Secret number four, a stable, peaceful and cooperative regional and international environment, which allows us to concentrate on national development, which enables us to be the number one trading partner of over 100 countries. In this sense, peace and stability in our neighborhood have always been precious to us, because sustainable development would be impossible without regional peace and stability. Ladies and Gentlemen, at the Dip-

China and the Philippines are not only neighbors, we are also close relatives with a trade for more than a millennium. When looking at the map, some people would say, China and the Philippines are separated by the South China Sea. I would rather say that China and Philippines are connected and united by the South China Sea. For hundreds and thousands of years, our peoples have forged profound friendship and kinship by ways of the South China Sea. Our businessmen have prospered by conducting trade through the South China Sea. Our two nations’ fates were closely connected when we fought for our independence and dignity against colonization and aggression by foreign powers, whose warships invaded our shores mostly through the South China Sea.

The past, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future, and the future is yet to come. In the 21st century, the interconnected world is swiftly changing. New global and regional realities are rapidly working their way into the deepest structures of our lives, and they are becoming increasingly complex. Can we deal with the powerful dynamic of incessant, we can, so long as we undergo a paradigm shift, a shift to grasp and stick to the theme of peace, development, cooperation, harmony

by the Belt and Road Initiative raised by President Xi Jinping when he visited Central Asia and Southeast Asia in September and October of 2013. This initiative aims to promote the connectivity of Asian, European and African continents and their adjacent seas, establish and strengthen partnerships among the countries along the Belt and Road, set up all-dimensional, multi-tiered and composite connectivity networks, and and sustainable development in these countries. The connectivity projects of the Initiative will help align and coordinate the development strategies of the countries along the Belt and Road, tap market potential in these regions, promote investment and consumption, create demand and job opportunities, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and mutual learning among the peoples of the relevant countries, and enable them to understand, trust and respect each other and live in harmony, peace and prosperity.

China and the Philippines were linked by the ancient Maritime Silk Road, and should be united as natural partners by the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. We should promote policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, bonds as our cooperation priorities. Spe bilateral trade. China is ready to import more from the Philippines, particularly - ippines becoming a founding member of AIIB, and the $40 billion Silk Road Fund set up by the Chinese government, there will be a big increase of investments in the areas of infrastructure development, industrial capacity cooperation and agriculture in the Philippines. To strengthen people China is working with the Philippines to increase the number of Chinese tourists to the number of Chinese tourists increased by 79 percent, and given the rapid rate, the number will exceed one million by the end of 2017.

gentlemen, as developing members of the United Nations and as active participants of regional cooperation and integration, both China and the Philippines share the common goal of promoting the interests of vast majority of developing countries, particularly when it comes to mutual respect and equality and the fundamental policy of non- interference in domestic affairs. Illegal drugs are the enemy of all mankind. It is the shared responsibility of all countries to fight against drug- related crimes. The Chinese government is a staunch force in the international campaign against drug crimes. The Chinese side fully understands and firmly supports the Duterte administration’s policy that prioritizes the fight against drug crimes and stands ready to continue to cooperate with the Philippines by providing further assistance and jointly implementing bilateral plans of action.

As two independent nations, it is natural for us to have different views and positions on certain issues. What matters most is that we both are committed to peaceful means to settle our differences through friendly bilateral dialogues and negotiations. What matters most is that we seek and expand common interests by fostering and strengthening friendship and cooperation. As friends and partners, as long as China and the Philippines maintain the political willingness to resolve problems, there will be no insurmountable obstacles in the future development of bilateral relations.

China and the Philippines have been engaging in friendly interactions, which have yielded a series of positive results. The clouds are fading away. The sun is rising over the horizon, and will shine beautifully on the new chapter of bilateral relations. To conclude, I would like to propose a toast: President Xi Jinping,

To the prosperity and happiness of our two peoples,

To the friendship and cooperation between China and the Philippines, To the health of all the guests, Cheers!