00:00Your Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines,
00:05First Lady Louise Areneta Marcos, Honorable Secretaries of the Cabinet,
00:11Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs,
00:14Your Excellency's Ambassadors and Heads of Mission accredited to the Republic of the Philippines.
00:19It is for me, as always, not only an honor and a privilege, but indeed a pleasure,
00:25to speak on this happy occasion, the traditional exchange of New Year's greetings
00:30between you, Mr. President, and the diplomatic corps accredited to the Philippines
00:35here in Malacanang Palace.
00:38Your annual invitation to welcome the New Year with you and the First Lady
00:42is always deeply appreciated by all of us,
00:45because in addition to being an opportunity for us to interact with you,
00:49it also gives us the occasion to express our gratitude
00:53to you, to your government, and indeed to all the people of the Philippines
00:58for the kindness we experience every day in this wonderful nation.
01:03The diplomatic corps congratulates the government for the encouraging economic figures
01:08recently released on inflation, economic growth, and employment
01:13mentioned by you, Mr. President, in your speech.
01:16In these areas, there is good reason to be hopeful about the future economic prospects of the country.
01:22With regard to progress in the area of peace and reconciliation in the New Year 2025,
01:30the international community continues to believe that the Bangsamoro peace process
01:35remains the viable path to peace, security, and prosperity
01:41for the people of the Bangsamoro region of Muslim Mindanao.
01:47Although recent challenges remind us of the need for patience and perseverance
01:53in the attainment of those goals.
01:56The international scene is, however, as all of us know,
01:59marked by significant polarization and even recrimination,
02:04all of which is amplified in a media environment characterized by strident, contrasting opinions
02:11and the presentation of perspectives ranging from information to misinformation and disinformation.
02:19In such an environment, it's virtually impossible for any single actor to completely control the narrative
02:26as may have been possible in the past.
02:30The consequence of this reality is that the public's trust in institutions begins to diminish considerably.
02:38The antidote to this state of affairs is not easy,
02:42but it certainly involves on the part of all of us a recommitment to truthfulness,
02:47balance and fairness in our statements
02:51and to listening respectfully to the perspectives of people with whom we disagree.
02:58For all of us, men and women serving in government and in diplomacy,
03:02our mission is to help guide the course of human events in a path that leads to peace,
03:08prosperity and security for all.
03:12That is only possible when there's communication,
03:16the authentic and respectful exchange of ideas and proposals in continuous dialogue.
03:23Your Excellency, Mr. President, allow me to conclude my comments this evening
03:27by recognizing in a special way the work of the women and men of the Department of Foreign Affairs
03:33under the leadership of His Excellency Secretary Enrique Manalo.
03:37We, the diplomats accredited to the Philippines, interact on almost a daily basis
03:42with the officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs
03:44and it is indeed a pleasure for us to collaborate with them.
03:49And so, Your Excellency, it is an honor for me to express on behalf of all the members of the diplomatic corps
03:55our sincere best wishes for a new year blessed by peace, prosperity and progress.
04:03And now, my dear friends, may I ask all of you to join me in a toast?
04:12To the President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,
04:18for his well-being, health and success,
04:21and to the peace, prosperity and happiness of the Filipino people.
04:26May God bless the Philippines.
04:28Mabuhay! Cheers!
04:51For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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