[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
[November 13, 1994]
[Pages 2073-2074]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a State Luncheon in Manila
November 13, 1994

    President and Mrs. Ramos, former President Macapagal, former 
President Aquino, distinguished members of the Philippine Government, 
members of the business community here, members of the diplomatic corps, 
my fellow Americans who are here: Let me begin by thanking President 
Ramos and Mrs. Ramos for making Hillary and me and all of our delegation 
here feel so very welcome on our all too brief but very enjoyable and 
very important visit to the Philippines.
    One hundred thousand Americans call the Philippines home, and now 
about 1\1/2\ million Filipinos call the United States home. Indeed, I 
was trying to count up all the Philippine-Americans I brought with me on 
this trip, and I lost count. But we have people here from the Agency for 
International Development; we have three of my Navy stewards; my 
personal physician, Dr. Connie Mariano; and of course, the executive 
with the Export-Import Bank, a long-time friend of yours, Mr. President, 
Maria Louisa Haley. We're all glad to be here, but those with roots here 
in the Philippines are the happiest of all to be home. You have made us 
all feel at home, and we thank you for that.
    We have worked together in many ways over a long period of time. 
President Ramos just described the 50th observation of our partnership 
in the Second World War. I have heard a very moving account of the 
events of last October from Secretary of Defense Perry and General 
Shalikashvili. General Ramos' Philippine soldiers also fought side by 
side with Americans in Korea and in Vietnam. And you were there, sir, in 
both conflicts. We thank you for that individually and for your country.
    During the cold war, the United States led an effort to stand 
against the tyranny of communism. You were our partner then. In the last 
several years, you have led the world in the sweeping resurgence of 
democracy, beginning

[[Page 2074]]

8 years ago when you and others exposed yourselves to considerable risks 
to stand up for freedom here in your own country, following through with 
the remarkable people power movement of President Aquino, where people 
held flowers in the face of tanks and captured the imagination of the 
entire world.
    And now, sir, under your leadership we see the Philippines moving 
forward, respecting the dignity, the rights of all people and 
aggressively pursuing a modern economic program designed to bring 
prosperity to all the tens of millions of people who call these 
wonderful islands their home.
    You know, President Ramos is a fitting leader for this time. We know 
in America that in 1946--he doesn't look that old--[laughter]--but in 
1946, he won the only Filipino scholarship to the United States Military 
Academy. I met several others of you who graduated from West Point here 
today, and all of you know that when one graduates from West Point, he--
and now she--becomes a member of the Long Gray Line, linked forever with 
all of those who went before and all of those who will come after.
    Well, Mr. President, you symbolize the link between our two nations, 
which is equally as strong and will always exist. We are linked by our 
history; we are linked by the populations that we share, the Americans 
here, the Filipinos there. But most of all, we are linked by our shared 
values, our devotion to freedom, to democracy, to prosperity, and to 
peace.
    And for that common devotion, I ask all of you to stand and join me 
in a toast to President and Mrs. Ramos, to all the people of the 
Philippines, to their health, to their prosperity, and to their eternal 
partnership with the United States.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 3:40 p.m. in the Ceremonial 
Room at the Malacanang Palace. In his remarks, he referred to President 
Fidel Ramos of the Philippines and his wife, Amelita; and former 
Philippine Presidents Diosdado Macapagal and Corazon Aquino.