[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
[November 25, 1996]
[Pages 2149-2150]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 2149]]


Remarks to the Community at the United States Embassy in Manila
November 25, 1996

    Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank 
you to my fellow Americans and our Filipino friends who make this 
Embassy run so well.
    I'd like to begin with a special word of thanks to Ambassador 
Hubbard, not only for his introduction but for his extraordinary service 
to our Nation. Before coming to Manila, he was a key member of the team 
that persuaded the North Koreans to freeze their nuclear program. He was 
instrumental in securing the release of an American pilot named Bobby 
Hall. In those ways and many others, he has made a real difference for 
the safety and the security of the United States, the stability of Asia, 
and the future of this part of the world. So, Mr. Ambassador, on behalf 
of all Americans, I want to thank you for the extraordinary job you have 
done for America in so many different roles. Thank you, sir.
    This is my second trip to the Philippines as President, and each 
time, though the visit is brief, I have enjoyed myself immensely and I 
come away very grateful for your hard work and the role you played in 
the success of our trip here.
    I came to Manila to participate in the APEC summit, to build on the 
work we began 3 years ago at the first-ever meeting of the Asian-Pacific 
leaders in Washington State. Each year we have worked hard to move from 
vision to action, with members laying out concrete plans to realize our 
goal of free trade and investment in this whole area by the year 2020. 
I'm especially pleased that today the APEC leaders endorsed the early 
completion of an information technology agreement which would cut to 
zero tariffs a vast array of computers, semiconductors, and 
telecommunications technology by the year 2000. These products are to 
the 21st century what highways and railroads were to the 19th century. 
Or in my recent language, they are a big part of that bridge we have to 
build to the future. They are at the core of America's competitiveness.
    Every year we sell $100 billion in information technology, and that 
sector supports almost 2 million jobs in the United States. So imagine 
if we went to zero tariffs in the entire world, what that would mean to 
America in more exports and higher paying jobs. Imagine also what it 
would mean not only to our Nation and others who produce these products 
but to those who would receive them.
    In this global economy, you know as well as anyone that progress is 
not everyone's partner yet. I have been immensely pleased to see the 
rapid growth in the Philippine economy over the last 4 years under the 
leadership of President Ramos. And I am very encouraged about the 
direction of virtually every place in the Asia-Pacific region. But there 
are millions of people--indeed, hundreds of millions of people--who are 
literally disconnected from this emerging economy because they don't 
have phones or computers or access to all the networks that now are 
powering so much of the transfer of knowledge and opportunity in the 
world. Two-thirds of the people in the world still don't have access to 
a regular phone. Over half the people living today still are 2 days' 
walk from a telephone. There's a lot of opportunity out there, not only 
for those of us who produce these products but for those who will buy 
them and use them. For them it means higher growth, greater security, 
and a brighter future for their children.
    APEC's endorsement of this information technology agreement is a big 
deal. And it is the product of determined, consistent diplomacy, the 
kind you practice here every single day, from commercial promotion to 
consular work to the bonds of friendship and respect you build with our 
Filipino partners.
    In this season of thanksgiving, I really wanted to take just a few 
minutes to tell you how profoundly grateful I am for all the work you 
do. Your efforts may not always make the headlines, but I know how hard 
you work, the sacrifices you make to advance America's interests and 
America's values. I want to thank especially the families who are 
represented here, because we know that you, too, are ambassadors of good 
will for the United States. And I want to thank the Filipino colleagues 
who join us here today. You represent an invaluable part of the 
Embassy's spirit and success.

[[Page 2150]]

    Finally, let me say that I think you have to become President to 
appreciate the unique bond between the United States and the Philippines 
and to appreciate fully the incredible contribution that Philippine-
Americans have made to our way of life. As I flew over Corregidor on the 
way back here from Subic Bay and remembered what it was like when I was 
there not so very long ago, I thanked God once again for the Philippine-
Americans who work for me. Five of them I brought here, on my personal 
staff, my physician; others we left back home.
    It's awfully hot in this climate, but it has not burned the 
character or the goodness out of the people here. It has burned them in, 
and for that I am very, very grateful.
    Thank you, and God bless you all.

Note: The President spoke at 5:35 p.m. on the terrace. In his remarks, 
he referred to U.S. Ambassador Thomas C. Hubbard; CWO Bobby Hall, USA, 
whose helicopter was shot down over North Korea in December 1994; 
President Fidel Ramos of the Philippines; and Capt. Connie Mariano, USN, 
the President's physician.