To my mother, my husband and my children, my friends, and everyone gathered here, I thank you for

your presence today.

My fellow Filipinos,

When I first asked for your help, I said that I wanted to continue what my father FPJ had started.

His decision to seek the presidency was anchored on a simple principle. 11 years ago, in this very same
hall, he declared that he wanted to help the poor, fight oppression, and forge a prosperous and just
society.

He often told me: Gracia, poverty is not a destiny because each one’s fate is in his/her hands. But to get
out of poverty, one's own hard work is often not enough. Everyone needs a helping hand. Shouldn't this
be the measure of a responsive government and society – how it uplifts everyone and leaves no one
behind?

Our country is rich--in natural resources, our people's knowledge and skill, and our heroism.

This is where Asia's first republic was founded. This is the country of Rizal and Bonifacio.

Before women were given a voice, Gabriela Silang was already rallying an uprising.

We have an amazing history from which we can draw inspiration.

We have overcome many hurdles. We’ve been hit many times over by disaster – the strongest typhoons
– that seem bent on removing us from the map. And yet, here we are, still standing.
This is why my admiration for our country and our people is ever constant.

How can one not be amazed by the daily triumph over struggles of our countrymen?

By ordinary Filipinos who are awake even before the rooster announces the morning, lugging bags on
the way to school or guiding carabaos across the ricefields. By those those jostling for space in the MRT
or running to catch a bus or jeep to work before traffic builds up on EDSA or Fuente Osmena Boulevard
in Cebu.

By those who can’t get home ‘til late: BPO agents working graveyard shifts, public transport drivers
plying the city's roads, and fishermen out at sea.

By parents who have to be away from their children: those who endure the desert's heat, the perils of
the sea, and the pain of loneliness, just to give their children a bright future.

By workers with callused hands and hunched backs from working non-stop.

By ordinary government workers: teachers who traverse mountains to reach eager students; nurses who
continue to give care despite their own exhaustion, policemen and soldiers who risk their lives to ensure
our safety and security.

I draw inspiration from each and every one of you. You give me the strength to pursue a higher calling for
our country.
We should push for true reforms that will achieve inclusive growth, global competitiveness and
transparent government. Any progress we achieve as a country should be progress for each one of us,
without exception. Any preferential bias should be for the poor and vulnerable.

Tonight, I would like to make known to everyone that it I've made it my dream and my purpose to attain,
with your help, the following:

1. In education, we must attend to the needs of our classrooms. We should maximize digital technology
for education, and eliminate backlogs. We shall strive to expand our scholarship programs and
strengthen the "Study now, pay later" program. We will also help college students find internships and
jobs to gain invaluable experience even before they graduate.

2. We shall work for the flourishing of the agricultural sector. We will heed their longing for land to till.
Irrigation is still badly needed in half a million hectares of land. We will push for mechanization. We need
an effective program to make fishing, farming and livestock propagation profitable for our farmers and
the youth.

3. We will make infrastructure development our priority, whether in terms of streets, trains, airports,
seaports or the internet. I will strive to increase the annual infrastructure budget to 7% of the GDP. The
government will support the private sector in formulating an industrialization and IT plan. As more
products "Made in the Philippines" flourish, more jobs will be created. This should be done while taking
care of our environment.

4. No one man or group holds a monopoly on "Tuwid na Daan". President Aquino has done much to
curb corruption and I am thankful that it has restored the people's faith in an honest leader.

It is only right to continue the fight against corruption. We will hold the corrupt accountable, whether
they be friend or foe. This should be the crusade of every Filipino, not just one person or party.
To strengthen transparency in government, I will push for the passage of the Freedom of Information bill
at the soonest possible time.

5. We have one of the highest tax rates in the world. My aim is to lower these.

People know what their needs are and they have a right to choose how to spend their hard-earned
money. But if government lowers taxes, we should reciprocate by paying the right taxes. And this I
guarantee: Every peso you pay will be returned to you in fast and quality service.

6. We need to examine if we are giving our workers and government employees fair wages and
benefits. Their work and service will suffer while their own families starve. Every worker needs a decent
and legal source of income.

7. A large percentage of a family's earnings goes to paying for electricity. We need to find a way to
lower power costs. In many parts of Mindanao, brownouts are a frequent occurence. We will ensure
sufficient power to fuel a growing economy, especially in Mindanao. We shall see to the development of
renewable energy.

8. We will value our OFWs and take care of them. We will provide them with proper legal support
overseas and reduce the fees and red tape that they currently put up with just to have their papers
processed.

9. As a mother, I am deeply troubled by the proliferation of crime and drugs. Like every parent, I cannot
rest easy until my children are home safe at night. For me, the elimination of drugs and crime is not just
a job. It is my personal crusade. I will make sure the police have the required discipline and skills to
immediately deal with crime. Their job is not just to log crimes, but to catch the criminals.
10. We will pursue peace with all groups. Filipinos should need no longer kill fellow Filipinos. With
peace, real progress can touch all corners of the country.

To our Moro brothers, your culture and heroism were the inspiration for many of my father's films. After
a long and hard history, it is time that you are given equal opportunities and genuine assistance.

11. We should respect human rights. We will not be blind to the conditions of our vulnerable sectors,
including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, urban poor, women, youth and children, the
LGBT sector and senior citizens. To all senior citizens, you will not be ignored. My own mother has
asserted that the older one gets, the more he/she should feel government's care.

12. Everyone's health is important. No family should be driven to bankruptcy by illness or be made to
choose between food or medicine for their sick loved ones. Our people should be able to rely on
expanded health benefits through Philhealth. I will ensure that each community has a proper hospital,
staffed with enough doctors, nurses and midwives, and with all the necessary equipment, medicine and
supplies.

13. The West Philippine Sea is ours. We will protect our right through peaceful means, and according
to international law. We will beef up our Coast Guard and armed forces so that we need not be
intimidated by other countries.

14. The traffic situation takes away not just our precious time, it tests our patience. It eats up valuable
time that we would otherwise have spent at work or with our loved ones.

15. We should do the following: We should build more roads and trains not only in Metro Manila but
all over the Philippines. We should ensure that our train project is awarded to a contractor with strong
capability and track record in long-term maintenance. We should clean our drainage systems. We
should provide coats and boots for the people who manage our traffic. We should remove all colorum
and illegally parked vehicles. We should implement staggered office hours. No roadwork should be left
unfinished. We should immediately fire contractors who don't stick to the approved timetable.

16. The internet is just like a highway. It is a conduit for information. It should be fast. Many jobs will
become more productive with faster internet connection. Kids will finish their homework faster and we
can more easily talk to our loved ones working overseas without any Skype delays. When it comes to the
internet, connecting should not take Forever.

17. Arts, culture and sports deserve the government’s attention. We are recognized internationally as
a creative race of visual artists, writers and performers, but we do not value them ourselves. They bring
us honor, so we should support them. Our athletes too need our support. We should never give up on
our dream to win an Olympic gold medal.

18. Let us not forget the reality of climate change. This is not just a middle class issue; the poor will
be hardest hit by its effects. We should have a separate Emergency Management Department that will
focus on national preparedness, climate change and geo-mapping.

19. Tourism is another sector that needs our attention. A vibrant tourism industry will create new
jobs for Filipinos, even those in far-flung areas. Our country is filled with beautiful tourist destinations,
but the industry will never fully succeed if we don’t provide sufficient infrastructure and build more
airports.

20. Children are the nation's treasure. They are our present and future. And yet, they do not stand a
chance if they do not receive proper nutrition. Many children continue to starve and waste away. It is
time to create a Standard Lunch Program in all public schools.

There isn't enough time to enumerate each and every one of my hopes and goals. In the next few days, I
will release a comprehensive program centered on a simple principle and belief: that no Filipino and no
region should be left behind. We will rise and progress together as one nation.
When my father ran for the presidency, he was ridiculed; his inexperience was scoffed at and his
citizenship questioned. Yet he bravely faced the challenge and the opportunity to help change the lives
of his fellow Filipinos for the better.

His integrity, courage and goodness have become both my guide and inspiration. My mother also gave
me sound advice. She said, "My child, amidst the loud noise of politics, never ever lose yourself."

My life is an open book.

Who would've thought that a foundling would ever become senator? I thank you for giving me that
opportunity.

Don't ever forget that Filipinos are a very able race. We are loving, creative and resourceful.

We can achieve whatever we want for this nation if we work hard, be vigilant, and make sure we have an
honest person to guide us through our journey.

We should stick together, because one person cannot bring about this change.

Anyone who promises he alone can do it is already lying.

The story of our future lies in all our hands.

I hope you will join me in crafting a bright and meaningful future for our motherland, the Philippines.

I am Grace Poe. A Filipino. A daughter, wife and mother. And with God's grace, I offer myself for the
country's highest calling as your President. – Rappler.com