CLOSING MESSAGE
AmBisyon Natin 2040 Expo
SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay City
November 15, 2016

Delivered by: Assistant Secretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos

Good afternoon, everyone!
Today is a start. Despite being at the end of this event’s program, we believe that what we have done today is a great start in our series of steps towards the realization of our long-term vision for ourselves, for our families, and for our country. After a day of engaging talks and learning sessions, we can now say that together, we have made a big step forward.

Throughout the day, we were inspired by ideas from our distinguished speakers: starting with the Vice President on the importance of having a long-term vision, to the insights of our guests from the different sectors—the academe, the media, and the civil society.

We were also able to engage with our plenary speakers on Matatag at Balanseng Buhay; Ligtas at Panatag na Buhay; and Maginhawang Buhay. They presented to us the possibilities that our efforts can accomplish and showed us that we can participate in nation-building, in our own capacities. During the mini-sessions, we learned more about how the different agencies can support us, guide us, and help us start designing our future and our country’s future.

Today is a reminder. The AmBisyon Natin 2040 Expo was designed to inspire and equip Filipino citizens, especially the youth, with practical knowledge and know-how to make our aspirations real. The idea behind the expo is to present “the deal to make it real.” We all hope that the knowledge that we acquired today will be part of the toolkits of our everyday lives as we move together towards 2040. We hope that we are all reminded that we are not alone in pursuing this path towards the achievement of our long-term vision. We hope that we are reminded that AmBisyon Natin 2040 is a vision that we all share.

Today is also a commitment. The pledge wall that we signed asked us a great question: “Ano ang maiaambag ko para matupad ang AmBisyon Natin?” Our collective aspirations will be more concrete if we actively take part in making them real. By signing our commitments to the wall, we recognize that we are part of this complicated and multi-faceted process of national development. And that in the end, our little efforts literally and figuratively converge in this wall of commitment to progress and to our shared vision.

This start—this Expo—is a move towards the direction that we want to take. In 2040, may we look back on this day when we strengthen our partnership and commitments in realizing the long-term vision of the Filipino people. But today: we focus on the now, we focus on acting on our aspirations. This long-term vision should inspire and encourage us and to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles and setbacks we may encounter. Together, let’s make AmBisyon Natin 2040 a reality. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas, Mabuhay tayong lahat!

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