[Please take your seats.]

I would like to greet on this occasion, of course our Secretary of National Defense, Secretary Gilbert Teodoro; the other cabinet members present; the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, General Romeo Brawner; and the major service commanders present here with us; the, of course, the newly promoted general and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; fellow workers in government; other distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon, and once again, welcome to Malacañang.

I congratulate you all for a promotion that I know is well deserved, the fitting reward for a career and a life dedicated to public service.

It is a recognition that is built on merit, as all professional advancements in the armed services should be.

It is also based on competence, pursuant to the time-honored tradition that the only way to step up in ranks is to step up with your work.

From the day you get your first commission, many decades ago, you have since given your best, making sure every assignment is one rung up the ladder, in terms of, of course, your rank, but more importantly in terms of the quality of the service, and the work, and the mission that you are complying with.

But you have not yet reached the summit of your career. Your new rank, however, does not send you out to your last patrol.

There is much still left to do, missions to accomplish, service to be selflessly rendered to the people that we have all sworn to protect with our lives.

If any, the stars on your shoulder do not just indicate rank, but the reminders of the responsibilities – added responsibilities that you now have to carry on those shoulders.

The more stars there are, the heavier the responsibility.

Be mindful always of the weight that that carries.

After all, the load that you feel are in fact our people’s hopes.

Especially now that we are at the juncture of our history where our nation faces complex security challenges.

The response to which requires bold thinking, brave action, which, I know, you can supply in abundant amounts, as befit your rank and you can summon from your previous experience.

This is the landscape that confronts you now. It is the security terrain that you have to address in the remaining tours of duty of your career.

As senior officers in our armed services, may the stars conferred upon you serve as an inspiration in performing your duties with utmost dedication, professionalism, integrity, all worthy of emulation.

Be a boot on the ground, or be among them, and still command from the front.

I know that until the last hour of your last day in office, you will do your work that honors our oath, respects our uniform, earns the admiration of our peers, and affirms the prestige that you have earned through a lifetime of service.

That you will uphold the principles that made you patriots, professionals, always compliant with command, faithful to our Constitution, loyal to our country and mindful of our conscience.

Malaki ang inyong katungkulan na gagampanin pa. Mabigat pa ang mga gawaing nag-aantay sa inyo. Marami pa tayong misyon na haharapin.

At higit sa lahat, malaki ang inaasahan sa inyo ng sambayanan na ating pinaglilingkuran at ng Republika na ating pinagtatanggol at minamahal.

Huwag natin silang biguin. Iyan ang kapalit ng bago ninyong ranggo. Iyan ang sukli sa kanilang pananalig sa inyo.

Mabuhay ang AFP!

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!

At muli congratulations sa ating mga bagong promote na general officers and flag officers!

Thank you and good afternoon. [Applause]

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