Inauguration IJM Field Office
Hotel Gracelane, City of San Fernando, Pampanga
August 1, 2012
Friends, ladies and gentlemen:
Good afternoon to all of you; mayap a gatpanapun; magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.
It is significant that today's occasion is being held here in the city of San Fernando here in the province of Pampanga.
It is significant because this city and this province were built and re-built by the power of dreams, and by the shared determination of people and leaders to make those dreams come true.
Some two and a half centuries ago, this place was nothing but wilderness and marshland. Later, the province and the city became hubs of progress in this region. Then, about two decades ago, the forces of nature challenged both the dreams and the determination as powerful Mt. Pinatubo unleashed its destructive wrath.
Today, Pampanga and San Fernando are back on their feet – a testimonial to the fact that dreams and determination have more power than the destructive wrath of nature. They built. They rebuilt. And they will keep doing that no matter how many times the act of rebuilding is called for. That's determination. That's resiliency.
The Interagency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), therefore, join you in this event in part to pay our tribute and respect to that sterling quality of the Pampango and San Fernando communities. Let me say, "apabilib mu poko kekayo".
The dreams of these communities remain at risk today. The threat no longer comes from nature but from men.Among them are today's worst dream-thieves – the criminal syndicates who prey on the young; who prey on the weak; and who prey on those who would sacrifice anything to attain their dreams.
These dream-thieves are called "human trafficking syndicates". It angers us that they have seen this city and this province as a fertile ground for their operation. It angers us that they should see the dreams and determination of the people of this city and province not as subjects of admiration but as objects of exploitation.
On this day, however, we send these dream-thieves one important message. The message is this: there is one more power they have to contend with; and this is the power of unity. The power of partnerships. The power of the Pampango pamisanmetung.
We congratulate and thank the International Justice Mission for playing a key role in this partnership.
It is said that a partner has three important roles. One, to play its part to the best it can. Two, to watch and protect the back of its other partners. Three, to serve as an inspiration.
In all these three roles, the participation of the IJM can be summed up in one Pampango word – "pekamasanting".
Please ask Congressman Lazatin or Mayor Rodriguez for the English equivalent of that word. They should know not only because they are sons of this province, but also because they, too, have been described as"pekamasanting" thousands of times in their sterling public service career.
In setting up its 15th field office here in San Fernando city, the IJM underscores once more its solidarity with the Pampanga community in the fight against human trafficking, white slavery and child pornography. In so doing, the IJM says, "we are one with you in your dreams for a better life and we will make sure no one steals those dreams away from you".
We come here today on behalf of the IACAT, to express our gratitude to the IJM and to reaffirm our faith in our partnership.
Thank you for honor of fighting the war against human trafficking shoulder to shoulder with you.
Congratulations and we wish you all the best.
Source:http://www.iacat.net/index.php/63-grand-launching-ceremony-of-international-justice-mission-field-office-in-pampanga-speech-given-by-usec-jose-vicente-b-salazar
