We hope and pray that by our efforts today and in the future the tenor of debate in this august house will greatly improve to carry the country forwa… - Josefa Iloilo

I am … aware that there are those who feel that national unity could be hastened by pressing some buttons and out comes the results, (but) I want to remind you again that the attainment of genuine reconciliation and unity is a long term process.

Disharmony and conflict are always to everyone's loss and anguish. We stand again today to forge ahead toward a stronger nation.

We must pause and commit ourselves to these ideals of a democratic society. Today we must celebrate the remarkable freedoms that we now enjoy in our nation. This must be our commitment to those rights we value as well as the responsibilities that come with their expression.