Even before 9/11, the PHILIPPINES was already fighting TERRORISM in southwestern Philippines. That's why when 9/11 happened, we could understand the PAIN.

I see the Philippines one day as a developed country, one of the major economies of ASIA - perhaps not in SIX years, but DEFINITELY in our LIFETIME.

Fiction is a very powerful tool for teaching HISTORY. The Philippines was the first Iraq, the first VIETNAM, the first AFGHANISTAN, in the sense that it was the UNITED States' initial or baptismal experience in nation-building.

Growing up in the Philippines, I loved all KINDS of MOVIES. We had a very healthy film INDUSTRY there when I was a CHILD.

I love my homeland, but it's an absurd COUNTRY. POLITICS in the Philippines is LIKE spectator SPORTS!

The PHILIPPINES has no policy that DEMANDS SACRIFICE of HUMAN LIVES.