Life is great in general and am wishing everyone a Happy Holidays!

Our nation is strong and getting stronger. The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation. I remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo*
Philippine President

I'm sorry ... I ask you to forgive me

I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment... I'm sorry.

I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events, I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust.

Nothing should stand in the way of ... the next phase of my reform agenda... That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing.

For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control. Tonight, I want to set the record straight. You deserve an explanation from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve.

I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a Comelec official. My intent was not to influence the outcome of the election, and it did not.

The election had already been decided and the votes counted. And as you remember, the outcome had been predicted by every major public opinion poll and adjudged free, fair and decisive by international election observers, and our own Namfrel (National Citizens Movement for Free Elections).

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo*
Philippine President

TODAY, more taxes; tomorrow, less liberties. What next?

Malacañang should leave the people's civil liberties alone. These are the only things left with them.

Why bring these up again? Is the executive saying that it cannot solve the terrorist and dissident problems without infringing on the Bill of Rights?

Sen. Joker Arroyo*

I don't want for the Senate to rush or prioritize this bill because all anti-terrorism bills everywhere in the world have always resulted in provisions that in effect run counter to the Bill of Rights of any particular country.

In other words... an anti-terror bill makes the entire public suffer for the criminal acts of a few.

Apparently, nothing in our history of law enforcement indicates that these restrictions and limitations on individual freedom were able to prevent a terrorist attack... So what's the point?

Miriam Defensor-Santiago*

The President has enough powers to address the situation. There is no need for special powers or a new law to enable her to effectively combat the problem of terrorism.

Deputy Minority Leader and Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero*

Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.

Yogi Berra
Baseball Player

Watch out where the Huskies go, and don't you eat that yellow snow

Frank Zappa
Song Writer, singer

The water from the Angat Dam reservoir has very high sediment deposits because of the heavy rains brought by the typhoons.

The normal average sediment deposits had been exceeded, and we should reduce the water we process to 19,000 million liters per day.

Jesus Matubis*
Maynilad corporate communications head

During these extraordinary events, our company and Maynilad have coordinated with the MWSS to share the burden to extend better service to our customers.

President Antonino T. Aquino*
Manila Water Company Inc.

NOTE: Metro Manila Residents are advised to report any instance of smelly or highly discolored water to Maynilad Hotline 1626

It is sad that Fernando Poe Jr., a truly good person, died of a broken heart, denied his vision of a dreamland country for the Filipino people.

Imelda R. Marcos*

Mr. Poe will be remembered with great fondness as much for his singular role as the 'Da King' of Philippine cinema as for his entry into the political arena as a presidential candidate.

Statement released by US Embassy in Manila*

FPJ was probably the only presidential candidate who turned down contributions by the millions even as he needed the money whenever he perceived them to be 'investments' in his presidency.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.*

Let not his death weaken the resolve of the millions of his supporters to continue the principles and belief that FPJ had stood and fought for. They have to continue his fight.

Communist spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal*