Check this out: I delivered RP to verge of first world status - GMA

yes, We are far from becoming a first world country. But I think being a newly developed country or a 2nd world country is a possibility. I disagree with the other comments pertaining 2 our Economy. GMA's fiscal management of the Economy is an outstanding success. We where able to whether the economic recession that plagued Europe and America. We where able 2 minimize the deficit and 2 finally pay off the Nuclear Bataan Power Plant loan that the Cory Administration took upon itself 2 pay in behalf of Marcos. She did a lot for the Philippines in terms of the Economy and for that we should give her praise. Though, I am with u in condoning her Politics. She did not set a gud example to the youth in her transactional politics that she practiced during her term in office.

Sometimes I really wonder what country is GMA talking about. It seems she is always in a dreamland. Or is this just part of a plan to discredit the incoming administration? By insinuating that our nation is in a good state, GMA and her loyal pawns can immediately blame the next president when economy starts to crumble. If they really want to substantiate their claim, why did they not pass the Freedom to Information Bill so concerned citizens/groups can check the statistics? As for me, the fact that the national budget deficit is getting bigger, more people are getting hungry and corruption is widely spread, the country remains as it is - a third world country.

Man If we are on the verge of becoming a first world country we won't see all this hardship in our nation. GMA she is one ultimate lie. When did she even told us the truth about something. Come to think of it, You should not even consider her words true.

i agree...if she has made many good things then why are still many who can't even eat three times a day?

what is she talking about? i guess the only people who could feel these developments are the rich who are becoming richer, her friends whom she are appointing due to gratitude and her family most especially her husband. she didn't care to ask an ordinary Filipino citizen

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the only president who talks BS all the time... especially her Cabinet members, and the Congressmen who are affiliated with her. First world status? How can she say that when majority of the houses in this country are made of paper, wood, tarpaulins and are situated under the riverbanks of in highways? How can she say that when majority of the people can't even afford to go to school and get a job? Mark my word... Gloria is the most corrupt president the Philippines has ever had!

Maybe Gloria is so blinded by the events that really did not transpire. Maybe in her mind she wanted to make the Philippines one of the superpower countries but in reality, she was not able to make it. Well, let's all hope that things will become better for us.

I don't believe her either. I don't feel any progress at all. Maybe the rich became richer, but the poor certainly did not become richer. I'm a middle-class person, but I am still having a hard time surviving in this country. Just think of all those lower-class people. Most of them don't even eat properly anymore. And the saddest part is the poor are the most numerous in the Philippines. The rich comprises only a small part of the population.

Hello jugger, I think we were close to being the first world country when way back 1960's to 70's when our economy is actually secondary to japan, and things went worse after the EDSA REvolution. i mean, really it did went worse after that. But in this time, we are struggling to survive, we are still a developing country waiting to emerge but still stuck in the mud hole of poverty and corruption. She tried i guess to make the country better but she was transactional and made the mob angry.

I read that headline too and my eyes bulged out of my socket. I think The Star was trying to play a prank on us Filipinos. My reaction was the same as most of the others who replied in this discussion: Is she talking about another country? In fairness, what she said was "I know much work remains to be done, but I am determined to turn over to a new government a new Philippines, one that is ready for the challenges of bringing the nation to the verge of first world in 20 years." The newspapers are fond of misquoting and this is not an exception. This statement does not really say anything, they are just platitudes. She did not really say that she has brought it to the verge of first world, more that it is ready to leave for that journey. She is saying that the Philippines is ready to leave for that journey, and not that it has arrived at the doorstep of the first world. Although I am not really sure if there is such a difference. I definitely have issues with the headline of Philippine Star for reasons that were all stated in other discussions. But I still have issues too with GMA's statement. She says that the Philippines is ready for the challenges of bringing it to the verge of first world. Again, huhhh? Does she think that first world countries are populated with call centers? that first world nations have 1/3 of its population below poverty line? that 1 out of 3 Filipinos go to bed hungry? or have any bed at all? Again, are we in the same country? Definitely, if there is someone who needs to see a psychiatrist, its our outgoing president and her speech writers. Power has made them delusional.