THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU MAJORITY LEADER. WITH THE PERMISSION OF OUR COLLEAGUES, WE WILL HAVE THIS OMNIBOUS SPONSORSHIP OF TWO MEASURES: COMMITTEE REPORTS NO. 41 UNDER HOUSE BILL 6640 AND COMMITTEE REPORT 42 UNDER HOUSE BILL 6641. MR. PRESIDENT, ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES, THE COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS NOW SPONSORS, FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE CHAMBER, THESE TWO BILLS ON CITIZENSHIP.
ONE, AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO MAODO DIOUF, AND SECOND ONE, AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO ELIZABETH JEANETTE MEANS.
IN THE PROCESS OF NATURALIZATION, THE STATE SHALL CONTROL AND REGULATE THE ADMISSION AND INTEGRATION OF ALIENS OR FOREIGNERS INTO ITS TERRITORY AND BODY POLITIC.
OUR CONSTITUTION AFFIRMS THAT THE STATE MUST CULTIVATE PATRIOTISM AND NATIONALISM AND ADVANCE THE WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. THESE PRINCIPLES REFLECT THE KIND OF NATION WE ASPIRE TO BUILD—ONE GROUNDED IN SHARED VALUES, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, AND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD.
FOR THIS REASON, THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP CARRIES WITH IT IMPORTANT EXPECTATIONS. APPLICANTS ARE OFTEN ASKED ABOUT THEIR FAMILY TIES, THEIR WORK, AND THE VALUES THEY UPHOLD IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.
MAODO “MALICK” DIOUF IS A SENEGALESE NATIONAL WHO HAS BEEN RESIDING IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS. HE CAME TO THE COUNTRY AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE, FIRST PLAYING AT CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO MY BELOVED UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES IN DILIMAN, WHERE “MALICK” AS HE IS KNOWN BY HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATES, WHERE HE HELPED LEAD THE UP MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM TO THE UAAP SEASON 84 CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2022 AFTER A 36 YEAR DROUGHT AND WAS NAMED IN THE FINALS AS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER.
OVER THE YEARS, HE HAS BUILT STRONG TIES WITHIN THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY AND HAS COME TO REGARD THE PHILIPPINES AS HIS HOME. IN FACT HE RESIDES IN TEACHERS VILLAGE IN QUEZON CITY WHERE I GREW UP. HE HAS ALSO BEEN INVITED BY THE SAMAHANG BASKETBOL NG PILIPINAS TO JOIN THE GILAS PILIPINAS MEN’S 3X3 NATIONAL BASKETBALL PROGRAM, WHERE HIS ATHLETICISM, SIZE HE’S 6’11”, AND DEFENSIVE STRENGTH ARE EXPECTED TO HELP THE COUNTRY COMPETE MORE EFFECTIVELY IN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF PHILIPPINE BASKETBALL.
ON THE OTHER HAND, ELIZABETH JEANETTE MEANS IS AN AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER WHO HAS BEEN INVITED BY THE SAMAHANG BASKETBOL NG PILIPINAS (SBP) TO JOIN THE GILAS PILIPINAS (WOMEN’S) 3X3 NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM. SHE HAS A STRONG BACKGROUND IN COMPETITIVE BASKETBALL AND IS EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTRY’S PERFORMANCE IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS THROUGH HER SPEED, SKILL, AND VERSATILITY ON THE COURT. BETH MEANS IS 6’1”.
MEANS ALSO HAS FILIPINO HERITAGE THROUGH HER MATERNAL GREAT-GRANDFATHER, CARLOS GARCIA BEATTY OF NAGA CITY, CAMARINES SUR, ESTABLISHING HER FAMILIAL CONNECTION TO THE PHILIPPINES. HER INCLUSION IN THE NATIONAL PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE WOMEN’S TEAM AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE BASKETBALL ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE. WHEN WE ASKED IN THE HEARING HOW PLAYERS OF THIS LEVEL HELPED PHILIPPINE BASKETBALL AND THE ANSWER WAS THAT THEY RAISE THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION THEREBY PUTTING OUR LOCAL PLAYERS TO TASKS AND IMPROVING THEIR SKILLS AS WELL.
ANG PAGKAMAMAMAYAN AY HINDI LAMANG ISANG LEGAL NA KATAYUAN; ITO AY ISANG TAIMTIM NA PANGAKO SA BAYAN. ANG SINUMANG NAGNANAIS MAGING PILIPINO AY HINDI LAMANG DAPAT MAY KAALAMAN SA ATING BANSA, KUNDI DAPAT DING MAGPAKITA NG TUNAY NA HANGARING MAKIBAHAGI SA PAG-UNLAD NITO. BUKÁS ANG PILIPINAS SA MGA TAONG NAGDADALA NG HUSAY, SIPAG, AT KAHUSAYAN SA KANI-KANILANG LARANGAN—MGA INDIBIDWAL NA HANDANG MAG-AMBAG SA PATULOY NA PAG-ANGAT NG ATING BANSA.
DURING THE HEARING BECAUSE MR. MALICK DIOUF HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 2018, SENATOR JINGGOY ESTRADA ASKED HIM TO RECITE THE PANATANG MAKABAYAN. HE DID SO WITH SOME DIFFICULTY BUT HE WAS STILL ABLE TO DELIVER IT AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS ASKED TO SING A FEW LINES OF LUPANG HINIRANG, AGAIN BY SENATOR JINGGOY ESTRADA, AND HE DID SO WILLINGLY.
IN THE CASE OF JEANETTE MEANS, HAVING BEEN HERE ONLY LAST NOVEMBER WE ADMONISH HER TO LEARN THE FILIPINO NATIONAL ANTHEM AS WELL AS THE PANATANG MAKABAYAN. BUT SHE HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN RECONNECTING WITH HER ROOTS IN NAGA CITY AND I COMMITTED TO INTRODUCING HER TO MAYOR LENI ROBREDO OF NAGA CITY.
THE GRANTING OF CITIZENSHIP IS A LEGAL BASIS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHTS, FORMALIZED AND LEGITIMIZED BY THIS AUGUST BODY.
ANG PAGPILI NA MAGING PILIPINO—ANG PAGPILI SA PILIPINAS—AY NANGANGAHULUGAN NG PAGIGING PILIPINO SA ISIP, SA SALITA, AT SA GAWA. NAWA’Y IPAGKALOOB NG ATING MGA KASAMAHAN ANG KANILANG SUPORTA SA MGA PANUKALANG ITO.
MARAMING SALAMAT GINOONG PANGULO, MARAMING SALAMAT SA ATING MGA KASAMAHAN SA SENADO.