Our Common Credo

A government, based on core values of transparency, personal and institutional integrity,

honesty, and good governance, is a goal we must all share. To achieve this goal, we
must unite based on shared principles.

We therefore present this Credo to the Filipino People so that our basis for unity is clear
and unequivocal. These are our guiding principles in approaching the perils and
problems of our society as elected officials, and we hold ourselves accountable to each
other and the public to uphold these principles in the campaign and in office.

We believe that our democracy is best maintained, as it was restored, by the ways of
democracy.

We believe that true change can be achieved only through peaceful means.

We believe that the first step towards prosperity and progress for all is for all sectors and
classes to discuss our differences reasonably and with goodwill.

We believe that grievances that cause rebellion will not be solved by purely military
solutions; and furthermore only a more equitable distribution of power and opportunity
will enable peace to reign in our hearts and homes.

We therefore believe we must strive for a genuine national reconciliation founded on

justice, even at the cost of our individual political self-interest.

We strongly believe that Social Justice is our common birthright: the working person
must be given his just and rightful share of the fruits of his labor, and that to the owners
and managers must be restored a regime of laws that are fair and not discriminatory.

We believe true national unity is possible if we commit ourselves to the rights and
freedoms enshrined in our Bill of Rights.

We believe that if we Filipinos are secure in our rights and freedoms, we will all be
motivated to live up to our duties and obligations as citizens.

We believe that a President, in order to be able to inspire and to lead, must possess the
fundamental requirement of a genuine mandate from the people.

We believe that the presidency is an institution that only works, if both the president and
those affiliated with the administration recognize they only hold that office temporarily.

This means, too, that we must lead by example; insisting on integrity not only for
ourselves but all our appointees; upholding meritocracy in the bureaucracy; and
believing in, and insisting on, the supremacy of the civilian over the military always.

We shall not hide from debate, suppress the mechanisms for the redress of grievances,
or thwart the participation of the public in the formulation of policy.

We believe cynicism corrupts and corrodes our ability to dream and work for a better
nation for ourselves and for our children.

We believe we must maintain at all times an unshakeable faith in the Filipino.

For these reasons, we commit to this Credo. We have each taken different roads to
reach this point; but henceforth, we will be together because we are confident that we
will be in lock step with the Filipino People.