State of the Nation address by President Arroyo, anti-Arroyo protest

(23 Jul 2007) SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot of Philippine Congress
2. Philippine President Gloria Arroyo being greeted upon arriving in Congress
3. Cutaway of cameras
4. Wide shot of Arroyo approaching podium
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Philippine President:
"Optimism is infectious and opportunity irresistible. Progress follows progress. Someone, even government, just has to get it started."
6. Cutaway of Congress
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Philippine President:
"We fight terrorism. It threatens our sovereign, democratic, compassionate and decent way of life. Therefore, in the fight against lawless violence we must uphold these values. It is never right, it is always wrong to fight terror with terror. And so I ask Congress, I urge you to enact laws to transform state response to political violence."
8. Cutaway of military leaders in the gallery applauding
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Philippine President:
"We were able to strengthen our economy because of the fiscal reforms that we adopted at such a great cost to me in public disapproval. But I would rather be right than popular."
10. Various of congress
11. Various shots of protest with burning of Arroyo effigy
12. Protesters waving flags
13. Wide shot of effigy burning
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jamby Madrigal, Philippines Senator:
"I am really, really tired of the lies propagated by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her SONAs (State of the Nation Address).
15. Wide shot of riot police
16. Mid shot of SWAT team securing area
17. Crowd of protesters
18. Wide shot of protest
STORYLINE:
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday used one of the most stable periods of her troubled tenure to tout her government's economic successes and promise the impatient poor that they will benefit soon.
Making her seventh annual State of the Nation address as at least 3,000 protesters swarmed near the House of Representatives complex in suburban Quezon City, Arroyo told a joint session of Congress that she hopes the Philippines can join the ranks of wealthy nations in 20 years.
"Optimism is infectious and opportunity irresistible. Progress follows progress. Someone, even government, just has to get it started," Arroyo said.
Arroyo has gone from crisis to crisis, fending off at least three coup attempts and two impeachment efforts since taking office during the country's second "people power" revolt in January 2001.
But midterm elections quashed the opposition's hopes of initiating another impeachment effort, leaving her with no likely legal challenges until her term ends in 2010.
Arroyo said a new anti-terror law that took effect July 15 underscored resolve to deal with terrorism and contribute to regional security.
She tried to assuage critics' concerns that it endangers human rights.
"We fight terrorism. It threatens our sovereign, democratic, compassionate and decent way of life. Therefore, in the fight against lawless violence we must uphold these values. It is never right, it is always wrong to fight terror with terror."
Decrying Arroyo for alleged human rights abuses, the protesters burned a 4-metre (13-foot) effigy of her as a winged witch.
A large contingent of police and troops ensured they stayed well away from the House.
"We were able to strengthen our economy, because of the fiscal reforms we have adopted at great cost to me in public disapproval," Arroyo said.
"But I would rather be right than popular," she added.

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