President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today exhorted the Filipino community in South Korea to join her administration’s program on volunteerism.

The President made the call in her speech during her meeting with the Filipino community held at the Lotte Hotel this morning.

She also expressed confidence that the Philippines will “continue to sustain growth this year.”

“Now is the time for pooling together and focusing on family and the community. Now is the time to have a new era of volunteerism and community spirit,” she said.

“Because in these trying times, the Filipino spirit and the Filipino’s commitment to caring should prompt each one of us to count our blessings and give back to the less fortunate,” she added.

She pointed out that among the things Filipinos should be thankful about is the positive economic growth rate the country has been experiencing despite the global crisis.

“That does not mean that we have not been affected. We have been affected but we are holding our own and we remain cautiously optimistic that our resources and plans will allow us to manage our way through this difficult time,” the President said.

She stressed that “it is our revenue collection, job generation, fiscal control and the reforms in the banking sector (that) have been instrumental in keeping the Philippine economy afloat.”

She lauded the Filipinos in South Korea, led by Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Louie Cruz, for their “strong spirit of volunteerism among our kababayans today.”