Mayor Jerry Pelayo with Vice Mayor Dan Gallardo and councilmen.

Pampanga would not have existed without its river. It is the Pampanga River that brought the first inhabitants of the province. It is along this great river that predecessors of Kapampangans built communities and developed the rich heritage to which we proudly trace our roots.

The Pampanga River together with Mount Arayat and the Candaba swamp form not only the distinctive feature of the province but the lifeline of its wildlife and natural resources as well.

We now bear witness to the continuing deterioration of the Pampanga River as it struggles with its faltering breath of life, a fitting reminder of the very struggle we must wage to free ourselves from the culture of apathy and recklessness that characterize our modern cravings. With the sorry state of the Pampanga River we, Kapampangans, shall remain poor in spirit no matter how affluent we become.

I believe that the time to act with optimism and resolve is long overdue. We must act now!

We, Kapampangans, must bind ourselves together to fight for the Pampanga River, defend it from pollution and illegal activities, beautify and promote greenery along its banks and to commit all the resources we can muster to pursue these aims.

We must call on our constituents, friends and sympathizers to join us in whatever ways they can in this quest to bring back the glory of the great Pampanga River.