PNoy’s SONA –it better be good!

Will the President cruise his way to Congress in a golden chariot? Or will he enter the halls of Congress like a knight on a white horse? Do you think he would prance about through the red carpet with pomp and glory? Nah! I think that’s more for the men around him and their trying hard wives.

One thing he shouldn’t repeat is stopping on each red light on his way to the House of Representatives. That’s too corny and quite ironic. You know, while the President shows us that he follows the law, the men around him (or his BFFs – best friends forever) are the very ones who seem abusive of power. Susmariosep!

Again, before any of his creative directors forget, please drop the wang-wang. It’s such a funny joke! And the idea behind it became a fallacy.

PNoy has three years left to lead this nation. This SONA signifies the beginning of his end. Yup! It’s his last term in office unless a wise nut succeeds in amending the Constitution. This would give PNoy the possibility of having more time to accomplish his role in helping the Philippines become great again.

I must admit that PNoy has given us hope with his “daan na matuwid”. However, for some reason, the results are quite slow. He could have shown more conviction if he were more consistent with his actions and decisions. It is very obvious that when a case involves his BFFs, he softens up. When he really wants to teach officials a lesson due to inefficient work, he scolds them like hell. Quite inconsistent! This is not good for a leader. The people can easily lose the respect they have for him. Anyway, good luck and don’t make this remaining years bring you to the hall of fame of the “lame ducks” incorporated. If you continue to let your BFFs run the government, all your work may be put to waste and even worse, shame.

Going back to today’s SONA, how can media men not speculate about what’s in the SONA? Everyone interested on what the President has to say (from students, skilled workers, market vendors, carpenters, security guards, OFWs, senior citizens to professionals) is quite excited to interpret, analyze, judge, scrutinize and probably even ridicule the speech. I think more importantly, we want to know if the President is telling the truth based on what we see, feel, hear and experience in our daily grind.

Anyway, will PNoy brag about his administration’s accomplishments? Will he talk about his plans for his last term in office? Will he blow his top on department heads who have not performed well? Or will he mesmerize us with his wisdom using too many words we won’t seem to hear or understand? Let’s wait and see!

He will probably talk about: (1) the implementation of the K-12 education program; (2) the economy finally on the rise; (3) more conglomerates setting up businesses in the Philippines which means more job opportunities; (4) the successful implementation of Agrarian Reform Act as seen in Hacienda Luisita (a possible reminder to us that to him “walang kapatid o kamag-anak” kaibigan lang); (5) housing/ resettlement projects for the poor; (6) successful passage of the RH Bill; and the highlight is (7) his P2.268 trillion budget for next year which will pave the way for nation building like improving infrastructure, hospitals, schools, etc.

It is unlikely for him to highlight: (1) the scandalous Pork Barrel Fund Scam allegedly involving some if not many officials from the Senate, Congress, Cabinet members; (2) the $30-M DOTC MRT shakedown; (3) the Philippine National Police’s systems failure – i.e. Ozamiz gang pay off and Atimonan shootout; (4) the National Defense inefficiency on our twice damaged Tubbataha reef and China- Spratly dispute not to mention the NPA and other local rebel groups (so whatever happened to the ‘peace talk’ led by the infamous duo); (5) the plight of our OFWs allegedly abused by our very own Department of Foreign Affairs officials in the Middle East; and (6) the Department of Environment and Natural Resources inefficiency in implementing the law on mining, illegal fishing and illegal logging; and the most recent anomaly of the (7) missing P306-M National Museum’s fund. SONAmagan! He better hold the Department of Budget Secretary Butch Abad and the Commission on Audit Chairman Maria Grace Pulido Tan accountable for all these mishaps. As we would often quip in our local dialect “trabaho lang” (this is part of our work).

The SONA gives the Filipino people a glimpse into the achievements of their President. Ours is a country that regained democracy during the reign of Cory Aquino (our president’s mother who fought the ills of the Marcos Era). In the past, we lacked a clear conception of the democratic principle of equality before the law, and of government by and for the people. For a split second after the People Power Revolution, we enjoyed our freedom but today I think we have abused that freedom and have misused it.

When the Liga Filipina was founded by a great national hero who called for unity, he called on all worthy Filipinos to join in the fight against oppression, in his demands for reforms; and the motto he chose for the new organization was one of equality, “unus instar omnium” – “one for all”, embodying therein the essence and soul of democracy.

That, in brief, is the history and the background of our national aspirations and ideals. And when all pacific means had failed, and a united Filipino people had to appeal to arms as a last recourse, for the vindication of their rights and for the freedom of their country, they founded the KATIPUNAN. And again they proclaimed as their guiding principles towards the liberation and emancipation of the Philippines: Patriotism, Equality and Cooperation.

How will our President unite us and bring us back to the days of glory and chivalry? How can he inspire his men to stop working for themselves but for the country as a whole? When will they start making this country a better place for you and for me?