SONAm bonum

This week’s title is a play on a Latin expression popularized by Kant to describe the ultimate objective which human beings “ought” to pursue: the common good. Over the past few days, we have heard the various reactions to the President’s 2nd SONA. Predictably, there are the partisan critics and resident supporters along the fringes. But by and large, the majority seem to be satisfied. Indeed, endlessly debating its content may lead us to “over-intellectualizing” and, in so doing, miss the point and context of what, I feel, was the highlight: its form.

Unlike other SONAs, last Monday’s was delivered in the vernacular which jibed with the colloquial and easy expression that the President used in conveying his message. And this, I believe was the SONA’s main strength: it was delivered in a language and style that would resonate with the people  the marginalized many who are often left out of the conversation. Nearly every step of the way, the President portrayed the administration’s triumphs and findings through a bottomline question: what does it really mean for the common tao? (After all, this has always been a main criticism against SONAs: that, at the end of the day, people on the ground rarely ever feel the economic gains.)

The running theme of this year’s SONA was connected to his first. The President described the wang-wang (in a more metaphorical way) as emblematic of what is problematic in our society: abuse of power that manifests itself in myriad ways. From the annoying practice of some who blare their sirens in their hurry to get ahead of others, to the more “corrupt and convoluted,” that is, entering into contracts that are grossly disadvantageous to the government (and to the people), and the insidious raiding of the public coffers.

The “no wang-wang” policy is meant to be a clear message against a sense of entitlement among our public officials, as well as the intent to level the playing field. To impress the promise that this policy brings, the President made references to the country’s improved credit ratings, renewed investor confidence, and overall positive economic outlook for the country.

The President also got “personal,” as he recounted one of his campaign experiences. Without meaning to take away anything from the plight of the lady whom he mentioned, what I find even more interesting is the way that the President deviated from what has become the usual course. In past SONAs, we have been treated to “poverty porn”  such as contrived stories of paper boats that miraculously found their way to the Palace. His story seems to reveal a progressive shift in the mindset: from a culture of mendicancy to a real attempt to raise the impoverished out of the poverty trap. In this regard, the President made reference to the conditional cash transfer program. (However, the jury is still out on the long-term success and sustainability of these interventions.)

There will always be debate on what was lacking from or deficient in the SONA. To my mind, the bottomline is whether the government is meeting our people’s reasonable expectations and needs. And the best people to speak about this are the SONA’s intended audience: the common tao.

We should also not forget the historical context: that aside from the difficulty of getting to our collective destination, our point of departure was simply not the most ideal. I concede that the revelations of the past few months risk leaving us all “exposé” fatigued and a tad jaded. The past 9 years had, somehow, conditioned us into a state of resignation, so much so that recollecting them now, even in the context of trying to reform and do something about them, leaves us a little desensitized. (And I suppose that the “scaled back” digs at the Arroyos is an indication of that sensitivity  one that proved providential, for an acerbic tone would not have played out well to the unexpected unfortunate event that followed: the hospitalization of the former President.)

Finally, how do these vignettes and anecdotes relate to good governance? Admittedly, in dealing out the prospects of progress, the President referred to tentative and conceptual links. To this, I offer three observations. First, there is much consolation that can be derived from lofty aspirations provided that they are grounded or have some basis in reality.

Watching the SONA  and reading it again  one would not be hard-pressed to note how the President took pains to explain in and substantiate these “aspirations” with concrete examples.

Second, despite these examples, some people would still say that there were not enough concrete measures. Here, I find that there was a bit of miscommunication. As I found out, minutes after the SONA ended, a more detailed SONA Technical Report was made available online.

Third, beyond the specifics, there is a clearly indicated vision and mission: good governance is the key to economic progress. And in many ways, the SONA was meant to inspire, as much as it gave ideals to aspire to  in this respect, I’d like to think that it delivered.

Finally, what is most striking about this SONA is its “call to action” underpinned by themes of co-operation and return to “good values and right conduct.” The same call that was made to the local government units was made and sought to be impressed upon each and every Filipino  that is, to remember that we are all part of a greater cause and to bear in mind that our government is only as good as our people. And, yes, it is our goodness that allows us to endure even the most corrupt administration  and, in the end, it is that which should remain: our ability to express our gratitude for the blessings that we can count on, the grace of the people we can rely on.

Salamat po.

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“It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong.”   Jeremy Bentham

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