The SONA, if you ask me

If you ask me what's the greatest and most notable achievement that President Noynoy and his bunch of Cabinet members made in the bureaucracy, I'll say that they successfully regained the confidence of the people once more. Noynoy did his part in renewing the faith of the Filipino in himself.  


For nine long years, the Filipino was bruised, chastised and robbed by a bunch of nitwits and misfits wearing barong. The Arroyo administration made a mockery of truth, justice and promoted a state of lawlessness and wanton thievery that slowed down the economy and affected the very lives of every Filipino family. Poverty spread and along with it, hopelessness.


Now, there's some flicker of hope we see in the horizon. At least, we have a President who is not expected to rob us more of billions. That's what a former Gawad Kalinga now Undersecretary told me last week during a quick lunch at Casa Roces.

Wow. Utang na loob pa pala natin na hindi na nagnanakaw ang ating Pangulo. Of course, we expect every President to be a paragon of trust, integrity and honesty in service. It is of no consolation to us that Noynoy does not intend to rob and what is the proof that he does'nt?


The thing that I should have said is this: yep, Noynoy will definitely not rob us of any single cent but what about his cabinet members? What about those directors in government who continue to do the same old practices? What about them?


What do I know? I'm just an ordinary Filipino, working my butt off just to feed my family and give them a good life. 

What I know is this:


1. Oil prices have shot up. It eats up my monthly take home pay so much that I have to cut down my grocery expenses.


2. Food prices are so exorbitant and so unbelievably high that I notice my peso's value shrinking every single day.


3. Jobs are so scarce that my fellow Filipinos are hard put feeding their own families. One example: my 45 year old uncle who lost his job in a bank. He is now trying to make ends meet by selling iced water. 


I don't know nothing much about politics, but I do know about economics. During my college days, I tend to shun anything that concerns numbers. Now, I have to relive those lessons I learned from Prof. Winnie Monsod just to tide things over. By the way, Winnie just gave Noynoy a grade of 4.6, meaning bagsak. 


All I know is that it is business as usual at the Bureau of Customs, the same thing over at other agencies, with the exception of the BIR, and the Bureau of Immigration. There is no noticeable changes in policies in these agencies simply because you need changes in legislation to enhance or improve government services.


What I do know is I'm impressed with the speed my passport application went thru when I renewed my old one. I know that at least, people from the DFA are highly impressed with the way Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario is handling the department.


Who would not be impressed with Cesar Purisima? Inspite of the inactivity of the government in terms of the economy, ours continue to survive mainly because of deft handling of accounts etc. 


Of course, the patriotic Mar Roxas is now managing the DOTC. With him at the helm, expect this agency to function very well, graft-free.


Again, what do I know? I'm just a 40 year old observer of things. 


Lessen the prices of commodities and services, lower the prices of oil and increase the number of jobs. If Noynoy would do all these things, then, I'll say that there are changes.


SONA---SON NA ANG PAGBABAGO?