SON NA ANG PAGBABAGO (Where's the Transformation)?

President Benigno Aquino III's speech lacked the power needed to really change society. It also lacks substance. If you read it, it is an attempt to replicate the powerful speeches of US President Barack Obama. Good, however, it turned out to be a mis-mash.


The State of the Nation Address of Aquino was actually a brief departamental report of the performances of several divisions. Aquino reported how several divisions (i.e., DFA, DOE, DOTC, etc) performed during the last year. There were bright spots like his claims that the government were able to save this and that, but it is clearly evident that Aquino deliberately missed several of the main and most crucial issues bedeviling this Nation since Day One.


Aquino never mentioned about the progress of peace talks in Mindanao. Yes, you may have credit upgrades up to seven times, but with just one incident in Mindanao and all would be lost. 


Aquino boasts of building new roads and bridges, but without farmers owning their own lands, how would they be productive enough to even plant those rice and harvest them and take them to markets?


He mentioned that 1.6 million jobs were created but he never did mention if these are full-time positions or casuals. He talked about renewing foreign investor confidence but he never mentioned those problems pointed out by the foreign chambers that is the continued red tape and bureaucratic bullshits that choke the life out of foreign investors.


He says that self-rated poverty went down to about 15% from 25%, but he never mentioned that this reflects the higher sociological impact of the people, not the true state of poverty incidence. Poverty incidence remains very high and in fact, has risen a couple of notches since January 2011.


The only concrete thing he mentioned was the Spratlys issue that while we seek for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, we nonetheless, find ways of re-equipping our naval forces with some sophisticated equipment like ships and air power. 


For the SONA to really be effective, it must answer the question SON NA ang Pagbabago? (Where are the changes?).


A true SONA tells us what reality really is. Every Filipino will face every problem like a man. I believe that it will not hurt if Aquino tried to really say what the root cause of the problems is.


Aquino should have levelled off with the Filipino, and while doing that, provided much needed solutions to the systemic problems of the country. It will not be a shame if Aquino told the people that these problems remain because of a bloated bureaucracy lumbering about while the world changes. That the system is really the true problem, Aquino should have mentioned that. Aquino should have admitted that the reason why changes are very slow stems from the fact that the system itself prevents changes from happening. 


Arroyo was brave enough to tell this to foreign investors and several other Philippine legislators before. People expect Aquino to be better than Arroyo. 


In short, that one hour speech was not just malamya but walang bayag.

State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Noynoy Aquino III

Isa lamang ako sa milyong Pilipinong nakinig at naluha nang ikwento ni Pangulong Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino ang lagay ng ating Inang Bayan.


Hindi ko naiwasang naluha dahil kalunos-lunos na ang naging lagay ng ating Inang Bayan matapos ang siyam na taong pahirap ng dating rehimeng Arroyo.


Isa lamang ang mensahe para sa akin ng unang SONA ni Pangulong Aquino---ang kasakiman ng mga dating namuno sa ating bayan. Kasakimang dulot ng labis-labis at walang habas na pag-alispusta sa kapangyarihan.


Isipin na lamang na bilyong pisong halaga ng bigas ang nalustay habang 4 na milyong Pamilyang Pilipino ang nanatiling gutom at walang makain sa araw-araw. Ilang milyong kaban ng bigas na inangkat


Ilang milyong piso naman ang ipinabigay sa mga board members of MWSS bilang labis-labis na bayad mula sa kaban ng bayan. Ito ang mga pangalan ng mga nangisawsaw sa pinaghirapang pera ng taumbayan.


Gabriel S. Claudio,CHAIRMAN


Diosdado Jose M. Allado, VICE CHAIRMAN


DIRECTORS


Dir. Aurora R. Arnaez
Dir. Lorenzo S. Sulaik
Dir. Alfred C. Reyes
Dir. Ferdinand P. Mahusay



Tandaan natin ang mga pangalang ito, sampu ng kanilang mga pamilya---ang mga ito ay nakinabang ng lubos sa ating mga pinaghirapang buwis at kung makikita natin sila sa daan, papanagutin natin sila sa kanilang mga kasalanang laban sa bayan.


Kung mayroon pa silang hiya sa kanilang katawan, nawa'y magbitiw na sila sa kanilang mga tungkulin. O kung hindi, nararapat nang maki-alam ng mga Bayaning Pinoy upang isa-isa silang mawala sa serbisyong bayan.


Ilang bilyong piso rin ang sinayang ng mga dating opisyales ng Napocor na nagbenta ng palugi sa Meralco sa kasagsagan ng eleksyon noong panahon ni Arroyo.

Ito ang mga kadahilanan kung bakit mahal ang presyo ng bigas, mahal ang presyo ng tubig at mahal ang presyo ng kuryente.

Kasakiman na ang nararapat na kaparusahan ay walang hanggang kamatayan sa mga nagtaksil sa taumbayan.

The color of the SONA

Mrs. Arroyo wore a fushcia colored dress, described a radio reporter who covered the State of the Nation address (SONA) yesterday. There were instances where Mrs. Arroyo wore shades of red or a simple fiery red dress--when she gave that SONA that condemned rebel soldiers who trooped to a posh hotel just to make a statement.

Now, many people, especially those who criticize her, see this as an expression of her fighting stance. Yes, many would definitely give some "color" into this. Though Mrs. Arroyo's color selection is simply out of touch and definitely NOT the fashion color of this year (yellow is 'IN'), observers believe this highlights her main message---fight for the Filipino People.

Arroyo believes that she's fighting a good fight---improving the economy, giving houses to the poor and enhancing the investor environment. For some though, she failed, and failed miserably.

She's fighting to stay in power, some say. Her speech yesterday was not what we expect her to say--that she'll step down from that perch come June 2010. But, we're not that naive. Her greedy husband and son just told us the truth---she intends to leave Malacanang and we must believe them. Why?

They know the implications of such a thing. If they renege on this, they know that they'll be courting disaster. It's really their fault. Arroyo made a mistake when she announced her political plans on Rizal day in Baguio. And they love giving double-talks. If Arroyo lied, then, let her be. She knows her accountabilities.

This is something which I observed. Instead of relaying the right message, Mrs. Arroyo actually showed her tendency to be really out of touch of reality. That summarizes her entire administration.

For example, she gave us a glowing rundown of economic policies, which, are really excellent. Yet, what she probably failed to say is there is still a growing segment of our population that did not see or even felt this. GDP and GNP are two indicators of economic progress. Yet, for those in the lowest rungs of society, these terms mean nothing.

She talked about the vastly improving ICT sector but what she failed to say is, those who belonged to the 600,000 or so people who got jobs from this sector, all belonged to the educated (at least) segment of the society. Of course, there is some spillover effects, like in the construction business. And indirectly, some segments of the poorest classes benefited by working as masons and construction workers. Yet, as I said, this is still a work in progress.

Now, if we ask then, should we then conclude that she failed in her performance as president? Not entirely. She was able to weather all these storms that came in her way---political and economic instabilities. It takes a strong willed leader to survive all that. And for that, let's give her credit.

It takes a very strong political will to be able to realize the dreams of 1.8 million Filipino families to own their own house and lots. It takes a strong political desire to keep the economy afloat despite the strong surges of the global financial tsunami. Strong leadership is also needed in a patron-client kind of political system, where people's loyalties are based on "what is in store for me?" instead of "what do you offer as a vision so that my performance as a public servant is enhanced?" And surely, it takes more than patience to deal with rapacious business suit-wearing ass-lickers and opportunists who lurk in the shadows inside the palace.

What is important is, Mrs. Arroyo's administration just proved one glaring fact---we need a change in the system. Honestly, our choices to succeed her lack one or two very important leadership qualities. Of course, these people have their own management styles and concepts of governance. But, these are, at best, unproven. They are all abstractions.

In a culture such as ours, weak leadership means one thing---an unstable and weak government, susceptible to attacks against all political forces, be it beneficent or malevolent. In a state of transition, weaker political players wait in the wings for the opportunity to strike. To her credit, Mrs. Arroyo successfully handled the government despite charges of corruption, power monopoly, and interventionist actions by her husband.

Mrs. Arroyo's actions are good studies in state dynamics and public administration. It is a classic case of balancing power.

The State of the Nation under Arroyo

Over at the New Philippine Revolution, a new online news magazine blog, there is a comprehensive report on the State of the Nation Under Arroyo. This report assesses the Arroyo administration using the lenses of other think tanks. It is a unbiased assessment from the time she seized political power from former president Joseph Estrada to the time she addresses the nation and reports her achievements.

Support http://www.newphilrevolution.com. And the new Filipino user generated news blog http://www.filipinonewsnetwork.com.

Manila archbiship Gaudencio Rosales today urged Arroyo to tell the truth. It's best, says Rosales, that Arroyo reveals the unblemished truth on the state of the nation so that everyone especially the next administration, would know what to do next.

But, will Arroyo heed the church call and show the Filipinos the true state of the nation? I doubt it, especially now that Mrs. Arroyo would face US president Barack Obama. Surely, that would spoil the broth, so to speak, since, as what the Washington Times said, echoing the previous statement by NPR, that the visit would just be a political subterfuge by Arroyo. Even the Americans know that it was a bad judgment call by the White House in inviting Arroyo. If they're so concerned with terrorism in Asia, the White House should have invited Indonesia instead.

Palace to use H1N1 issue as ruse for SONA delay?

Is Malacanang thinking of calling for a special session ahead of the scheduled SONA on July 27, using the worsening H1N1 as a reason?

It seems like it since there are suggestions that the Palace, through Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita is amenable to delay the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo if the situation worsens. The question I would like to pose is this---is this allowed by the Constitution?

Obviously, the charter is very explicit on this. Under Section 23, Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution, it says that:

The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session. He may also appear before it at any other time.

And when is the regular session of Congress? In Section 15, of Article VI, the date of the regular session is explicitly stated, thus:

The Congress shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its regular session, unless a different date is fixed by law, and shall continue to be in session for such number of days as it may determine until thirty days before the opening of its next regular session, exhaustive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. The President may call a special session at any time.

Now, that provision is very explicit and directory, meaning, it cannot be changed except with a law passed that would direct the Congress to change the date of its regular session. Changing the date of the regular session, at this point, is impossible since Congress is on recess and there is, I think, difficulty in assembling at least 200 Congressmen to vote on this.

There are talks that Malacanang wants to use this H1N1 issue as a ruse to allow itself to declare a State of Emergency or at the least, use it to delay the SONA. As I wrote, this is not possible since the provision is very explicit, probably except if there is a national emergency.

What is the effects of a delay in the opening of a regular session? Well, one it pushes back the passage of pending legislation. And two, it also allows Congressmen, especially allies of the president, to consolidate their forces and muster enough numbers to really convene the House as Constituent Assembly. Talks are rife that Malacanang would not be able to get the required 240 votes for con-ass, says Fr. Bernas. Yet, Cong. Ortega said, this is still achievable.

Now, then, this H1N1 issue could be used as a basis to call for a special session ahead of the SONA, austensibly, to call on the passage of a law that would delay the SONA date. If this would be the case, this would be the very first time that the date of regular session would be changed since 1987.

Let's not fool ourselves

This Monday (July 28), expect not a few people to go out in the streets to protest. Despite the scare tactics being employed by the military and police, groups from the Youth sector, church, civil society and the Genuine Opposition will gather together and present their own State-Of-The-Nation Address (SONA).

And then, what?

Are these groups really serious in making their point known to the world, that everybody hates Gloria and her gang of misfits? Or, are they just going there because it's always a tradition for oppositionists to bang their gongs whenever a head of state opens Congress?

If groups would just do this just to make noise and cause an horrendous traffic jam, then, don't bother. Better stay at home or go to work. Why?

Much as I want to go to the streets and protest, if these things would just be something momentary and would not lead to anything serious, then, I'm just wasting my time. Actions such as these should at least result to something. If it's just a way for these elites wearing activists suits to help people let off steam, then, don't bother. 

People have this attitude because what they expect from these people is something different. They expect them to take the people's cause seriously. What do I mean by this?

When civil society and the rest of the anti-Gloria groups rally, it should at least be part of a bigger thing. If it's just political posturing to make "papogi" come 2010, then, come on people!

The Filipino masses deserve something better. They want action. They want a leader or a group of leaders who'll finally tell Gloria that it's time to leave. 

People don't want to be used. No. They want to be a part of something different, something big, something historic and something that would change their lives forever.

They want another revolution. Yes, the masses had had enough of misguided rule. They want their government to be responsive of their  needs, not a bureaucratic monolith that cause them death. No.

If these groups cannot give the People this, then, let's just pack our bags and wait for 2010 to come. I don't want to hear political speeches. I don't want to listen to a litany of complaints. And I don't want to be told that I'm being fooled by this government. 

I know that when Gloria grabbed power from Erap. I already realized that when she cheated FPJ of victory. I definitely saw that when Gloria admitted calling Garci and when she dipped her fingers in an anomalous ZTE contract. And, truly, I already knew that government and big oil companies colluded to fool me to buy overpriced gasoline and diesel just to make VAT collections big. 

The people are not fools. It's time for civil society and all the rest of like-minded change catalysts to band together and put our money where our mouths are. If we want change, and we want it now, let's act now and save this country from another 2 years of Gloria's rule.