Mr. Aquino s SONA, like that of any head of state, is mostly propaganda.

Transcription

1 AS expected, President Noynoy Aquino painted a rosy picture of the native country in his 90-minute State of the Nation Address (SONA) before Congress and the Filipino people last Monday. Mr. Aquino s SONA, like that of any head of state, is mostly propaganda. After analyzing the original Tagalog and English translation of President Aquino s wide-ranging address, I came to the conclusion that the speech was 40 percent accomplishments and 60 percent possibilities and promises. He has four more years to fulfill his promises of good life for the Filipino people. We hope he succeeds. A SONA by any head of state is a piece of propaganda. 1 / 5

2 In an election year, it is a political speech. The difference in the Philippines, though, is that the President there could throw out any number, in all likelihood unverifiable. In the U.S., a president cannot just throw out any number. Otherwise, it could boomerang and embarrass the President. Besides, an American President s claims and figures are verifiable. To make his numbers convincing, Mr. Aquino s speech writers opted not to use rounded off numbers, like the need for 2,573,212 school chairs. Among others, the President cited, as his accomplishments, two programs started by the Arroyo administration, which were continued and expanded under the Aquino government. Those were cash conditional transfer for the poor (CCT) and Phil Health (medical insurance for the poor). He also zeroed in on his achievements in the economy, agriculture, health, job generation, poverty alleviation and infrastructures. Surprisingly, the Chief Executive did not mention anything about the plight or his plans for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). 2 / 5

3 Just a week ago, the World Bank said remittances by a huge Filipino overseas work force, among other factors, will boost domestic demand in the Philippines that will contribute to the continuing improvement of the native country s economy for the rest of As anticipated, President Aquino cited the impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona as one of his accomplishments in the area of anti-corruption. This, despite claims of some observers that the impeachment was carried out under questionable circumstances which could even be regarded as illegal and unjust. In a recent interview by this writer, Manila lawyer Karen Jimeno, member of the Corona defense team, commented, I would have been more comfortable about the impeachment of Chief Justice Corona if the prosecution properly alleged graft & corruption, or the accumulation of ill gotten wealth in the impeachment complaint and proved the same. Asked what she learned from her experience, Atty. Jimeno told us, I...learned that the impeachment process is a double-edged sword it can be used to ensure public accountability, or it can be abused to further political or personal interests. *** Critics of President Aquino in Manila were quick to point out in their commentaries about the SONA that some of the President s claims were not in sync with realities of life. According to a news report, Congressman Teddy Casiño said President Aquino s State of the Nation Address was a smorgasbord of good news that was not felt on the ground. Ang speech ni Pangulo ay smorgasbord ng mga magagandang balita kaya nga siguro humaba nang napakahaba dahil ho siguro lahat ng mapagkukunan ng magandang balita ay sinama na pero sa tingin ko kailangan balansihen ng aktual na karanasan natin 3 / 5

4 on the ground, Casiño said. For example, Casiño said, he had received reports that a lot of Phil Health cards were not really renewed. Walang banggit sa human rights, walang banggit sa presyo ng mga bilihin, di nabanggit yung usapin ng housing, these are very gut issues na mukhang hindi na binanggit kasi hindi masyadong maganda yung magiging balita, said Casiño. He described the speech as insufficient, a one-sided view of the state of the nation that presented only a few critical aspects. He also lamented the non-inclusion of the issues of the Freedom of Information Bill and the whistle blower s protection bill. Except for good governance parang wala namang masyadong reforms sa pulitika. Ang problema nga nitong good governance ay parang nauwi lang ito sa pagfa -file ng mga kaso sa mga dating opisyal ng gobyerno. *** It was also noted by observers that President Aquino did not mention about the achievements of Vice President Jejomar Binay in the area of housing. 4 / 5

5 I think I know the reason why. mcaball241@aol.com 5 / 5