Cheers and Jeers for SONA

Going into his last two years in office, President Benigno S. Aquino III delivered his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27 before the joint session of Congress. As usual, the Chief Executive’s report on his administration’s accomplishments was glowing but was wanting on many other issues. Thus, as in his other SONAs, the report drew cheers and support and jeers, especially from his known critics.
It is noteworthy that the President earned plaudits from Vice President Jejomar Binay, his perceived successor whom he mentioned in his speech. Mr. Binay commended Mr. Aquino for his candor and sincerity as he spoke from the heart. Ironically, even Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., two of the three senators who were jailed by the Aquino administration for perceived corruption, declared they were happy with the President’s report, especially on what the President claimed as his biggest accomplishment – steering the Philippine economy into becoming one of the region’s most resilient and robust. Finally, they said the President came out with the most decent SONA focused on the programs and projects instead of flexing muscles, politicking and making snide remarks. Revilla said that the President would have made more significant gains in addressing the needs of the people if he took on this kind of attitude when he first assumed office in 2010. For his part, Estrada added: “I join the people in wishing our President to succeed and to realize his promises to the people, especially during the remaining two years of his term.”
On the other hand, seven known critics and party-list congressmen belonging to the Makabayan group walked out of the House of Representatives session hall even before the President could start his speech. Other lawmakers later branded Aquino’s SONA a failure, for allegedly not providing concrete solutions to the pressing problems affecting majority of Filipinos. For instance, Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said the President should have mentioned in his SONA how he intends to make ordinary Filipinos feel the effects of the economic growth that his administration has been touting. Gatchalian stressed that progress can only be felt by the masses if they are provided with improved social services such as education, free health care and hospitalization, affordable medicine, low-cost housing, clean and potable water, low-cost electricity and cheaper transport fare. Buhay party-list Rep. Jose “Lito” Atienza Jr., a former Manila mayor and Cabinet member, said the President gave an incorrect report on the true state of the nationsince he devoted a huge chunk of his speech extolling his administration’s achievements. “[Problema sa] bigas, bilihin, peace and order, brownout ang dapat narinig. Ang tawag ng kabataan diyan ay boom panes,” Atienza said in a separate statement.
Unlike his combative speeches in the past, Mr. Aquino became emotional this time as he recounted how he almost died during a failed coup attempt against his mother in 1987. He admitted that the thought of getting killed during his incumbency has, in fact, crossed his mind, adding that if anything happened to him, he would have been satisfied with what he had accomplished in his more than four years as the country’s top elected official.
Certainly with myriad accomplishments and more things to do in the remaining two years of his term, Mr. Aquino’s speech was not a goodbye as some suggested. We are sure that for more than four years, the Chief Executive has learned his lessons in governance and would thus be guided better in the years ahead.