SONA 2006 and other random thoughts
The State of the Nation Address of President Arroyo is again filled with promises of social development for all. The nation is again musing with all grandness of an institution marred by controversy and questions of illegitimacy. For me, the SONA of 2006 is no different with the SONA of 2001 or the SONA of 2002, etcetera, etcetera.
However, we are here again glued to our TV sets watching the lady, eager to deliver her speech that she even forgot the routines of the event (i.e., the singing of the anthem and the invocation). For the next hour or so, I listened while she delivers her address, and was amazed by the grandness of her design for "four mega-regions" (and a good geography lesson). I even laughed at her side quips about the opposition. As one of the politicians quoted after the SONA, her speech was "Not elegant, but eloquent;" her speech (or any of her SONA speeches for that matter) might not be classy but they are definitely persuasive. Just listen to the more than 160 applauses (the most applause for any SONA according to some reporters) I think many people were convinced by her speech.
Since I was admitted in UP last year I have seen and realized the decadent state our system of governance has been for the longest time (back then I refused to see the actuality of the situation). Listening to the SONA of Arroyo is again another litany of promises coupled with lies but then again what's my choice? I'd rather hear some good news than no good news at all. Which brings me to my critique to the opposition (in and out of UP). Call me a traitor to your cause even pro-administration but I want to see action than endless rhetoric. Reading our school organ, the famous Philippine Collegian, gave me a perspective to our situation (the reason why I have the impression of a "the decadent state of governance") but still I didn't see what I am searching for the longest time, an alternative. I do not want to be ruled by a pessimist, nor be ruled by a self-serving politician. The calls for "Resignation," the threats of a "Numbered Regime," and the "Fighting the Establishment" were calls from an era long gone. I'd rather see an opposition, a school organ giving out alternatives and solutions. But then again, I don't know what are they doing behind their privilege speeches or their newspaper but the opposition congressmen and senators or writers of the Collegian are reflected by their deeds or misdeeds, and their writings so maybe they are really that pessimistic and hopeless about our situation.
An Administration full of lies, an opposition with no alternatives but chaos and self-interest. Two evils of great magnitude but in the end we must all take sides. For me, I would rather take side with who else with most of the people around me, for example my mom once said in Filipino that she would rather choose the President who is doing something than an opposition who's doing nothing at all. A popular call among Filipinos? Perhaps.
An unpopular perspective from a UP student but at least I have said my piece and that's it.
An unpopular perspective from a UP student but at least I have said my piece and that's it.
magnificently done by magnificent drew @ 11:07 PM
3 Comments:
I would rather take side with who else with most of the people around me..
have your own, don't just go with the bandwagon.
mag tgboard ka na rin, hirap magcomment sa ganito e.
almost everyone's talking of GMA's theatrics that is of a SONA. marahil isang signos nga ng palalang pulitikal na sistema sa bansa.
first, i would like to congratulate you dahil finally(!), you've seen the "real" situation of the country.
second, hindi ko magets ung statement na to:
I would rather take side with who else with most of the people around me..
paexpound naman.
PS: lagi nating tandaan, sa UP, bawal ang apathetic.
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