EUFRACIO, GABRIEL-FORTUNATO V.

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REACTION PAPER

Our president, Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, is about to end his term this June 2016. From the
contents of his last SONA, any person who has an open mind can conclude that the nation's progress
had already commended. People would always tend to complain that the effects of these developments
cannot be felt into their homes because effects come in long-term. We may not encounter the
immediate effects but soon, we will.
His primary program on fighting graft and corruption has given the filipino people another chance that
perhaps their country still has officials that put themselves fully on the service of their people while
disregarding their personal interest for the sake of seeing their brothers and sisters being freed from
suffering.
Infrastructures, upgrading of military facilities, universal health care management, educational
assistance and upgrading were few of his projects that pushed the country to become the 'Asia's Rising
Tiger.' It is mentioned that almost 44,000 of the overseas workers went home to employ themselves
here because they can see the progress of having income in the country which is equivalent to the rate
abroad. These are indicators that Philippines, under his administration is now about to fly into the skies
of prosperity.
However, among the developments, updates, plans and milestones that the administration had
presented, I haven't read a single line regarding tourism, in general. Transportation was mentioned, but
plans, projects, milestones due to tourism was not. He did not cite the importance that having a record
breaking GDP or income tax has something to do with tourism as a major socio-economic tool that
helped the country to rise from ashes.
I am proud of having the current president, I am not a person who only sees errors. His administration
made change, progress and indeed created 'tuwid' na daan. However, I was not fully satisfied due to the
absence of tourism in his thousand-word speech. I hope his successors may prioritize tourism. I hope I
can be part of these people who will push the future president to prioritize tourism and recognize the
industry as a 'mini-messiah' of the filipino people.