CRITIC on the SONAs of BENIGNO AQUINO JR.

A Critic Paper presented to the

faculty of Saint Louis University
in partial fulfillment of the Course Requirement
in Political Science I

Saint Louis University

Baguio City

Submitted to:
Atty. Bernard Padang

Submitted by:

Ivory P. Paatan
 Critic on Pnoys SONA

Filipinos were aware that the day the duly elected leader of the Philippines first conducted

his first speech while sitting in the office was full of degrading words on the both top parties

composing the Philippine politics. Obviously, we cannot cut the connection of Sin to Politics.

Clearly, Pnoys SONAs are full of bitterness and contempt against the past administration

because (according to the President) they did not performed their true obligations to the Filipinos

and instead they put the present and future generations into a threatening position. As the present

President of the Philippines (according to Pnoy) he can not tolerate this audacity acted against

the people because he himself is a Filipino and he promised to give justice to these acts. These

are the concepts that are overflowing in both SONAs.

Moreover, both phrases matuwid na daan and baluktot na daad which were mentioned

during the 2010 campaign and election were again brought up during Pnoys First and Second

SONAs. It is considerably (even thought it is bias) implied (even though not directly) that the

baluktot na daan pertains to the past administration while the matuwid na daan refers to the

present administration where he himself is a part of it.

Baluktot na daan was clearly emphasized on both SONAs and the mentioning of the

schemes that the past administration forced upon us, adds to the weight on the consequences of

their acts wherein self-importance were greatly given a value especially to those who are seated

in the government. To counter act the repercussions of the past, the Philippines should be

directed to the matuwid na daan, which the President promises to only consider the welfare of

the Filipinos in every adventure he enters to. Because of these phrases, both SONAs served as

"eye-opener" for the people to see the "difficulties that we are in, the sacrifices that we are

supposed (to take) to help the President with (according to Presidential Spokesperson Edwin

Lacierda).

Pnoy introduced the new definition of wang wang. Wangwang (a term attributed to those

who are corrupt but also to the corruption, especially those of the past administration). In both

SONAs, it is clearly stated that the all the things the past government had done always involved

corruption which in fact is not true for there are projects of them being observed in the present
which are beneficial to the people and furthermore, Pnoy cannot condemn Arroyo for the

anomalies connected to her because of the lack of evidence.

With the wang- wang policy, Pnoy gained so much trust to rewrite historical records and

now holds the highest ever trust rating ever earned by a public official. Seemingly, because of

this, they regarded him as the most credible, the most sincere, and pinned their hopes, their future

on him.

Also, both SONAs are in Filipino language. It shows that Pnoy really give importance to

those who are education-deprived. And because of this, it served, serves and will serve as a

buffer between the discriminations acted by the rich against the poor and vice versa.

Like any typical SONA, plans for the future were talked about; facts about these oncoming

projects adorned with promising words.

First year of leadership led to slight variations in the lives of Filipinos because the projects

are still on the first phase of implementation wherein only selected people are experiencing.

Even though with these feeble effects, the administration proved to be worthy of what they have

said because at least there is a slight difference.

Projects promised and now under operation runs from the different areas in life. Plans

promised in the 2010 SONA, now a functional project that help Filipinos.

First is the NHTS-PR or National Household Targetting System For Poverty Reduction,

which was initiated by the DSWD in 2009 as a scientific approach that seeks to identify who and

where the poor are is now on function. This is done through the agency's assessment of

households through interviews and on-site inspection using questionnaires or the household

assessment form.

Second is the Anti- trust law whom Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago is proposing will

penalize unfair trade and anti-competitive practices to improve consumer welfare and foster by

protecting consumers as well as businesses from wrongful and unfair methods of competition in

commerce. With the influence of the President, this can come to reality.

A measure instituting a national land use policy and providing for its implementing

mechanisms has been approved by the Committees on Natural Resources, on Housing and Urban
Development, and on Agrarian Reform in a joint meeting. Under the bill, land uses are grouped

into four major functional groups, namely: protection land use, production land use, settlements

development, and infrastructure development.

Third is the Public- private Partnerships promised by the president during his first SONA.

The creation of the center, which was named Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines

under the newly-issued Executive Order No. 8, will make way to accelerate the financing,

construction and operation of key government infrastructure projects. This is a part of the major

program of the President to really address the three main issues that has held back the economic

growth of the Philippines in the past 20 years.

Pnoy said that the basic education cycle will be lengthened and there will be building of

new class rooms with the help of GASTPE, a program to assist poor but deserving students in the

financial burden of studying in private institutions. This was funded wherein according to House

Deputy Majority Leader Eduardo Gullas, a total of 610,000 underprivileged high school students

will be recipients of the P 2.4 billion tuition subsidy under the GASTPE program.

Although all of the mentioned above except the NHTS-PR and PPPs, there are bills still

pending from the House of the Congress dated way back 5 years ago, the passage and

implementation of these laws is a big achievement on the part of the administration because they

really did focused on doing so where the past leaders failed to see.

From the plans mentioned in the first SONA, many are still pending for analyzation and

further study. This makes them partly accomplished.

First is the pending case of the Whistleblower bill which safeguards to protect

whistleblowers and witnesses to crimes and corrupt practices in light of the resurgence of the

issue of government officials receiving "jueteng" kickbacks, and the latest revelations by

witnesses in court proceedings of the Maguindanao multiple murder case.

Second is the promised North Luzon Expressway which exists along with existing

highways and the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road, the North Luzon East Expressway will be an

opportunity to move faster the agricultural harvests of Cagayan province, the countrys number

one rice and corn producer along with Isabela. And it opens an alternative gateway for tourism,
complementing the arrivals at the new international airport due to open in October in Lal-lo

town.

For the issue about the military bases, the statement on the SONA that talks about an offer

to lease the Navy headquarters lot on Roxas boulevard and the Bonifacio Naval Station property

in Fort Bonifacio in exchange for $100 million plus an unspecified future cash stream and a new

Navy HQ in Camp Aguinaldo to be built at no cost to government is said to be a dream because

they are imposing on the total privatization of the whole Fort not just a part of it. And the $100

million offer definitely would not measurably be more advantageous to the government because

according to history, the latest military property to be sold was the 35-hectare Jusmag compound

at the back of Forbes Park. In March, Andrew Tans Megaworld won the bidding with an offer to

spend P22 billion to develop the property over 20 years. The government will get P22 billion,

spread over 20 years, from the joint venture. So meaning, P 22billion against $100 million is

much more advantageous for the next 20years.

Fourth is the issue about agriculture wherein the president vowed to build infrastructures.

Through PPP (public-private partnership) projects, the President hopes to build more production,

post-production and marketing facilities including grains terminals, refrigeration facilities,

orderly road networks and trading posts in key food production across the country. The

availability of such facilities will make the compression of the supply chain all the more possible

which translates to reduced costs, higher rural incomes, and better return on investments for

agribusiness. But since the PPP projects are still not fully stable, this project is also in pending

mode. Maybe for the next years, the government can implement it.

The 12-year basic education cycle is among the top priority areas of Aquino in the 10-point

educational agenda during his campaign. But, the issue whether to add two more years will be

resolved only when a general review of the basic education curriculum has been conducted. The

current 10-year cycle to 12 years is possible under Aquinos term but may not be implemented

because the existing curriculum should be finished first.

Promises....promises...promises.... Promises made in the past, still promises in the present

and certainly will not be accomplished in the future. This is the thought that our past leaders have
imprinted in the minds and hearts of the Filipinos. Some political analysts have scored President

Aquino's SONA, saying that it exposed the previous administrations alleged anomalies but

lacked substance in some priority areas like agriculture and housing, among others.

Oh such wonderful words to hear, but its just words, words used to deceive the people,

people who just hear a part then say that it is good but in truth is not. So readers or viewers

should have a good sense of judgement to see behind those words uttered.

Promising something that people really want to hear is a new strategy to corner the

thoughts of people. But saying such things is a sarcasm.

Saying those phrases is an insult to the credibility of the researchers, analysts and

professionals and to the intelligence of the people. We all know that corruption cannot be

eliminated for the mentality of being corrupt is our already our identity, there is no chance for

those who are corrupt to change.

And moreover, the way how people will react to the criticisms is a calculated step towards

preservation and propagation of self-interest. As a citizen, reading the SONA and being drawn

with the promising words uttered, I can say that Pnoy did made a difference because he implied

that he is much better than Gloria Arroyo, but using my critical thinking and independent

judgement, Ive come to realise at this time that it is not for there are many things that Pnoy have

not yet done. In a site I have seen, it said that comparing Pnoy to Gloria is comparing

incompetence to corruption, or in the other sense, they are just the same.

And another thing, he is still building a name so he must focus on making the Philippines

be on the right path (as he promised) and stop blaming Arroyo so we can make a progress.

Blaming cannot prevent the past from happening so he should redirect his focus in making our

country better from before.

But well, it is too early to asses him and his administration. He has still five years to

carryout his mission and the plans he promised to do. Those five years is maybe short for him if

he performs well. And only after finishing his full term we can judge Pnoys performance and

whether if he really proved to himself and to the people that Philippines is now in the matuwid

na daan.