President Noynoy Aquino delivered his fourth State of the Nation Address in the joint session of Congress on July 23. The people listened; many approved, some did not.
But that’s the state of the nation.
The President’s SONA lasted for almost two hours, including interruptions coming from his frequent coughing. I watched the pained looks on the faces of lawmakers and guests every time he coughs.
Mr. President, you really have to stop smoking. Your coughing fit has become annoying.
In the time of the Caesars, in Rome, a fit or a seizure, from epilepsy not coughing, was considered a divine attribute. Well, Mr. President, not your cough.
I used to be a heavy smoker before, I stopped cold turkey more than eight years ago and have never smoked ever since. I call in sick at work less often, I breathe easier and Dr. Gallardo is happy.
I could feel the pain, dryness, and irritation in the Presidential throat as he was speaking for I experienced the same when I was still teaching and later when I was doing training for a national company in the Philippines. The vibration cause by talking tickles the throat and tonsils. It is not only painful but embarrassing and could be damaging to his overall health.
Whether the President quits his smoking or not that is for him to decide. What happens for the meantime, three years to go by the way, his bosses (as he calls the Filipino people) would have to bear his coughing which at times interfere the clarity of the message. Ones trend of thought, while listening, may wander off as one thinks about the health of one’s president.
The president’s health is the nation’s concern; his bosses should worry about that. Not to mention that it is annoying.
Aquino’s SONA mostly a litany of accomplishments which could be rightly bragged about was really long. Even for a movie two hours is too long unless it is riveting and exceptionally good.
I read the SONA in English and have listened a replay of it on the web in Filipino. The president has a solid grasp of the national language and this greatly enhanced the sincerity of his words. His use of the language is elegant yet simple to be understood by the common people.
As he speaks directly to the people in a language that is commonly understood from north to south, east and west, despite its length most would have appreciated it as they are entitled to know what changes have been done, being done and which ones are being planned.
In these times when we are in difficulty to know who to believe and that when these persistent doubts have grown to turn people to be cynical – I tend to believe in this President as my faith in the papacy is restored in this current Pope.
What he enumerated in his speech, for example, the cleaning of the esteros of squatters and other structures that block the flow of water that cause the flooding in Metro Manila recounts a fuller version of the overall project and not the half truths that are often dished out by critics.
His words are anchored on reality; reality that people on the streets face every day.
He scolds those who do not perform and praise those who take to heart the administration’s drive against all corruption. Some say that a leader should only admonish in private and heap praise in public. I agree but with the thick faces that corrupt bureaucrats and politicians have — they need to be shamed in public.
Noynoy Aquino has three years more to go in his term. With his sincerity, he should make use of this and muster all political will toward a real transformation that will benefit the majority of the Filipino people. He should learn from the experience of his mother. Cory was perceived by many as weak and did not take advantage of her popularity to pivot toward a new Philippines.
I only agree with that in part. Cory inherited a country that was totally buried deep in bankruptcy, in body and in spirit as an effect of twenty years of martial law. She governed a nation at a time where pro Marcos forces had still their tentacles intact. Her son, the current president, has his political machinery in full force; his popularity is backed up by his parents’ popular legacies.
All he need is a strong will and robust health. Quitting cigarettes could help.
Speaking of legacies, the late Ruben Cusipag, founder, publisher and editor of this paper until his wife Tess took over, has undoubtedly left a lot to live by for our community. His pioneering entrepreneurship in the field of grass root journalism is still unparalleled so far.
It was such an irony that in the latter part of his life he was not able to do the passion that defined him — empowering the little guys through his brand of journalism. It wasn’t the length of time that he practiced his craft , it was how he did it.
Goodbye, Ruben, you have written your life well.
