Consumers Domain
By Ian Seruelo

Responsorial SONA
(part 2)

“Performance is your reality. Forget everything else.”

—Harold Geneen

(This is a continuation of this column's article that appeared on last Friday's issue of this paper. This article gives a response to each of the main claims and assertions of Gloria in her recently delivered SONA. In close in quotations are excerpts from the SONA.)

“Indeed, our story as a country on the verge of take off is real. Analysts need only to look at our stock market, and even the peso-dollar exchange rate, to sense the strong anticipation of significant improvements, if only we would overcome the tendency to be our own worst enemy.”

Response: Indeed let us, as a nation, overcome the tendency to be our worst enemy of not confronting the root cause of the country's political and economic bankruptcy that is elite democracy now aptly represented by Her Excellency.

“The other message to send is that we will address the burden that the other Philippine story imposes on our anticipated take-off. I refer to the story of how our political system has now become a hindrance to our national progress.”

Response: Gloria is really driving a ridiculous point. How can one separate the economic sphere from the political sphere? It's as if the political (the hindrance) and the economic (represented by “national progress”) are mutually exclusive fields. The fact is, the very failure of this elite system to advance an economy that can provide for its people is intricately intertwined with the corrupt political system of governance in this country!

“Over the years, our political system has degenerated to the extent that it is difficult for anyone to make any headway yet keep his hands clean. To be sure, the system is still capable of achieving great reforms. But, by and large, our political system has betrayed its promise to each new generation of Filipinos, not a few of whom are voting with their feet, going abroad and leaving that system behind.”

“Perhaps we politicians have done our best; But maybe our best is not enough, given the present system. Perhaps we have strained the present political system to its final limit.”

Response: The only thing that these trapos, headed by Gloria, Ramos, Joe De V, Erap, Drilon and others, were known to do their best is in plundering this country and promote their elite interests. Here is a case where the very promoter of the corrupt system acts as if she is the victim of the same system that she has helped perpetuate and is in fact the main beneficiary of the same!

“It is time to turn to the people, bring them into government -- and change the way that government is done.

Response: Here, at last I can agree with Gloria.. Let us “change the way the government is done” by her and her trapo cohorts not only in the administration but also in the opposition.

“The system clearly needs fundamental change, and the sooner the better. It's time to start the great debate on charter change.”

Response: What a clever diversionary tactic. Well, the Filipinos are not dumb to know that their fake president is merely trying to deflect the attention from issues on her corruption and illegitimacy.

“I take this opportunity to acknowledge the local government executives who have brought about an LGU power revolution through transformative leadership.”

Response: This is a most hollow rhetoric to tickle and satisfy the mayors and other local officials that were ferried by Malacañang to listen firsthand to the annual fantasy speech also known as the SONA.

“In the area of education, we've spent our increased resources on better trained teachers in more classrooms, teaching students in more effective ways. We've laid a strong foundation by building almost 30,000 classrooms in the past four years, providing computer access to more than 3,000 high schools, and beginning a "healthy start" breakfast program for our young school children.

Response: As this article pointed earlier (on part 1) that in education, budget decreased by 1.4% from 2003 to 2004 and another decrease of 3.3% by 2005. The budget for education has been decreasing but annually more than half of the country's resources are drained out to debt servicing. I repeat: the hard facts will not lend any credence to whatever data manipulation this administration is promoting just as to paint a rosy picture.

“But our competitiveness is greatly endangered today by the global oil crisis. I call on Congress to pass legislation encouraging renewable and indigenous energy.”

Response: That is why Gloria has been promoting and endorsing the entry of dirty, health and environmentally hazardous coal fired power plants proposed by her friends in Mirant and Kepco. What an irony!

“In the area of national security, I urge the swift passage of an anti-terrorism law that will protect rather than subvert, enhance rather than weaken, the rights and liberties that terrorism precisely threatens with extinction.”

Response: Tell me, what is more dangerous to national security than subverting the voice of the people and manipulating the country's elections?

“We may disagree among ourselves but let us never lose sight of that greater battle for one people, one country, one Philippines.”

Response: Amen.

(For comments and reactions send SMS to 0919-348-6337 or email to ianseruelo@yahoo.com.)