Last July 23, 2012 was
another day for any other Filipino except for those who bothered to turn on the
television and watch the country’s president 3rd State of the Nation
Address. After the usual recitation of accomplishment and reports of the
administration, many commented that it was an uplifting SONA that made them
hope that it is really a new chapter for the Philippines.
No Aquino SONA is
complete without a blast from the past. He once again felt the need to remind
us of the feats and acts of heroism his parents gave to the country.
Aquino also cited some
of the anomalies in the system of the government but did not bother to say what
he did to stop them. The President also failed to mention the crimes, extrajudicial
killings and police brutality under his administration nor the advances he made
in solution to it.
As many SONA made and
gone, he made the numbers talk to his Filipino people as if they reflect the
sad reality in every Filipino household. Though the numbers made us smile, one
could not ignore that it is still dashed with what everyone wants to hear- lies
and manipulation.
Many wonder how the
advances were made without the citizens really feeling any progress. One of the
harsh truths presented in his SONA was the budget for the SUCs. Though everyone
wanted to hear the numbers growing and the supplies meeting the demands, why
can’t each SUC feel it? In Bicol University alone, budget cuts are flying about
in every department and organization, belts are tightening and projects are
dropped, the question remains, why is the statistic telling something far more
different from the reality?
One of the highlights
in his SONA was also the Maguindanao Massacre case, but the question is, what
did he do so far? He only cited the grievances his government gave for the
victims and possibly the condolences they offered. When will the time come that
not only this heinous crime be solved but all of these killings be stopped. Not
only are there deaths threats to the media people, but countless unresolved
crimes are still out there waiting for justice to be served. Yes, he said that
it should not be forgive or forget, but was it resolved? It feels as if the
case itself was left to wither along with its victims and the other possible
hundreds out there and the hundreds more to be committed.
Probably, the only
striking word the President left in his SONA was the word “Boss”, yes we are
the voice that should advice the president on what he should do. But when will
the time come that the President himself will take the initiative rather than
solve only the woes that reach the Palace gates?
_________________________________________________________________________________
This is actually my critical paper for our subject Investigative Journalism. We were tasked to create a critical paper about P-noy's SONA.
0 comments:
Post a Comment