Emotional President focuses on legacy in fifth SONA
PNoy (Inquirer)
There were no threats this time.
In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) that sounded more like his last, President Aquino turned emotional as he sought to rally the people, whom he calls his “bosses”, behind his program of reforms and good governance.
He cited the gains of his administration in economic growth, including poverty relief and tax collection, and the legacy he will eventually leave behind.
“Those who are against me are against change,” he said in Filipino.
Aquino said his “Daang Matuwid,” (Straight Path) program could extend far beyond his six-year term so long as the people continue with the path of “transformation” and pick a good successor in 2016.
Instead of a “combative” President defending the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), Filipinos saw a different side of Aquino in his one-and-a-half hour speech when he addressed both Houses of Congress, diplomats and guests who assembled at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
Near the end of his speech, Aquino became emotional as he talked about his parents and his work as President of the country.
He choked when he said: “Patuloy nating mapapatunayan na the Filipino is worth dying for. The Filipino is worth living for. At idagdag ko, the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.”
(We continue to prove that the Filipino is worth dying for. The Filipino is worth living for. And may I add, the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.)
Aquino said that he could not shun the responsibility of leading the country because that would feel like abandoning his father and mother, Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and President Corazon Aquino.
President Aquino said he believes he is already on his second life, after he was ambushed during a coup ‘d’état in the late 1980s.
He said he sometimes wonders what would happen if someone who was threatening his life succeeded.
“Kung dumating nga ang panahon pong iyon, masasabi ko ho bang okay na rin?… Masasabi (kong) kuntento na ako,” Aquino said as his voice broke.
(If that time comes, can I say that everything was well? I can probably say that I am content with what I have achieved.)
Prompt response
Among the achievements Aquino mentioned was the immediate relief given to victims of typhoon “Yolanda.”
Aquino said the government was able to send three C-130 planes to Yolanda-hit areas a day after
the monster storm struck. He also said they were able to send rapid health assessment teams of the Department of Health. Soldiers and police were deployed while relief services by the Department of Social Welfare and Development were delivered promptly.
Aquino pointed out that the three months transition to rehabilitation from relief, was better compared to experiences of other countries like Haiti and tsunami-hit Indonesia.
He opted not to assail the Supreme Court in his biggest speech of the year, despite three previous public addresses lambasting the magistrates for declaring his DAP unconstitutional.
Instead, he spoke of the need to stop certain DAP-funded projects “to ensure that we follow the decision of the Supreme Court” against the economic stimulus program.
He urged Congress to pass a supplemental budget for 2014 to fund such projects, plus a joint resolution that would “clarify definitions and concepts” apparently on the pooling and realignment of government savings.
I think the transformation is now being felt by each Filipino and it’s up to you to continue this,” he said in Filipino.
Mr. Aquino spent a significant portion of his SONA attacking unnamed critics, saying the “loudest” of the them were the ones “who do not want transformation because they took advantage and they benefited in the old system.”
“Mga Boss, kontra po sila sa inyo,” he said. “Ang totoo po, hindi naman ako ang kinokontra ng mga ito, kundi ang taumbayang nakikinabang sa tuwid na daan.” (My Bosses, they are against you. The truth is they are not against me, they are against the people who benefit from the straight path.)
Most of the speech was spent listing gains made in economic growth, including higher collections in the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue as well as improvement in poverty incidence.
Aquino said the crime statistics dipped 29 percent in the National Capital Region alone.
His Powerpoint slides included a photo of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who is perceived as his presidential bet come 2016.
Aquino pointed out that he only has one Sona left and that in 2016, the people will have to choose a new leader of the country, but avoided mentioning any name.
Outside the Batasan complex, a rally ended violently after protesters stormed the police barricade. WAter cannons from four fire trucks blasted red-tinted water for about 20 minutes after 5 p.m. as the President rounded up his speech.
Director Carmelo Valmoria, chief of police of Metro Manila, however, assessed the SONA protests as still peaceful. Angry militants backed off and dispersed voluntarily.
Valmoria said there was no one injured and no one arrested.
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