Where are we going, Mr. President?

Just like that, the State of the Nation Address (SONA) was delivered and we were all left thinking and reflecting what the speech means to all of us, to ordinary Filipinos. For one thing, it was a good idea to use Filipino in delivering SONA to the masses as it gives us the opportunity to get us one step closer to understanding what our Presidents wants to convey in his speech and his plans for the future. But is language enough to make us to fully understand what is being said and throw us into awareness of what President Aquino would like the public to know via his speech?

Anti-Corruption Drive

We can’t help but notice that almost all of President Aquino’s efforts are put into anti-corruption activities and we’re all happy about it. This alone is enough to put our people together and give us another dash of hope that the government is doing everything it can to lead us off to a new era of transparency and expose individuals, politicians, and government agencies who were and are involved in malversation of public funds. Talk about PAGCOR’s alleged 1 Billion peso spending on coffee.

Who wouldn’t like a president who present himself as righteous and honest and serve the people with all openness? I, for one, critique President Noy a lot but this thing helps us to have a renewed faith in the government and hope that he’ll ran after those who plundered this nation and used it to advance their personal interest. But in spite of all that was said and done why most of us still find ourselves complaining?

Where are we going?

Where does this all lead to? This reminds me of Dora the Explorer’s answer “To the mountains” to Boots the Monkey in the popular animated TV series for kids. Just like any other project, whether it be corporate or familial, you’d want to know where does all your efforts lead to. Are we expecting 2-5% growth economically in the next year? Are we expecting to get 5 additional battle ships for the Navy before the next SONA? Is he planning to increase teachers’ salary by 20% before 2012 and work on making their salaries tax free before his term ends? Will he start an ambitious project to create economic zones in three specific areas of the Philippines in partnership with local and international companies as part of his drive to increase employment and empower our people?

When do we start doing all these projects? Tomorrow? Next Month? On December? How are we going to do them? Do we need the expertise of economic pundits locally and abroad? Do we need to borrow a certain amount of money from the International Monetary Fund in exchange of part of our sovereignty? Who are the people involved in the project? How can we, the ordinary people, help?

These are the things that are lacking in President Noy’s speech and these are the very same reason why his critiques’ mouths are becoming wider by the day. The question is, “are you listening now Mr. President? Who is your real boss?”

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivers his 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the joint Senate and House session of Congress at the Plenary Hall, House of Representatives Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City Monday July 25, 2011. In the photo are Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. (Photo by: REY S. BANIQUET/ Malacanang Photo Bureau).