“THE ROAD TOWARDS TRUE CHANGE”

A Reaction of PNoy’s 1st SONA

By: Kristine Athena Monsanto

When I was listening to the SONA of our President, I was curious of

what change would he give or cause to our country? I could remember
before that I barely watched the news or read newspapers anymore, for me
they were all negativism and broken promises. In some way, I was so
disappointed with the governance we had in the Philippines already and I
don’t believe in our leaders anymore.

The SONA of our President seems to give me light and inspiration, this
may be the change that I was looking for, for me, for my family and for our
country. The good thing about our current President Benigno Aquino, III, is
that he gives every Filipino hope and inspiration. Not only because of his
promises and programs but also because we Filipinos are inspired by him to
do what we can do and contribute to our country. He inspires us to have our
own ways and initiative on how we can help improve our country and our
lives. He inspires us to go for our DREAMS and have FAITH and HOPE in GOD
that change could happen and we can achieve it now. In summary, PNoy’s
SONA was all about inspiring each and everyone that we can still do
something and achieve our dreams and now is the time to act. This is what
Philippines need today, not great promising leaders but inspiring leaders that
could encourage us Filipinos to move and believe that we can still do
something for change and success.

I commend PNOy in using the national language in his speech. In this

way, he was talking to the public more intimately to the concerned citizens
who are the “common tao”. He made a report on the current state of our
country: the funds and budget deficit we have for the year 2010; the
anomalies in the different departments in our government; and the projects
and programs he has for the government. He mainly focused on how to stop
corruption in our government. He cited MWSS, NAPOCOR, MRT and NFA as
examples of departments and agencies that have been operating with so
much corruption. Of course, the then President was not spared from criticism
in Ploys speech, so much anomalies in the governance of the ex President
Arroyo that surprised the Filipino public in general. Some commented that
Pnoy should stop criticizing the past government and focus on the programs
for his government on how to grow our economy and create jobs. But I agree
with PNoy in addressing first things first, before making these programs into
a realization we should go first for the root of all causes why Philippines
remains poor, which is corruption. We had so many programs then, brilliant
ones from the previous Presidents, and in the same way PNoy has his
projects and programs also but if we don’t get to the core reason to solve the
problem of corruption in our country same thing is going to happen. We will
never be successful.

PNoy’s programs towards the development of our country is focused

on: killing corruption in the government; Education; Infrastructures; Health;
Police and Military support; Agriculture; Economic growth; Response to
National Calamities; and PEACE settlement in Mindanao. PNoy’s magic in
inspiring and urging Filipinos to initiate and do great things for our country
was highly exemplified by the projects and help extended by interested
parties in creating Express Way from Manila to Cagayan Valley and the rental
of the Armed Forces Headquarters which would be a great help to us.

PNoy’s concern for our environment was not really highlighted in his
SONA, although he expressed it while stressing importance in cutting
corruption in MWSS wherein PNoy mentioned, “Pati po ang La Mesa
Watershed ay hindi nila pinatawad. Para magkaroon ng tamang supply ng
tubig, kailangang alagaan ang mga watershed. Sa watershed, puno ang
kailangan. Pati po iyon na dapat puno ang nakatayo, tinayuan nila ng bahay
para sa matataas na opisyal ng MWSS.” It is so sad that even the
environment is used by our government agencies in their corruption
activities and it is so evident that these officials care less for others so long
as they continue to make themselves richer and richer. This is the very
reason why we should all help each other to fight corruption. With corruption
everything else is sacrificed: people, environment, economy, education, etc.
And so long as corruption is in our government, whatever program we may
have for success would be impossible to achieve.

I am inspired by the PNoy in his being prudent on how we should use

our funds. He cited laws that he would pass to answer our growing needs, he
said for us to succeed sacrifice should be made and we start by being
prudent. Such laws are as follows: Procurement Law amendment; AntiTrust
Law; and the Fiscal Responsibility Bill. Other laws he emphasized were the
passing of the National Land Use Bill for agriculture and the strengthening of
the Witness Protection Program.
 Lastly, Pnoy never failed to appreciate the agencies and government
department who work hard and whose works are remarkable such as the:
Department of Energy; DPWH secretary SIngson; and the Cabinet. I believe
appreciation is very essential in motivating an individual to be excellence in
what he does and we need to be appreciated to keep the fire and desire to
work burning continuously. With this, little by little we are getting closer
towards the true change we have been longing for.

In totality, Pnoy’s SONA may not be promising but it gives us so much

inspiration to DREAM, have FAITH in GOD and HOPE that CHANGE could
happen and it could happen NOW!