SONA 2011: State of the Nation Address and Amazing Stories

Everyone was expected to look smart and chic.

The women looked stunning in their Filipiniana ensembles. The men looked dapper and handsome in their barong tagalog. Batasang Pambansa was in its full regalia. No it's not Runway Philippines. It would have been a Filipiniana fashion event if not for the distinguished faces of prominent politicians in the country. In the afternoon of July 25,2011, Filipinos listened to Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s second State of the Nation Address. For solid 53 minutes, the Philippine president reported to the nation.

Did you listen to the SONA yesterday? Or were you busy doing something else? As a Filipino, what grade will you give the president?

At the moment, I only have a few things to say about it.

Pres. Noynoy Aquino


First. It’s funny that the president should always punctuate his speech with how his administration fares well without failing to refer to the pitfalls of the previous administration. A good friend of mine actually posted something on her FB account. One shot every time the president blames the previous administration for the miseries of the present one. If this is the case then……

I might end up drunk by the time the president is finish with his speech.

I’m no staunch defender of the previous president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but I’m no fan either of the current one. I’m caught-in-between if I may say. I don’t want to say I’m not thankful for what they have done for this country.

I am.

It’s not easy to deal with the problems of the whole nation. A person could only take a few problems in one day. How much more that of the whole nation? But the thing here is, why do you have to spend so much time comparing your administration with the previous one? Would it be that the SONA is just a venue to compare and contrast the past and the present administration?

I don’t want to sound too judgmental but I just find it quite amusing and annoying that the president should be constantly referring to the previous administration in his speech. He seems to sound and appears to be on a war path. It is disturbing to me that he finds it practically simple to simply make it appear that he inherited the government in such a bad state from the previous one.

It is a shame that Noynoy forgets he is the president of the Republic of the Philippines.

Blaming the previous administration for the state of things when he was elected as the president of this country makes him appear no better than the former president. Will it make him good in the eyes of every Filipino because of that? Absolutely, no. It is appears to be politicking.

But indeed, yes, this is politics. What do you expect?

Second, I appreciate it that the president chose to deliver his speech in Tagalog and not in English. It’s like music to my ears. It is but fitting to do that. Our language captures the nuances of our very own culture. No more no less.

Third, I am particularly disheartened upon hearing figures of how some politicians continue to rob our country and the Filipinos the right to live like human beings, free from poverty and corruption. We get to hear the same stories year after year but still, they never fail to make me sad and at the same time, angry. It is righteous indignation if you ask me.

Fourth, I am now a firm believer to the idea that politicians should undergo a lie detector test before they step down from their offices. Just imagine the scenario. I’m quite sure many of them would be probably busy with their arguments against this suggestion.

And yes, I would be dead meat by the time they approve it.

Last but not the least, I never knew that having coffee at PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) was SO EXPENSIVE. I will have to visit them when I get myself to Manila sometime soon. I would love to taste their highly rumored coffee for a change. I hope I don't get choked while having it.

So, what's my grade for the president and his administration?

I'm giving him a conditional failure. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. I'm giving him another year and let's see what happens. Then that's it.

For the meantime, for the sake of the future generation, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Ladies Room, Madame Senator and Women

I am particularly awed by her brilliance and fiery eloquence.

She's simple and very accomodating but yes, to her enemies she's a force to reckon with. When she speaks, everybody listens. She's one of the very few politicians in the Philippines who possesses unquestionable integrity.

How's that for excellence?

During our celebration of International Women's Month last March 4, 2011, we invited Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to open the Women's Month Celebration at UP Visayas with a talk about the Reproductive Health Bill and Women's Empowerment. This was in coordination with the Ugsad, the Regional Gender Resource Center and Western Visayas.

All pictures were taken last March 2011.

Always fiery and charismatic.She never fails to capture the audience with her witty lines and exceptional brilliance.

Visiting the UPV Gender and Development Building. (At the background is the unfinished building of UPV Cinema. Construction still ongoing.)

The university was picture perfect that day. Simply beautiful. (Took the shot just right across my morning class.)

All is set for the lecture, right Tita Lucy? Purple balloons and motif for the day. It's indeed Women's Month.

Prof. Jane (emcee) and Ms. Almera of UPV Alumni Office posed while everybody was going crazy with the senator ;-).

Tita Mabeth and Tita Lucy...Great job ladies! Let's toast to that!

That ever familiar facial expression...

The national theme for the month-long celebration was “Magna Carta of Women, the Philippine CEDAW: in support of the Millenium Development Goals" while the United Nation’s theme for Women’s Day was “Equal Access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent works for women.”

Other activities that week include:

Self-Defense for Women...Learning Filipino Martial Arts....Hai!!!

Ladies Room

The U.P. in the Visayas Gender and Development Office was grateful to all those who supported the event. It was a huge success.

Madamo guid nga salamat Inday Miriam!!!