Critique of 2012 State of the Nation Address (SONA) of BS Aquino – Part 7 – Making the Possible Impossible

This part of the SONA panders to the Filipinos – who obviously, don’t know any better than to applaud the figures they don’t understand. Whaddya expect from a dumbed down populace whose education consists of how to be a good serf and asswipe – critical thinking not an option.

I thank you for your work, and I thank you for being an instrument of true justice—especially at the height of the impeachment trial. I thank, too, the two institutions that form our Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives—which were weighed and measured by the Filipino people, and were not found wanting.

To everyone that ensured that our justice system worked well: You weathered many challenges and criticism, and even misgivings; couple that with the anxiety over possible failure, of having to face the ire of those you went up against, after a mission lost. But you did not falter. The Filipino people were relying on you, and you proved that their faith was rightly placed. You did not fail the nation; you further brightened our futures.

True justice knows math. Not the sort of math where one totals running balances – then says a crime has been committed.

The two institutions that form Tongress validated their pigheaded submission to the shock and awe of the Pork Barrel. The Senatongs and the Tongressmen were pigging out on pork barrel so much that that the scales of lady liberty broke down. A sham proceeding that would have ended in a mistrial elsewhere was celebrated in the Philippines.

When an impeachment court accepts fraudulent documents as evidence and such is considered “true justice” – I gravely wonder what “true injustice is”.

Weighed and measured with what? Thirty pieces of silver that’s what.

The violation of Corona’s constitutional rights can be done – and is being done to ordinary Filipinos daily.

Unfortunately, Filipinos have been so desensitized to the blatant curtailing of their liberties. Who cares about freedom of travel when they can’t even afford to buy a plane ticket from PAL – for their entire life. Who cares about freedom of travel when they they don’t know whether they will have food to eat during the next mealtime. Indeed, people can be kept in prisons they don’t see.

Let me remind you that our fight does not end with the ousting of one corrupt official, with the suspension of an anomalous contract, or the systemic overhauling of a government office. I call upon Congress to pass our amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, that we may strengthen our measures to hold the corrupt accountable.

I agree that the fight to end corruption does not end with ousting one corrupt official, or the suspension of a contract, or overhauling a government office. Nor is anti-corruption strengthened with passing more regulation.

To strike a mortal blow at corruption – reduce the taxes which government can get its hands on – eliminate the pork barrel – and return it to taxpayers.

To strike a mortal blow at corruption – don’t just overhaul – eliminate these government offices whose only role is to administer welfare programs in energy, health, education, transportation, agriculture, environment, commerce, and the like.

To strike a mortal blow at corruption – eliminate the regulations which vested interests can game.

To strike a mortal blow at corruption – open the economy so there are more jobs – which reduce the pressure to be “corrupt”.

As BS Aquino – increases government spending, increases Sin Taxes and the like, increases foreign debt, passes more regulations, creates more government agencies, auctions government property to his cronies – corruption will just get worse. Do you expect the criminal gang which calls itself government to look at those revenues and keep their hands off tax money?

Every town that has and will be lighted; the highways, bridges, airports, trains, and ports we have built; fair contracts; the peace in our cities and our rural areas; every classroom, desk, and book assigned to a child; every Filipino granted a future—all of these, we have achieved in just two years. We have advanced an agenda of reform in these last two years, a marked contrast to our suffering in the decade that came before.

Every town that has and will be lighted – will pay for rolling power outages with an arm and a leg.

The highways, bridges, airports, trains, and ports we have built – will be overpriced and have a short life span necessitating a multitude of lopsided maintenance contracts awarded to cronies.

If we share the same ideals and work for the same goals, then we are bound by a shared agenda. But if you are against us, it only follows that you are against what we are doing. Whoever stands against the agenda for genuine change—can the people really count them as being on their side?

What goals? What agenda? What change?

Genuine change is one that generates jobs and prosperity.

The fact that CCT subsidy has increased tells us that poverty has increased.

Two years after BS Aquino Philippines has “genuinely changed” – for the worse.

Elections are fast approaching. You, our Bosses, will be our compass. I ask you, “Boss, what direction will we take? Do we continue treading the straight and righteous path, or do we double-back—towards the crooked road that leads to a dead end?”

BS Aquino’s “straight and righteous path” leads to a dead-end – and is crooked as well. A dead-end where income distribution is extremely unequal; people have to look for jobs overseas; Tan, Lopez, Sy and his other pals in the Makati Business Club are subsidized by OFW remittances – all the talk of competitiveness remains hollow as the MBC members seek the continuation of the 60/40.

I remember well those early days when we first started working. I was keenly aware of the heavy burdens we would face. And I was among those who wondered: Is it possible to fix a system this broken?

A couple of days ago – Aquino was saying that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

Today he is saying “the system is broken”. What system is he talking about? The political system? The economic system?

The political system is working – candidates are put in place based on the choice of voters. Or is the political system which is based on the HCOS PCOS severely flawed? If the results for the Vice President is questionable – could the same hold for the President?

The economic system is definitely broken – having the same welfare state and restrictive economic policies which are embedded in the constitution means not to expect a different outcome from the same structural flaws.

BS Aquino is doing a whole lot of nothing – except that which will truly fix the system – an open economy where companies compete to provide value to the consumer.

This is what I have learned in the 25 months I have served as your president: nothing is impossible. Nothing is impossible because if the Filipino people see that they are the only Bosses of their government, they will carry you, they will guide you, they themselves will lead you towards meaningful change. It isn’t impossible for the Philippines to become the first country in Southeast Asia to provide free vaccines for the rotavirus. It isn’t impossible for the Philippines to stand strong and say, “The Philippines is for Filipinos—and we are ready to defend it.” It is not impossible for the Filipino who for so long had kept his head bowed upon meeting a foreigner—it is not impossible for the Filipino, today, to stand with his head held high and bask in the admiration of the world. In these times—is it not great to be a Filipino?

Nothing is impossible – if people are free to make choices without government morons regulating people’s behaviors from cradle to grave.

The problem with the statement that “The Philippines is for Filipinos—and we are ready to defend it” is that in BS Aquino’s world – only the Filipino businesses are Filipinos.

Filipino consumers are not considered Filipinos – they are not protected from the Filipino monopolies.

Filipino job seekers are considered slaves – they are the property of the Philippine government and should work for the slew of oligarch companies – ABS-CBN, BPI, SM, PLDT, Globe, PAL, Shoemart.

It is impossible for a large number of Filipinos to find good paying jobs – so they have to line up for jobs overseas. The sight of OFWs in Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Japan – not wanting to return to the Philippines because it is next to impossible to find a decent paying job in that stinking sink hole should awaken BS Aquino – or his speech writer from delusion.

Last year, I asked the Filipino people: Thank those who have done their share in bringing about positive change in society. The obstacles we encountered were no laughing matter, and I believe it is only right that we thank those who shouldered the burdens with us, in righting the wrongs brought about by bad governance.

To all the members of my Cabinet: my sincerest thanks. The Filipino people are lucky that there are those of you ready to sacrifice your private and much quieter lives in order to serve the public, even if you know that you will receive smaller salaries, dangers, and constant criticism in return.

Serving the public means (to me anwyay) – to improve yourself, to develop yourself, to empower others via private sector jobs – so that you are not a burden to taxpayers. Serving the public means to whittle down the footprint of big government – not to expand it.

And I hope that they will not mind if I take this opportunity to thank them today: to Father Catalino Arevalo and Sister Agnes Guillen, who have nurtured and allowed my spiritual life to flourish, especially in times of greatest difficulty: my deepest gratitude.

This is my third SONA; only three remain. We are entering the midpoint of our administration. Last year, I challenged you to fully turn your back on the culture of negativism; to take every chance to uplift your fellow Filipinos.

From what we are experiencing today, it is clear: you succeeded. You are the wellspring of change. You said: it is possible.

This is Aquino’s third SONA – and the Philippines isn’t any better off. Not when the Philippines is missing out on the wave of FDI coming to Asia. Money – whether from local sources or FDI, generates jobs. Jobs – are what allow people to afford the lifestyle they desire – not subsidies.

Thus far – the lines for jobs overseas have not stopped, investors moving out of the Philippines and into another ASEAN country have not stopped.

When we thought the Philippines can’t go any further down in the bottom barrel – Aquino made it possible and blew a hole.

I stand before you today as the face of a government that knows you as its Boss and draws its strength from you. I am only here to narrate the changes that you yourselves have made possible.

Indeed Aquino is a reflection of what Filipino mediocrity made possible.

This is why, to all the nurses, midwives, or doctors who chose to serve in the barrios; to each new graduate who has chosen to work for the government; to each Filipino athlete who proudly carries the flag in any corner of the globe, to each government official who renders true and honest service: You made this change possible.

To all the nurses, midwives, or doctors who chose to serve in the barrios – you will always be underpaid by government. Better to open the economy and let private enterprises who can provide you a better deal come in.

So whenever I come face to face with a mother who tells me, “Thank you, my child has been vaccinated,” I respond: You made this happen.

Whenever I see a jobless mother or a family being split apart because one of the parents have to work overseas – I say “You, BS Aquino and your 1987 Yellow Constitution made it possible”.

Whenever I come face to face with a child who tells me, “Thank you for the paper, for the pencils, for the chance to study,” I respond: You made this happen.

Whenever I see child who has been trained to become an asswipe totally bereft of critical thinking – I say “You, BS Aquino and your 1987 Yellow Constitution made it possible”.

Whenever I come face to face with an OFW who tells me, “Thank you, because I can once again dream of growing old in the Philippines,” I respond: You made this happen.

Whenever I see an OFW (who had to leave due to the dearth of good paying jobs) – I say “You, BS Aquino and your 1987 Yellow Constitution made it possible”.

Whenever I come face to face with a Filipino who says, “Thank you, I thought that we would never have electricity in our sitio. I never imagined living to see the light,” I respond: You made this happen.

Whenever I see a Filipino having to forego a meal so that he can pay for exorbitant power outages – I say “You, BS Aquino and your 1987 Yellow Constitution made it possible”.

Whenever I come face to face with any farmer, teacher, pilot, engineer, driver, call center agent, or any normal Filipino; to every Juan and Juana dela Cruz who says, ”Thank you for this change,” I respond: You made this happen.

Whenever I come face to face with Juan dela Cruz who only has loose change after his pocket and realizing things have changed for the worse I say “You, BS Aquino and your 1987 Yellow Constitution made it possible”.

I repeat: what was once impossible is now possible. I stand before you today and tell you: this is not my SONA. You made this happen. This is the SONA of the Filipino nation. Thank you.

I’d say what once was impossible still remains impossible – Filipinos are still stuck in poverty, joblessness, and hunger. This is the SONA of the Filipino people. Filipinos got what they asked for – a yellow emperor with no clothes.

The state of the Yellow Hermit Kingdom is Strong – Situation Normal, all Effed Up.