By ERWIN TULFO
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd marked his second year in office as the nation’s highest paid servant last June 30. Yes, he imposed himself as the Filipinos’ houseboy when he declared, “Kayo ang boss ko.”
A couple of years later, many think he is all gab. Sure, Noynoy had successfully removed Chief Justice Renato Corona and the emblem of his claim to fame—the wang-wang. But as the average wisecracks put it, “Makakain ba yan?” These street-smarts couldn’t be blamed.
After all, they face each day with the challenges of how to feed their hungry families. So what would a day without CJ or the pesky sirens do to their and their familie’s grumbling stomachs?
Even Malacañang has admitted it. Much has been achieved but much needs to be done.
Before he became the people’s servant, PNoy, or Noynoy, promised to empower us his bosses, and provide us with opportunities to rise above poverty.
Two years later, deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte is harping to media that her boss-cum-people’s servant has achieved changes. Problem is she failed to concretize and identify the sweeping reforms the country’s top houseboy has made.
The national government couldn’t even boast of sterling statistics to prove that the Philippines has indeed climbed up a rung nearer to development, and away from debilitating poverty.
PNoy has failed to complete a landmark infrastructure project that could serve as his legacy for generations to come. He doesn’t even have a tourism infrastructure, a statue, a bridge, among others to his credit. International political analysts have nothing to say outstanding about his governance. They couldn’t pinpoint a single project that has made the global neighbors excited. Nor aroused.
The President claims to have created employment opportunities. But then, this is all double speak. More jobs were generated in the self-employment and private sectors. But not in government. Worse, the exodus of skilled Filipinos leaving for abroad, even in war-torn nations, remains high.
Then there is our chief house-boy’s problem with the chinky eyed neighbor called China. The bullies have been humiliating us with their ships and harassment tactics before the whole world. Yet even his new friend at the White House has not signified clear intentions to help if the tension escalates into a war. Despite their 30-minute tete-a-tete in the U.S. recently, there have been no promises of assistance, economic or defense-wise from the most powerful man on the globe. Nothing at all.
So what were the visits to the US for? Poker games? Manly bonding time?
For all it’s worth, Mr. President has been doing everything to make his career as the people’s servant a success. He really was sincere when he said the people are his bosses. Two years is so short a time to give him a failure mark. Let’s give him a break. He is really working hard.
Just like all other cases, his ho-hum performance deserves reconsideration. When he delivers his SONA (State of the Nation Address) on Juy 23, let’s just hope it won’t be all about wang-wang again. But more about proofs of his efforts to help his ‘bosses’ feed themselves, without resorting to crime and desperate measures.
To PNoy, keep it up, and keep the good results coming.
To his bosses, keep monitoring.
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