Post-SONA 2008 Sentiments

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The 2008 PGMA SONA

• The SONA: My Sentiments
• Do You Ever Get Tired of SONA’s?
• Post-SONA 2008 Sentiments

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The 2008 SONA (State of the Nation Address) is over and done. What now? If you don't mind, I'd like to quote and examine a few statements given at the SONA a follows:

"Many in this great hall live privileged lives and exert great influence in public affairs. I am accessible to you, but I spend time every day with the underprivileged and under represented who cannot get a grip on their lives in the daily, all-consuming struggle to make ends meet."

Oh, you bet. Many. Many of which, also, I'm quite positive, do not care one bit of what you, Madam President have to say in today's SONA. And this is all because they are part of those people you identify in this statement below.

"I said this is a global crisis where everyone is a victim. But only few can afford to avoid, or pay to delay, the worst effects."

And when you said this,

"Take VAT away and you and I abdicate our responsibility as leaders and pull the rug from under our present and future progress, which may be compromised by the global crisis."

were you really telling us the whole truth? Are you saying that this is all we have? Are you saying that we are at the mercy of our own policy now? We suffer big time so that we can fund small dole-outs? What about efficient tax collections (aside from EVAT)? Are we really this poor now? And what if this EVAT was never made into a law? Would we be all dead-broke by now? See, the thing is, we have relied heavily on EVAT for a long time because we have found an easy way out in collecting enough taxes to pay for our foreign debt and fund government projects at the same time. Instead of implementing stiff policies on running after "big fish" tax evaders, the EVAT seemed to be the "magic hen" we stole from the giant living atop the "Beanstalk" reminiscent of the fairy tale. For days on end, we rely on the "golden egg" that this hen lays oblivious of the fact that the giant might eventually run after us. We have discarded reality and traded it for something we thought belonged to us. We've held on to that illusion for a long time now. It's about time that we return that "hen". It is not ours. It is the giant's -- the people's money. Money they've worked hard for. The government, for its part, must also work hard. We must face the reality that we cannot live-off on EVAT alone because doing so is hurting us just the same, or maybe even worse.

"We have come too far and made too many sacrifices to turn back now on fiscal reforms. Leadership is not about doing the first easy thing that comes to mind; it is about doing what is necessary, however hard."

We don't have to turn back. I acknowledge the positive effects brought about by EVAT -- reduced foreign debts and all. But 12% is just too much. Too much at this time at least. We don't need to scrap it altogether. Just lower it, that's all. It would spell a world of difference.

"Texting is a way of life. I asked the telecoms to cut the cost of messages between networks. They responded. It is now down to 50 centavos."

Oh, okay. Well, that's good news.

"Rice production since 2000 increased an average of 4.07% a year, twice the population growth rate."

If this is true, then why is there shortage? If there is no shortage, then why are the prices so high?

"Last September, we created the Procurement Transparency Group in the DBM and linked it with business, academe, and the Church, to deter or catch anomalies in government contracts."

This is good. But this should have been done from day one that she assumed office. Nevertheless, better late than never. So, I'll give her that.

I call on all our government workers at the national and local levels to be more responsive and accountable to the people. Panahon ito ng pagsubok. Kung saan kayang tumulong at dapat tumulong ang pamahalaan, we must be there with a helping hand. Where government can contribute nothing useful, stay away. Let's be more helpful, more courteous, more quick.

This sounds so good. But I bet nobody in the government will heed this call, even if there was a sincerity in it.

And finally, she says:

As your President, I care too much about this nation to let anyone stand in the way of our people's wellbeing. Hindi ko papayagang humadlang ang sinuman sa pag-unlad at pagsagana ng taong bayan. I will let no one – and no one's political plans – threaten our nation's survival.

Political plans are not evil in itself. She herself had political plans. And look at where it took her. Why see "political plans" as something evil just because it is not hers? Double standard. Not good. I hope by saying this, she is not implying that she plans to push for charter change that will keep her in power. I hope by saying this, she doesn't imply that this long speech of hers is nothing but a "gloria-fied" version of herself. After all, that's what SONA's have become all these years-- self-serving and nothing but a display of self-glorification. And you can't blame her, she's only protecting herself. It's in her nature to show only what good she's done.

The important question now is this: After the SONA, after all is said and done, what now? What's next? Does it really change anything? Oh, there's one -- stocks were steady today and even went a bit bullish, analysts say. And that's because investors prize predictability and maintaining the status quo so the news about VAT not being scrapped anytime in her term is enough to relieve investors. So, there's that. Just that.

This looks like another well-written script that will go down in history as the least popular and appreciated SONA ever. And the timing could not have been more impeccable. But is it really over? No. I don't think so. "It ain't over until the fat lady sings", and I see no signs of a fat lady anywhere. So brace yourselves, people. There's more.

Click here to view SONA 2008's complete transcript

Suggested Further Reading:

• The SONA: My Sentiments
• SONA 2009 Schedule / Time / Watch Online
• The State We’re In: Anticipating The 2009 SONA
• Do You Ever Get Tired of SONA’s?
• A Change of Pace on the BJE MOA: Other Avenues of Peace

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