Photo by digiputzJust a public service to those searching online, since I’ve been getting a lot of traffic from people searching for the exact time / schedule of tomorrow’s / Monday’s SONA (State of the Nation Address) — the last SONA (hopefully, cross your fingers and be be vigilant my countrymen) to be presented by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, here’s a short post for you.
SONA 2009 Schedule:
Date: July 27, 2009 (Monday)
Time:3:45 / 4:00 PM (PHT) (that’s GMT+8)
Where to listen: almost all AM radio stations will carry it.
Where to watch: almost all (free) TV stations will broadcast it LIVE.
Edit: Please refer to replay video below. Video credits: Sunstar.com.ph Replay of July 27, 2009 / 4PM SONA
PART 1 OF 2
PART 2 OF 2
Prelude To The Long Jurney:
Well, here we go again. Not too long ago, I wrote around 3 posts solely
dedicated to the 2008 SONA of PGMA. There was a pre-SONA post, a videostream
courtesy of Justin.tv and a post-SONA sentiments post.
This year, however, due to reasons I can’t even begin to tell you, I didn’t have
that luxury to run my fingers on my lonely keyboard and churn-out as many posts
as I would have wanted.
Seriously, if only I have that much love for the president, I would have preferred
that she declared this a national holiday because listening to State of the Nation Addresses
should be considered an important activity for all Filipinos. (Note: As of last report,
DepEd has declared it a no-school day for the entire Metro Manila / NCR only — across all levels).
But since all we’ve been hearing are bs and rhetorics anyway, then I’d rather that my fellowmen go
to work and just listen to its replay on TV or get it from all the other available media out there.
By the way, for the uninformed, the SONA 2009 will happen tomorrow, that’s a Monday, around 4:00 PM
(PHT/GMT+8), live telecast probably in most free TV stations and AM radio stations. Live online video
streaming will be available through the OPS (Office of the Press Secretary) website. The SONA 2009 full
text transcipt will also be available there immediately after the SONA.
A Look Back At The Lost Years:
I think I’ve told you before, in previous posts, that I’m a results-oriented person. To me, results
always speak for themselves. While it is true that you can’t argue with pure data, it is also
true that there’s absolutely no way you can argue with glaring truth staring at you in the face,
that stench of corruption causing olfactory insult and of course, of people dying — of poverty,
of politically-motivated causes, etc etc blah blah blah.
Considering all that, I think there isn’t really much to look forward to in this last SONA. Who are we kidding
here if we claim that there’ll be something new and surprising? If there were anything great to look forward to,
I guess we’d somehow feel it, don’t you think? But you and I know that in all 8 years of her reign, we can’t really
say that we’ve been better off than in the previous administrations.
But then again, looking at it objectively, searching into our heart of hearts, removing all biases and flying off
to space for a bigger perspective, a satellite’s view, if you will — what does all this tell you and me? What do you see?
You know what I see from my imagined perspective? I see “abandonment of responsibility”. I see “lack of accountability and
commitment”. I see “unmistakable apathy”. From Gloria, you ask? No. From all of us. You. Me. All of us.
Of course there’ll be holier than thou accusations from all sectors, all claiming to be victims of this government’s injustice
in all forms (political, financial, you name it). And these accusations, probably most of it, may be true. Then there’s the
accusation the government throws at media and the opposition of demonizing the president and the administration as a whole.
These accusations, probably most of it, may also be true. So if both may be true, where does the absolute truth rest?
I’d say, the truth is out there.
The truth of Who the real victims are, is out there.
The truth of whether we’ve been a better or worse after PGMA is out there.
The truth of whether we’ve been financially strong amid the global crisis is out there.
So is the truth of those claim to millions of scholarships given, the so-called jobs produced, the roads paved, the taxes collected,
the budgets approapriated, the endless list of so-called accomplishments — there are all out there.
If we’ve been better off after 8 years, why then are there protests? Because we’re just a bunch of whiny pampered brats?
I don’t think so. Because we just have this thing for stirring political enmity for no apparent reason? I don’t think so.
People say we are never contented. Of course. It is in every human being’s nature to not find contentment. Fight that and you fight
nature itself, and believe me, it’s a battle you will never win. The government’s job therefore is NOT to make people feel contented –
that’s impossible. Surely, whoever sits as president will always have to deal with some sort of oppostion — that’s the basic law — even
in science/motion.
So what then is the President’s job? The President’s job is to ensure that he/she does her best in serving his/her country through
honest, selfless and uncompromising dedication to the assurance of people’s welfare — political, financial, social — and more.
It is the President’s mandate to 1) uphold the highest law of the land, the Constitution and; 2) to use this law effectively for which
it was made — to protect its people. Because in the final analysis, when people take to the streets, criticize the government or cause
harm to other people, they do so because their primary needs are not met. Job security, safe environment, food, etc. Meet those needs and
first and this goverment will have lesser and easier battles to fight.
The problem with this administration’s legacy ultimately boils down to number 1 — FAILURE to uphold the Constitution, and worse, an audacious
attempt to distort it and shape it according to the will and benefit of a select few! And get a load of this, if you fail to follow #1, you
automatically fail #2!
Outside Looking In: What The Future Holds
For PGMA, the curtains are closing in, conversely, the curtains for a new President will open very soon.
Corruption and abuse — two words hurled at this government — will only happen if we let it. The fact that it did happen means that we allowed
it to happen — we tolerated it. We saw irregularities yet remained blind to it either through apathy or worse, selfishness. If something wrong
happens which we think do not affect us directly, we let it pass.
What now do we do? How do we change things?
If you want to change things, do this: Detach yourself from the picture. See it from a different perspective. Hover above the scenario and let objectivity
rule your thoughts. You will see, clear as the sun on a hot summer day, that the future you ask for is in your hands. You will realize that the answer to your
endless questions of “What does this country need today?” lies within your very self. Have that resolve — to change things for the better.
But how?
For starters, here’s some things you can do now:
1) Register for the 2010 elections. Registration ends August 31, 2009. Your vote is not just a right. It is an OBLIGATION.
2) Exert extra effort in knowing your candidates. Don’t just vote for those endorsed by celebrities, friends or even family.
It’s your vote. It’s a reflection of what you are, your ideals, your beliefs, make your vote as unique as you are.
3) After voting, guard your vote. Guard it with your life as if your life depends on it — because in reality, it does!
4) Corruption begins when we overlook small things. Be firm. Ask for receipts. Never pay extra.
5) Report anomalies — however little. Don’t turn a blind eye on little things that you think won’t matter now. Every little thing
counts.
6) Pay your taxes — promtly and honestly. No matter how much it hurts your pocket. Taxes are the lifeblood of a country.
7) Obey traffic rules. Easiest thing on earth to do.
8) Support your churches. It feels good and it does good for the country, really.
9) Watch the news but take it with a grain of salt — always!
10) No matter how hard it seems, support your officials, your President. You are duty-bound to do that, mind you.
Of course, it doesn’t end there. There are many things you and I can do instead of just whining and criticizing. That list up there isn’t
exhaustive. One can never write such a list. We have been equipped with faculties meant to guide us in decision-making. Let’s use that
brilliant mind, that nosy nose, that critical eye, that sharp-witted tongue for that so-called greater good. Let’s do that today. Everyday.
SONA or no SONA.
** Once again, I enjoin you, dear readers and fellowmen, let’s watch the SONA 2009. That’s tomorow, Monday, July 27, 2009, at 4:00 PM (PHT/GMT+9).
If you miss the live telecast/broadcast/webcast, Google is your friend. :) Or better yet, go back here, I will embed a video for your viewing pleasure.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
Prelude To The Long, Arduous Journey
Well, here we go again. Not too long ago, I wrote around 3 posts solely dedicated to th 2008 SONA of PGMA. There was a pre-SONA post, a videostream courtesy of Justin.tv and a post-SONA sentiments post.
This year, however, due to reasons I can’t even begin to tell you, I didn’t have that luxury to run my fingers on my lonely keyboard and churn-out as many posts as I would have wanted.
Seriously, if only I have that much love for the president, I would have preferred that she declared this a national holiday because listening to State of the Nation Addresses should be considered an important activity for all Filipinos.
(Note: As of last report, DepEd has declared it a no-school day for the entire Metro Manila/NCR only — across all levels, in consideration of the SONA and the somehow traffic-disruptive protests it brings).
But since all we’ve been hearing are bs and rhetorics anyway, then I’d rather that my fellowmen go to work and improve their lives first and just listen to/watch its replay on TV or get it from all the other available media out there.
By the way, for the uninformed, the SONA 2009 will happen tomorrow, that’s a Monday, around 4:00 PM (PHT/GMT+8), live telecast probably in most free TV stations and AM radio stations.
Where to watch LIVE VIDEO STREAMING of SONA 2009:
1) This site — at the right side bar and in two recent posts.
2) At eradioportal, webcasting NBN Channel 4 –> click here.
I think I’ve told you before, in previous posts, that I’m a results-oriented person. To me, results always speak for themselves. While it is true that you can’t argue with pure data, it is also true that there’s absolutely no way you can argue with glaring truth staring at you in the face, that stench of corruption causing olfactory insult and of course, of people dying –of poverty, of politically-motivated causes, etc etc blah blah blah.
Considering all that, I think there isn’t really much to look forward to in this last SONA. Who are we kidding here if we claim that there’ll be something new and surprising? If there were anything great to look forward to, I guess we’d somehow feel it, don’t you think? But you and I know that in all 8 years of her reign, we can’t really say that we’ve been better off than in the previous administrations.
But then again, looking at it objectively, searching into our heart of hearts, removing all biases and flying off to space for a bigger perspective, a satellite’s view, if you will — what does all this tell you and me? What do you see? You know what I see from my imagined perspective? I see “abandonment of responsibility”. I see “lack of accountability and commitment”. I see “unmistakable apathy”. From Gloria, you ask? No. From all of us. You. Me. All of us.
Of course there’ll be holier than thou accusations from all sectors, all claiming to be victims of this government’s injustice in all forms (political, financial, you name it). And these accusations, probably most of it, may be true. Then there’s the accusation the government throws at media and the opposition of demonizing the president and the administration as a whole. These accusations, probably most of it, may also be true.
So if both may be true, where does the absolute truth rest? I’d say, the truth is out there.
The truth of who the real victims are, is out there. The truth of whether we’ve been better or worse after PGMA is out there. The truth of whether we’ve been financially strong amid the global crisis is out there. So is the truth of those claim to millions of scholarships given, the so-called jobs produced, the roads paved, the taxes collected, the budgets appropriated, the endless list of so-called accomplishments — they are all out there.
If we’ve been better off after 8 years, why then are there protests? Because we’re just a bunch of whiny pampered brats? I don’t think so. Because we just have this thing for stirring political enmity for no apparent reason? I don’t think so.
People say we are never contented. Of course. It is in every human being’s nature to not find contentment. Fight that and you fight nature itself, and believe me, it’s a battle you will never win. The government’s job therefore is NOT to make people feel contented –that’s impossible. Surely, whoever sits as president will always have to deal with some sort of opposition — that’s the basic law — even in science/motion.
So what then is the President’s job? The President’s job is to ensure that he/she does her best in serving his/her country through honest, selfless and uncompromising dedication to the assurance of people’s welfare — political, financial, social — and more.
It is the President’s mandate to:
1) uphold the highest law of the land, the Constitution and;
2) to use this law effectively for which it was made — to protect its people. Because in the final analysis, when people take to the streets, criticize the government or cause harm to other people, they do so because their primary needs are not met. Job security, safe environment, food, etc. Meet those needs and first and this government will have lesser and easier battles to fight.
The problem with this administration’s legacy ultimately boils down to number 1 –FAILURE to uphold the Constitution, and worse, an audacious attempt to distort it and shape it according to the will and benefit of a select few! And get a load of this, if you fail to follow #1, you automatically fail #2!
***
Outside Looking In: What The Future Holds
For PGMA, the curtains are closing in, conversely, the curtains for a new President will open very soon.
Corruption and abuse — two words hurled at this government — will only happen if we let it. The fact that it did happen means that we allowed it to happen — we tolerated it. We saw irregularities yet remained blind to it either through apathy or worse, selfishness. If something wrong happens which we think do not affect us directly, we let it pass.
What do we do now? How do we change things?
If you want to change things, do this: Detach yourself from the picture. See it from a different perspective. Hover above the scenario and let objectivity rule your thoughts. You will see, clear as the sun on a hot summer day, that the future you ask for is in your hands. You will realize that the answer to your endless questions of “What does this country need today?” lies within your very self. Have that resolve — to change things for the better.
But how?
For starters, here’s some things you can do now:
1) Register for the 2010 elections. Registration ends August 31, 2009. Your vote is not just a right. It is an OBLIGATION.
2) Exert extra effort in knowing your candidates. Don’t just vote for those endorsed by celebrities, friends or even family. It’s your vote. It’s a reflection of what you are, your ideals, your beliefs, make your vote as unique as you are.
3) After voting, guard your vote. Guard it with your life as if your life depended on it –because in reality, it does!
4) Corruption begins when we overlook small things. Be firm. Ask for receipts. Never pay extra.
5) Report anomalies — however little. Don’t turn a blind eye on little things that you think won’t matter now. Every little thing counts.
6) Pay your taxes — promtly and honestly. No matter how much it hurts your pocket. Taxes are the lifeblood of a country.
7) Obey traffic rules and city ordinances. Easiest thing on earth to do.
8) Support your churches. It feels good and it does good for the country, really.
9) Watch the news but take it with a grain of salt — always!
10) No matter how hard it seems, support your officials, your President. You are duty bound to do that, mind you.
Of course, it doesn’t end there. There are many things you and I can do instead of just whining and criticizing. That list up there isn’t exhaustive. One can never write such a list. We have been equipped with faculties meant to guide us in decision-making. Let’s use that brilliant mind, that nosy nose, that critical eye, that sharp-witted tongue for that so called greater good. Let’s do that today. Everyday. SONA or no SONA.
** Once again, I enjoin you, dear readers and fellowmen, let’s watch the SONA 2009. That’s tomorow, Monday, July 27, 2009, at 4:00 PM (PHT/GMT+8).
If you miss the live telecast/broadcast/webcast, Google is your friend. :) Or better yet, go back here, I will embed a video for your viewing pleasure.
Since we’re tired of hearing our dear President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tell us many sugar-coated lies — exaggerating on small progress made, bombarding us with impressive video presentations and ramming so-called impressive statistics down our throats while at the same time downplaying the many important issues that hound her administration to this day, why not, for a change, hear her sing instead?
Beauty, eh? :) Lovely idea, if you ask me. But what song? What song would an honest PGMA would have wanted us to hear? If there was only “us” — the Filipino people and God to listen to her minus her allies (that seem to put so much pressure on her excellency), what do you think the song would be about?
I got a song for you, PGMA. And I would love to hear you sing it to all of us.
Something To Say
by: Harem Scarem
Yesterday I had it all worked out to a “T”
But now something’s wrong between you and me I was wrong, so wrong To think that I would stay
Seasons come and seasons go
And today is another day
I wanna say now’s the time
To go our separate ways
I don’t know I might be wrong
Could we find the strength to say
That our love, our love’s seen some better days And who’s to say if I had the chance
That I’d make the choice to stay
If you ever had something that you wanted to say
You better start talking before I go away I wish that I could say I’ve been feeling okay
That I’ll be bringing on the better days
But I wouldn’t feel right
Knowing I was lying to you
Am I wasting all my time, will we try to make amends
I try to read between the lines
But all I see is the end
***
Yes, PGMA. In today’s 2009 State of the Nation Address happening at 4PM, the last of yours, how I wish you sing this to us. (and if you could also play us the kick-ass intro, that’d be so cool!) And how I wish you digest every line. I have something to say. Everyone has something to say to you.
I used to like you PGMA. I actually voted for you as VP in 98 and as President in 2004. Now, I grieve at such a mistake that have cost me and my country so much suffering.
But you know, you don’t really have to sing it. You can just tell this to us, as sincerely as you can. Tell us the truth — as it is, no lies, no games, no pretense. Tell us that you’ve had shortcomings, tell us you fell short of our expectations, tell us, that you, high and mighty as you are, have also made countless mistakes that steered us into the wrong direction. Then maybe, just maybe, we can forgive you. Because only then can we see the good side of you and your brand of leadership. Stop forcing us to see things through your rose-colored glasses. We both know we are deluding ourselves. In your last hurrah, the last few months of your Presidency, come down from your mighty throne, throw those glasses and let’s see reality together. If you ever wanted to leave us a legacy, leave us a legacy of contrition, of making amends. It may be too little now, but dear President, I tell you, it is never too late.
****
Dear countrymen, there you go. If you ever have something that you wanted to say, you better start talking before she goes away — that is, if she ever goes away. #
Name RJ Marmol Location Calamba City, Laguna Twitterrjmarmol Bio Web/Tech/Politics enthusiast. iPhone app junkie. Blogging since 2008. RJ doesn't comment or blog anonymously because that's lame and irresponsible.
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