The Philippine Online Chronicles

The flower vendor added a touch of yellow daisies to an already colorful bouquet I picked from the basket. I beamed "Oh, Cory Yellow". His eyes seemed to seek for reassurance when he asked in Tagalog "Do you believe Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap?"  How can I best explain that “Walang mahirap kung walang  corrupt” is seriously flawed?  This Aquino mantra is allowing Filipinos to pin their hopes on a flawed strategy. It remains to be seen. Words can easily be spoken but what about the execution? I am not saying it won't work but results might  not be evident in the next 6 years.

Yet hope is in the air. Social Weather Stations (SWS)  survey reveal that more Filipinos are hopeful of 2011.There is a feeling of being amazed, thankful and ever hopeful. Dine Racoma  says goodbye to 2010 with gratitude, and it is with hope and optimism that we enter 2011. Frederico Pascual asserts that "nobody quarrels with optimism. What we are wary about is its lulling effect on the lazy and the unimaginative." On the other hand, Dean Jorge Bocobo thinks "the test of PNoy's true mettle and character comes not now at High Tide but when fickle Popularity ebbs to its lowest"

Practice season is over

A  lot of advice poured out in print and online media for the President to take advantage of this optimism and current popularity.  Ernesto Maceda calls out to the President and his Cabinet that On the Job Training (OJT) is over. Another columnist shouts out that the practice season is also over.

“Everybody is waiting for the new president to demonstrate his decisiveness in advancing the anti-poverty and anti-corruption reforms he promised in his landslide victory. That he maintained his very high popularity ratings after six months in office speaks of the people’s trust that what he is doing so far is towards these reform goal." Mon Casiple explains in his blog.

"The Aquino Cabinet must show a sense of urgency as if there is no tomorrow. We honestly aren’t hopeful given the demonstrated competence of the guys around P-Noy. And if P-Noy continues to cover up for the shortcomings of his kabarkadas, there is little to hope for in 2011 or for the rest of his term." Boo Chanco adds.

Pat Mangubat strongly suggests that "Aquino must continue his open communication with political and ideological groups. Civil society should continue its closer engagement with the administration. Aquino must allow well-meaning members of the civil society, the academe, and people’s organizations to remain engaged in policy-making."

Even the former President Fidel V. Ramos had something to share. He enjoins everyone "in the interest of our national pride and better performance, therefore, we owe it to ourselves, our children, and successor generations to support the Aquino III administration with any helpful contribution – whether a little bit or substantial – we can muster towards steady, upward nation-building." He reiterates his message contained conveyed in his essay, “Philippine Outlook Under the Aquino III Administration”. One strategy calls for the narrowing the income gap thru the “bibingka” ricecake — or simultaneous bottom-up/top-down – approach. Raising the “absolutely poor” from poverty thru basic education and primary healthcare coupled with essential connectiveness serves to incorporate them into the modern economy.

A list of 16 problem areas that the Aquino government must now squarely face are suggested by Ernesto  Maceda. A few of these major concerns boil down to corruption,illegal drug problem, high incidence of crime, reform and improvement of the Philippine National Police, Mindanao peace problem and the reduction of P325 billion government deficit.

Like others hanging on the President’s promise of change , Frederico Pascual wants to ask the President three things : (1) exactly where he wants this nation to go, (2) the route he wants us to take, and (3) and how he intends to lead us to our destination.

A road map of change

Let me rewind you a bit on my objections towards then presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino.  The  situation in early 2010  called for a tough administrator, statesman and economic leader which I felt Noynoy wasn't given his dismal track record in the Senate and Congress.  Most importantly, I felt he had no clear idea of what vision and strategic agenda was needed to transform our country. I believe the President has a good heart and despite my pre-election objections, I am eager to look forward and  help out by defining two concerns.

1. Define the roadmap of change for our hopeful nation.

Noynoy Aquino verbalized promises from the time he was running as a candidate to the  time of his oath taking as 15^th president of the Republic of the Philippines which  was compiled by ang_mungo.  The fact that these all came from his own mouth makes it better than those put together by his staff. The citizenry will appreciate the President’s "telling us coherently how he intends to prosecute crooks in government, create gainful employment, raise incomes, produce affordable food, build low-cost dwellings and put decent clothes on our backs." Promises can be tracked by monitoring the master plan laid out by his administration.  Such plan  should be simple enough that the flower vendor , a clerk, a student, a mother and a farmer would recognize it "as the road map prepared for them as they cross the desert."

2. Listen to the critics. Be discerning.

Not all of those critics are out to put the President  down. He needs to discern these critics, of which falls into three groups: the friendlies, the "unfriendlies" and the neutral.  He cannot discount them just because  he is uncomfortable or they go against the advice of his people. If he only listens to the "Yes Men", he will not hear the voice of the people. Not all advice given by insiders are accurate or sincere and in the same vein, not all advice outside of his circle is false or insincere. Even his critics wish him well.

Indeed, the President's popularity is an asset that he needs to use now especially in policy execution. His mantra of "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap" touched the hearts not only of my suking flower-vendor but  to many other hopeful Filipinos. It is time to focus on uniting and rebuilding this nation threatened by very aggressive neighbors. “We’re not just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. In certain sectors, we can already feel the light, the warmth of the new beginning,” President Benigno mentioned during the Rizal Day ceremonies.

The warm fuzzy feeling may be there but the country still needs to see that road map outside the tunnel.

Photos by Sonnie Santos and Noemi Lardizabal-Dado. Some Rights Reserved