This year’s SONA is different. It was like a show, a well-orchestrated one, no doubt. PGMA arriving with several of her supporters or allies. She was asked to deliver the SONA which she did in a hurry forgetting that the National Anthem hasn’t been sung yet and prayers haven’t been said. Would’ve been better if she made taray when she walked back to the podium but no, she just smiled a sweet smile. I’m thinking, “Is this for real?”To me, the SONA was like a geography lesson, or more like a lessons about roads, highways, ports, airports and anything in between. Must be good times coming up for those who make maps because they will have to revise current maps available in the market. Good times too for those who will benefit from these road construction projects. I don’t mean the people living near those would-be infrastructure, I mean the contractors, bidders, government officials whose pockets and bellies will be full even before these were realized. Oh, the presentation, that itself presented good effects.

Too rehearsed when at the mention of names, people stood up, waved and were applauded. SEA Games champs? Sure, they were financed by the government. Precious Lara? Mt Everest climbers? Manny? I think they did what they did based upon what they wanted to achieve, on their own. Did I say a while ago that it was like a show? I think I do because she was so sweet, ants were starting to crawl all over the TV screen (). Applause were aplenty when names were called ( ).

Why do we watch shows? For whatever its worth, TV shows, movies, documentaries, musical, concerts are for entertainment, educational though some may be. A time to relax, to dream of faraway places waiting to be explored, scents waiting to be smelled, sights waiting to be appreciated. Those and more were what I was thinking about when I was listening to the SONA.

Zambales was classified under a region along with NCR. Wow! My province has come a long way, classified with the urban dwellers of NCR. But wait! Last time I’ve been there, vast tracts of farm lands remain untouched because basic irrigation services are not there to make the lands suitable for farming. As much as I remember, itd only during the rainy season when these lands turn lush green. Even so, storms ruin these would-be crops. The highway is great though, has been ever since I can remember. But this is another topic.

I guess I really wanted to hear about the programs to alleviate poverty, decrease unemployment rates, address educational and population-related problems as well as health programs for the rural folks. Though the idea about these land, nautical and air “highways” are logical, I have to ask if do we really have the resources to realize these projects within a suitable amount of time?

PGMA mentioned a certain gal who worked in a call center. We are certainly growing in terms of having gainful employment in that certain area, along with medical transcriptionists. But then, even if they are well-compensated, it is really all about money? What happened to the dreams and aspirations of these people? Sure, if doing what you really enjoy or what you really want to do won’t put food on the table, what is one to do? Putting off doing what you want to do or to become becomes secondary. No offense meant but I have to ask if these people are really happy doing what they are doing?

Subtly injecting Charter Change as the end all and be all was met by standing ovations and loud applause. Who did all those things? Why the very people who will benefit from it, no doubt.

PGMA did well in her speech, even if it is just speech for the time being. Let us all pray and hope and beg God to let these happen. Deep inside, we still believe. In miracles that is.

Click here to read the SONA 2006.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 24th, 2006 at 11:32 pm and is filed under Bits and Pieces, My Thoughts, Philippines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.