A Teenager’s Thoughts on SONA and Other Issues

Posted on July 29, 2008
Filed Under Peace amd Governance, School, ACET, UPCAT, etc, Thoughts | Viewed 681 times

by Vince Racoma (1st year student, UP-BSBA, an Ateneo Alumnus)

State of the Nation Address. But is it REALLY the STATE of the NATION that is being addressed?

First of all, what is a nation? According to the definitions I found, a nation is a large population of people grouped together under a common ethnicity and/or culture. Although the word is used with political implications, the word “nation” actually pertains to the social community living in a certain territory, not necessarily a state or a country- and this is the common mistake people commit when using this word.

After debunking just the word itself, how could we make sure that the speech delivered by the president actually served its purpose?

I am not saying that the SONA by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is just a 10-page, 54-minute speech full of lies and pretensions. Being close-minded on this issue could actually be the reason as to why people don’t feel the development of our nation, but instead, all the negative social and political issues that could just be created by their imagination.

Before the SONA which took place this afternoon at 4pm at the Batasan Pambansa, activist groups have already started their own “state of the nation address” weeks ago by distributing flyers showing statistics and other relevant facts on what really is happening. Aside from these posters and flyers, they also took the opportunity to inform us of how we, as students, are affected by the economic depression and the “government’s corruption” (particularly GMA’s). Student-activists went to the classrooms asking time from the professors to discuss these matters, asking us to join their cause, and even join the rallies. Then found myself involved in one of the actions the activists conducted – a class walk-out.

At the lobby of the building, where we grouped together with the student-activists, there were speakers and even performers who explained to us what they, and we were doing. Of all the speeches passionately delivered, I was struck the most by the story of a fellow scholar who had to stop going to school because of the TOFI (Tuition and Other Fees Increase) which is an immediate effect of the dramatic decrease in the budget for education. Since the subsidization of tuition and other fees is not as big as before, STFAP (Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program) has been implemented. Because of this system, the said student was obliged to pay Php600/unit. But due to his economic status, he was not able to pay his tuition fee and had to drop-out from school after 3 weeks.

The story bothered me. That’s when I realized that we ARE affected. By 2010, most state schools and universities are planned to be privatized, increasing the tuition and other fees even more (probably as expensive as Ateneo’s fees). If this happens, there wouldn’t be the Iskolar ng Bayan anymore.

That’s just ONE concrete example that was presented to us. I also learned that more and more families are living in poverty, and there are those living below the poverty line. The minimum wage (which most workers and laborers don’t earn) does not even reach the cost of living a decent life (meaning 3 meals a day, and being able to afford basic goods). There are a lot more facts and figures, but I just don’t remember them exactly.

Anyway, back to the SONA. PGMA presented her projects and how they are currently taking effect. She showed us how her projects are helping the Filipinos, such as the irrigation projects, the nautical highways, NFA rice, etc. She also explained why the VAT is important (and she emphasized on this). There were also people who are living proofs of the success of her projects, such as the fisherman who used to earn only Php100 a day, and now earns Php1000 a day. Or the group of girls, who through TESDA, were able to study, and eventually get a job. There were also the jeepney drivers who now earn Php500/day from the former Php200/day. That’s great, I thought. But then, do these people really represent the Filipino nation?

I’m not saying that she did not do good by helping these people, because she really did. I just think that her speech was one-sided. She talked about the good bearings of her projects which I believe were of the small scale. I wanted to hear her talk about the bigger picture – the harsh realities the Filipinos are facing, and how we will go about it. She mentioned that short-term relief cannot be at the expense of long-term reforms, Well, I sure hope so.

I have a lot more thoughts on this, but I am yet to read the transcript of her speech. These are just initials thoughts I came up with after watching her on TV (and falling asleep at the last part. like the last 2 minutes of the speech. haha).

For me, her speech was not sufficient to actually address the state of the nation. Or maybe she is not in the position to be the one to talk about the state of the nation, since she is not experiencing the country’s crises first-hand. Maybe I should’ve listened to the activists’ own SONA. But then, I would’ve had to join the rally, which I don’t do.

If you reached this part, and you’re still reading, I’m sorry I wasted your time reading this nonsense. Hahahaha!

Related posts:
Sexy Mom’s SONA 2008: PGMA said texting to other networks now down to P0.50
Sexy Mom’s SONA 2008: a flicker of home to a nation in crisis?

Comments

3 Responses to “A Teenager’s Thoughts on SONA and Other Issues”

SONA 2008: PGMA said texting to other networks now down to P0.50, but it is not so! I wonder why. : The D Spot on July 29th, 2008 12:36 am

[...] Related posts: Sexy Mom’s SONA 2008: a flicker of hope to a nation in crisis? Vince’s Thoughs on SONA and Other Issues [...]
chiara on July 29th, 2008 7:44 pm

btw, jic you didn’t notice, gma said:

The Land Bank has quadrupled loans for farmers and fisherfolk. That is fact not fiction. Check it.

di ko gets why she had to say “That is fact not fiction. Check it.” Does it mean to say na yan lang ung pwd nating icheck because yan lang ung fact, and the rest are fiction?
PGMA’s SONA@4pm, 28 July 2008–a flicker of hope to a nation in crisis? : The D Spot on August 3rd, 2008 9:49 am

[...] Related articles: Sexy Mom’s SONA 2008: PGMA said texting to other networks now down to P0.50 Vince’s Thoughts on SONA and Other Issues [...]