(The Philippine Star) |
A
lot of people who supported and voted for P-Noy in the 2010 elections
are indeed greatly disillusioned with his kind of governance and
leadership as head of the ship of state. He is certainly not the same
person he was pictured to be when he was running for the Presidency and
right after he assumed office.
He was elected in the belief that he inherited the traits of his parents whom Filipinos admire and idolize for their heroism in restoring democracy to our country and for their noble and unselfish deeds in promoting the common good of our countrymen especially the poor and the oppressed. But, after more than three years in office this image seems to have been completely shattered. Alas, even the reputations of his parents are now placed in doubt by social media as pure myths and factually inaccurate.
The peoples’ disillusionment has even turned into shocking disgust and dismay because of his actions, inactions and/or reactions to crises situations particularly those occurring in recent months starting from the Zamboanga siege, to the Bohol earthquake and the disastrous super- typhoon hitting Central Visayas that caused so much loss of lives and destruction of property.
Most noticeable here is his unexplained “disappearance” or temporary absence at the height of the crises when people needed a “father figure” who would at least console them in their sufferings and a “leader” giving orders to provide immediate rescue and relief in the midst of the disaster. Believe it or not but there is already a growing public perception that he and his yellow cohorts would only emerge later on to survey the damage and distribute relief goods more for “photo ops” purposes.
Further shattering P-Noy’s image as an able and caring leader of our country is his stand aired even outside the country, in Tokyo, Japan, on the recently exposed tiff between his DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez. He fully agreed and even defended Roxas’ bahala na kayo sa buhay niyo outburst after Romualdez refused his demand to submit a city council resolution or “letter” authorizing the national government to step in and render aid to the disaster victims immediately after the typhoon.
Such kind of stand undeniably and clearly created the impression that his government will not do anything until and unless the rules are followed and everything is in “legal order” even if disaster victims are already dying or in danger of death. This is really so revolting and deplorable more so because there is definitely no such law requiring authorization from the local government unit before the national government can step in, give aid and/or save the lives of the people. Worst is that he would like to appear that he is a stickler for the rules when he himself has disregarded the rules especially in the use of the PDAF and the DAP to advance his own personal and socio-political agenda.
It must be pointed out in this connection that Alfred Romualdez has certain connections with the the Marcoses as he is related to Imelda Marcos the other half of the conjugal dictatorship whose oppressive and rapacious regime somehow created a stigma on other relatives like him. So most people expected that in this latest tussle between him who is a “Romualdez” and the President “who is an Aquino” and the son of the hero and heroine of the people power revolution that toppled Marcos, people will side with B.S. Aquino III and consider him as more credible.
Obviously this is not what happened. B.S. Aquino III and his sidekick Mar Roxas appear to be getting more flaks than Alfred Romualdez who appears to be drawing more sympathy. It now appears that a relative of the conjugal dictatorship is more credible than an Aquino who is the President of the country and whose family was most instrumental in toppling that conjugal dictatorship. Twenty seven years ago, after the people power revolution, this kind of situation was beyond any stretch of the imagination especially because the people at that time firmly resolved to never again allow a dictatorial regime in our country.
Hopefully P-Noy realizes that he alone can show to our countrymen his good and desirable image as President. His image makers and spin doctors can only do so much in creating a good reputation for him. There is still time for him to leave a legacy of public service with “utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, efficiency, patriotism and justice” as called for in our Constitution (Article XI Section 1).
He and his officials must first of all change their style of governance. They should not insist on being always right even if their actions appear to be wrong or clearly call for a lot more of improvement. The prevailing public impression right now is their seeming lack of humility in admitting their mistakes and resolving to subsequently correct them. It is not good to be self-righteous all the time and continue blaming others for their own bungling and shortcomings.
Perhaps if P-Noy had only adopted this trait at the start of his term, he would have immediately abolished the pork barrel and avoid the trouble and the embarrassment of suffering a legal setback in court and another impending one in case of the DAP.
Secondly, they should be more compassionate and understanding in dealing with others especially their constituency whom they consider as their “boss” It is always good to listen to them sometimes and not just ignore them and leave them in the Lord’s hands (“bahala na si Lord sa kanila”) especially those they consider as critics. There are also critics whose motive in criticizing is just to see them succeed as public officials.
http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2013/12/20/1270107/shattered-image
He was elected in the belief that he inherited the traits of his parents whom Filipinos admire and idolize for their heroism in restoring democracy to our country and for their noble and unselfish deeds in promoting the common good of our countrymen especially the poor and the oppressed. But, after more than three years in office this image seems to have been completely shattered. Alas, even the reputations of his parents are now placed in doubt by social media as pure myths and factually inaccurate.
The peoples’ disillusionment has even turned into shocking disgust and dismay because of his actions, inactions and/or reactions to crises situations particularly those occurring in recent months starting from the Zamboanga siege, to the Bohol earthquake and the disastrous super- typhoon hitting Central Visayas that caused so much loss of lives and destruction of property.
Most noticeable here is his unexplained “disappearance” or temporary absence at the height of the crises when people needed a “father figure” who would at least console them in their sufferings and a “leader” giving orders to provide immediate rescue and relief in the midst of the disaster. Believe it or not but there is already a growing public perception that he and his yellow cohorts would only emerge later on to survey the damage and distribute relief goods more for “photo ops” purposes.
Further shattering P-Noy’s image as an able and caring leader of our country is his stand aired even outside the country, in Tokyo, Japan, on the recently exposed tiff between his DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez. He fully agreed and even defended Roxas’ bahala na kayo sa buhay niyo outburst after Romualdez refused his demand to submit a city council resolution or “letter” authorizing the national government to step in and render aid to the disaster victims immediately after the typhoon.
Such kind of stand undeniably and clearly created the impression that his government will not do anything until and unless the rules are followed and everything is in “legal order” even if disaster victims are already dying or in danger of death. This is really so revolting and deplorable more so because there is definitely no such law requiring authorization from the local government unit before the national government can step in, give aid and/or save the lives of the people. Worst is that he would like to appear that he is a stickler for the rules when he himself has disregarded the rules especially in the use of the PDAF and the DAP to advance his own personal and socio-political agenda.
It must be pointed out in this connection that Alfred Romualdez has certain connections with the the Marcoses as he is related to Imelda Marcos the other half of the conjugal dictatorship whose oppressive and rapacious regime somehow created a stigma on other relatives like him. So most people expected that in this latest tussle between him who is a “Romualdez” and the President “who is an Aquino” and the son of the hero and heroine of the people power revolution that toppled Marcos, people will side with B.S. Aquino III and consider him as more credible.
Obviously this is not what happened. B.S. Aquino III and his sidekick Mar Roxas appear to be getting more flaks than Alfred Romualdez who appears to be drawing more sympathy. It now appears that a relative of the conjugal dictatorship is more credible than an Aquino who is the President of the country and whose family was most instrumental in toppling that conjugal dictatorship. Twenty seven years ago, after the people power revolution, this kind of situation was beyond any stretch of the imagination especially because the people at that time firmly resolved to never again allow a dictatorial regime in our country.
Hopefully P-Noy realizes that he alone can show to our countrymen his good and desirable image as President. His image makers and spin doctors can only do so much in creating a good reputation for him. There is still time for him to leave a legacy of public service with “utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, efficiency, patriotism and justice” as called for in our Constitution (Article XI Section 1).
He and his officials must first of all change their style of governance. They should not insist on being always right even if their actions appear to be wrong or clearly call for a lot more of improvement. The prevailing public impression right now is their seeming lack of humility in admitting their mistakes and resolving to subsequently correct them. It is not good to be self-righteous all the time and continue blaming others for their own bungling and shortcomings.
Perhaps if P-Noy had only adopted this trait at the start of his term, he would have immediately abolished the pork barrel and avoid the trouble and the embarrassment of suffering a legal setback in court and another impending one in case of the DAP.
Secondly, they should be more compassionate and understanding in dealing with others especially their constituency whom they consider as their “boss” It is always good to listen to them sometimes and not just ignore them and leave them in the Lord’s hands (“bahala na si Lord sa kanila”) especially those they consider as critics. There are also critics whose motive in criticizing is just to see them succeed as public officials.
* * *
Email: attyjosesison@gmail.comhttp://www.philstar.com/opinion/2013/12/20/1270107/shattered-image
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