Think about it
The Presidency is a tough nut to crack
By Jun Velasco
“This nation can be great again,” Ferdinand E. Marcos
A HAIR-raising news story that could beat any headlines of the Manila dailies these days was the earth-shaking imbroglio in the royal family of the Iglesia ni Cristo in the Philippines.
It is shuddering to watch on television the tragic exchanges between the leaders of the church especially at a time when it is about to celebrate its 101st foundation anniversary tomorrow, July 27. Everyone in this country knows about this big event. Big name politicians in the national and local levels have their colorful tarpaulins displayed on every street to felicitate the church on its memorable event.
That memorable event, alas!, was blackened by a cruel and damaging family problem.
Of course, our politicians are also smarting from the imbroglio, having cashed in on it with the so-called solid INC votes from the church in mind in the 2016 elections.
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The dark and ugly side of politics is now coming to the surface, what with the nasty exchanges between Vice President Jojo Binay and Sec. Mar Roxas exposing the unwholesome character of our political system. Expect more of these muckraking in the coming days.
Lucky and happy are those who are able to hold their ground by not succumbing to the lures and blandishments of politics.
Woe unto our fellowmen who, in the name of temporary worldly power, would not hesitate to destroy themselves and lose their souls in the final analysis.
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Just as President Aquino editing his State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow, he must be pre-occupied with leaving a legacy and preserve whatever gains he has done in his presidency — the promised Daang Matuwid or Straight Path style of governance.
Let’s concede that even if critics and cynics could only point to style than substance of his presidency, the more rabid describe it as a total failure.
The moderate will view it with understanding since Noynoy has been thrust of the presidency by the immense of popularity of his parents, especially her well-loved mother Corazon Aquino who died when the Liberal Party was finalizing its search for a candidate to run against overstaying President Ferdinand Marcos.
It is obvious that Noynoy Aquino may not really have aspired to become president but circumstances have forced him to it.
In our book, he did his best; his strengths or failures should be due to his obvious lack of preparations for the presidency, which is a tough nut to crack in any angle.
His SONA tomorrow will obviously be full of glowing claims of achievements, also mea culpas and missed opportunities.
He has limitations, and prevailing events and vicissitudes in the country and around the world have stood on the way of his becoming a great leader.
That’s destiny.
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This is interesting. The Department of Health is being accused of enjoying a huge budget by critics.
Far from it. . . if you consider the scope and range of our population which is mired in poverty, criminality and breakdown of values, the nation continues to be beleaguered and unable to be great as promised by the late Ferdinand Marcos.
It has become a daily fare for us to hear about food poisoning everywhere in the islands. Pernicious illicit drugs grip many Filipino families, a situation that has made Davao Mayor Duterte a catchword in every household that’s pining for a national leader who can and will end or at least diminish it.
We encounter daily news dispatches of young children and even adults as victims of food poisoning here and there.
The Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) under Director Roland Mejia is not taking the problem lightly as it aligns with Sec. Janet Garin’s come-from-behind health upgrade program in hopes to give President Aquino’s last year a graceful exit, a legacy, and a gold leaf to remember.
They have a label for it – “High Impact Five” which encapsulates dramatic strategies to lift families and individuals from poor health and make a strong republic.
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NOTES: Volunteers Against Corruption for the Uprightness and Upliftment of Mangaldan (VACUUM) headed by Dr. Jose Soriano plans to make a list of its candidates in the national and local levels who it thinks has the credentials for honest and credible leadership. Fine move… The resignation of kumpadre and former Brgy. Captain of Bonuan Gueset Angel Gumarang from the Lyceum Northwestern University sports consultant post is totally unexpected. Angel, a fan of LNU chancellor Gonz Duque, gave LNU four collegiate basketball championships in his five years as head coach of the LNU Dukes…. We stand to be corrected when we wrote that Mita Duque’s President Hotel was next-door neighbor former President Ramos was born; she said “it was right there, where the hotel stands.” So that explains why it’s named “President Hotel.”
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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