Effectiveness, not popularity is the issue

By Gonzalo Duque

LOOK at how our media work.

As soon as the President was scheduled to deliver her State of the Nation Address, the country’s major media outlets especially television came with SWS and Pulse Asia ratings to embarrass her.

Yes, the timing is suspicious, but anyway, you say, we are in a democracy, and everything is fair like love and war.

We think this guy, Benny Antiporda, president of the National Press Club, whatever Neal Cruz is saying about him, is correct when he said that all this assault media are throwing at the President should be in a way a tribute to her administration. The fact that this kind of abuse to our freedom is allowed by the President is a tribute to her adherence to free speech.

Kaya lang, inaabuso natin naman. Ano ba kayo, mga igan, mga agagui, kaskasyan met lay Ate Glo.

The good things said about her like those that came from Solita Monsod who has given economic program a glowing grade and yes, the three bishops who were cited by PDI columnist Belinda Cunanan for their revelation that actually and on record PGMA really won the presidential election against the late Fernando Poe Jr. should also be top story. Not just those put-down poll surveys and nonstop assaults on her person.

This country is as good or as bad as what we make of it. Our media which have been blest with the widest latitude of freedom are often overdoing it.

Ok, let’s grant about what the survey groups such as the SWS are saying that PGMA’s popularity rating is down. You see, at a time when the nation is coping with the harshest economic climate globally, we should not be surprised at the beating our President and public officials are getting.

Did you know that very few leaders today can satisfy the whims and caprices of their exploding populations? President Bush of the US is similarly situated because of his decisiveness on terrorism and economic recession that has visited the US. Kayong may mga loved ones sa America are familiar with the groans and grunts of your US-based loved ones, di po ba? Halos hindi na sila makapagpadala sa kanilang mga pamilya at kakanayon sa ating bansa. Why? Because of the global inflation.

Maraming naghihirap. We all know that. The times are hard. We need to really tighten our belts. But why do we have to howl and shoot down our president? What are the cold facts? The nation registered the highest business index last year. In infrastructure, which is the clearest showcase of development, Ate Glo’s accomplishments far outweigh all those done singly or collectively by all the pastpresidents of this country.

Kaya, kayo ha, no man evaluate kayo met kari performance na lider tayo, amay wala met kari basi tayo, ta pian ontan, aliwa tayon tatawagey iresponsiblen komentarista. Anta sangkanengneng tayon amin so gagawaen na inaro tayon presidente, tira ki met lan tira. Anto tan met?

At this juncture, the 20l0 elections comes to mind. It is a breath away, so to speak. So we urge those who love to lash and lambast the President to just wait a little bit. In the meantime, let’s try to unite for the common good. The President has been doing her best, we all now that. Tama na muna yang bogbogan; aroan so nakaukolan. Ompian onasenso tayon amin. Korek ba, Mr. Mangahas? (Mr. Mangahas, a cousin of the late FPJ, is the founder-chairman of SWS).

Let’s move the ship of state forward for the benefit of everyone.

* * * * *

We have designated Barangay Bonuan Gueset Chairman Angel Gumarang as a commissioner of PRISAA in line with sports development in our private schools in Dagupan City. The guy who polled the biggest election margin in the city’s biggest barangay in the last election is a known organizer and team-builder. He is also known for his sense of fairness, always listening to all sides of a controversy. His appointment therefore is a vote for sports and sportsmanship, which are needed by the community if it is to grow and prosper.

Congratulations, Angel.

(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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