"Still trying to appease a worried folk
with achievements, policies and promises"
with achievements, policies and promises"
(Or: "as the President prepares his final address to a disenchanted people")
“We expect Mr. Duterte to share his thoughts and ideas during his last SONA. His address might command more attention if he focuses on enhancing the capabilities of public institutions in order that they may continue what he has started.
What is the point of critiquing the captain or the steering while the ship is being battered by storms?”
- Manila Times
Seems that Duterte’s last State of the Nation Address gonna be “interesting”.
For amidst the tumultuous times, that the President of the Philippines as “trying” to be less thuggish, simple, "classy", and "impactful" in his message to the folk as he instead focusing on making policies particularly those of necessary laws prior to his exit.
But the past events has marred the achievements the administration bragged about: that the recent calamities, eruption of Taal volcano, water shortage due to drought, and the flooding in Metro Manila will surely dampen any ridiculous claims on disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response. The COVID19 pandemic with its half-hearted responses, with spikes caused by the recent Delta variant will temper any urge to play up the government’s actions showing how “effective” and “efficient” their response.
Yet despite this, expect apologists of the order trying to insist their idol as “trying to do his best” in “making lives comfortable”, as topics like the “Build Build Build”, “passport validity”, “free healthcare”, and “free tuition” as Duterte’s showcase of achievements. However, most of these are carryovers from past administrations if not funded by foreign loans and initiated by private conglomerates. Worse, marred by corruption as bureaucrats treating such initiatives as milking cows for their selfish interests.
Hence, with all those numerous feats to mention and attempts to ensure continuity, it is not surprising if the president talks about policies, priority legislation that’s to be enacted be it domestic issues to those of foreign policy; otherwise, expect tirades against the opposition, including those concerned, especially when the administration tries to insist success with the war on drugs to those of war against rebel groups. But, if any mention of extrajudicial killings, or state-sponsored atrocities will probably bolster the case against him by the International Criminal Court. Of course, apologists will either deny it, insist as if “Oplan Tokhang” or the "Anti Terrorism Act" and the dissolution of the peace talks between government and the rebels as a necessary move, that the infrastructure program requires immense sacrifice (especially paying trillion-peso loans from moneylenders), worse, still remorseless in taking pride of their Duterte even he’s branded a criminal for his actions.
Still, regardless of their statements and justifications, truth prevails as the folk themselves saw truth from facts and continue seeking further. The quote from Manila Times may have tried to appease the folk if not "knocking on their conscience" for criticising Duterte and his acts. But damn! Cannot blame the folk for getting worried, of criticising or even assailing Duterte for fooling the folk with words like "reform", "change", just to see sameness! And if the order insist their bullshit, expect these concerned folks will never yield.
Again, today is the president’s last major address to the Filipino people in the session hall of Batasang Pambansa. This will still be interesting, but doesn’t mean surprising. Especially from a somebody who portrayed himself as a man of action with immense political will- only to end as a living meme and a butt of jokes from those who supposed to benefit from his promises-turned-victims of his bullshitry.