We Could Pay Up 5% Of Our International Debt
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Philippine Politics, Philosophy
July 24, 2007
I have not minded yesterday’s SONA by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo although I was aware of it as early as Friday last week. This is somehow very unexpected of me since in years past, I have always been mindful of every SONA speech given, even as early as the Aquino administration. In fact, I had made it a point often in the past to be at home near the time when the speech is about to begin. But this year, I just woke up this morning and as I logged in to surf for the news, I was a bit surprised at myself upon realizing that in fact, yesterday afternoon, when President Arroyo had given her SONA, I wasn’t mindful about it. I could not easily explain why upon such realization, I felt some weight taken out of me, like a thorn snatched from my inside, just like perhaps how one alcoholic feels on the very day he or she had finally kicked out excessive drinking (a bad habit), or any drinking of any alcoholic beverage for that matter. That is, I felt lighter upon realizing that for this year, I haven’t got already the inclination to watch a speech that many says is merely full of promises, but empty in action.
So this year, I felt like I kicked a bad habit and did not watch the SONA live for the first time in more than a decade. It used to be that SONA watching had even became some kind of a ritual for me, like bird-watching or whale watching, making sure every time that I’d be home early in the afternoon and cancel whatever itineraries I have, those that weren’t ultimately urgent, and I would fix myself a sit in front of the television, and the boiling water always constantly heated and reheated for an afternoon tv watching marathon with mugs after mugs of hot black coffee, anticipating how the whole nation would be glued for an annual speech many says is merely full of words but empty in action, and seeing in my mind’s eye the costly gowns the ladies would be wearing, like it was Oscar awarding night, and how the men would be clapping at every pause or slow respite in the president’s oral masturbation, or how they would pretend to be clapping.
In every SONA event, I always have that feeling that if someone—perhaps, the sergeant-at-arm on duty for that day or the head security—would take a sack (or sacks) and carry it around the SONA audience—around senators and congressmen and congresswomen, governors, mayors, generals, heads of offices, colonels, tycoons, media bigwigs, pharmaceutical company executives, political advisers, political minions, exporters, importers, university professors, franchise holders, athletes, world boxing champs, actors and actresses, holymen…no…not holymen—and collect all Gucci bags, Rolex watches, Bangkok jewelries, diamonds, Italian leather shoes, Italian leather women’s shoes, Armanis and any other thing that glitters and worn for that day—I have a great feeling that we could pay up about 5% of our international debt right on, at that very moment, or perhaps build-up a huge housing project for ten thousand families, or feed all the hungry children living in the streets—right here, right now….RIGHT ON THE SPOT.
BUT RIGHT NOW—just allow me to enjoy this newfound feeling of being able to escape a bad habit; of listening to a speech many says merely full of words but empty in action.
Major Tom,
while the country annual ritual is not very welcome by some or most as it is mostly wishes and promises, ours what we call our Annual Budget Day, is the most anticipated event of the year.
It is where the Government of the Day will lay out its programs from the very day to the end of its mandate or for the current year and it will become law, a very significant law, where if it is defeated by the house, it will automatically dissolve the Parliament. And it will also be the basis where the voters will know if the Government is implementing its campaign promises and the oppositions to critiques and debates, a very lively process…
Comment by vic — July 24, 2007 @ 9:22 am
To vic: That’s very ideal and very politically correct where both leaders and the community sector find times to discuss and bring out the issues that affects the nation. I hope it could be similarly conducted here.
Comment by Major Tom — July 24, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Congratulations then. Sometimes we just have to say enough of this habit. It’s the same anyway: one will end up angry at the speech and the promises.
However… I am still curious at what she said.
Comment by ipanema — July 24, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
In my readings this morning she lauded mostly the gains in education as she announced how the budget for special educatio projects had increased two folds from 500 million to 1 billion this year.
And also, she had called for legislation to curtail the so-called political killings.This is good, at least we know now that she is aiming to do something about it…at last.
But mostly, I haven’t got any other idea. perhaps it was the same old song that she is harking…
Comment by Major Tom — July 24, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
good for you….
but then again, although we have little or no control at all with political happenings, it is good to have an inkling.
Comment by pepe — July 24, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
To pepe: That’s probably why I was always present in every SONA for more than a decade–except this time. Since I miss it, intentionally or not, maybe I get the feel of the nation on the news I read and watch and see for myself where the nation is heading to, or look around if in general our country is progressing or not…:-)
Comment by Major Tom — July 24, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Hahaha! Your idea is so funny… but I bet it would pay more than 5% of our debts.
Comment by Toe — July 24, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
It would be better if those present at the SONA — and I mean those politicians, tycoons and other big wigs — donate half of their wealth, ill-gotten or otherwise, to the country’s coffers.
Yeah, it’s good to dream once in a while, hehe…
Comment by snglguy — July 24, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
To Toe: That’ll even replenish our anemic treasury as I estimate…:-P
Comment by Major Tom — July 24, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
To sngl: Some big things began as a dream bro…it won’t hurt to dream a little.
Comment by Major Tom — July 24, 2007 @ 7:59 pm
Ang sarap ng feeling ah. Hahaha.
I myself didn’t notice there was a SONA the other day, not that I’m looking forward to it. I guess I’m just tired of those promises and also the people who I hear kept complaining on whoever president says their accomplishment or promises are.
Comment by Ferdz — July 24, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
To Ferdz: Perhaps I just got calloused about everything despite that I’ve become somewhat positive over our economic outlook, thanks primarily to increased remittances from abroad, as I analyse it, and increasing investor confidence in our country. We could say that this might be an achievement of this present administration but my feel is that, things just went into place with that notion that we have been so down before that there could be no other way but up.
To be clear, I am not really that downright disgusted with the way things are being handled, it is just that we need to see more action and fewer words from our leaders.
Comment by Major Tom — July 24, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
I agree, our politicians are just full of “shitty” words, but empty promises. When will we ever pay our debt? We were just paying for the interest and not the principal for it. Sigh…
Comment by JV — July 24, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
To JV: The last time I got to read about it, our foreign debt stood at over 80 Billion dollars, and increasing by the hour due to interest.
I somehow snatched this idea from Senator elect Panfilo Lacson that—as he had calculated—if all our legislators forgo their pork barrel just for one year, we could wipe out 10% of that amount outrightly. As he said so, it would feel so nice that somehow our dents decreases rather than increases as it is right now.
Comment by Major Tom — July 24, 2007 @ 9:10 pm
I fell asleep before she came on and when I woke up, she was finished with her speech.
However, how I wished I had someone to go with me and take pictures of the demonstrations going on simultaneously outside, but no one would let me nor accompany me.
Comment by eric — July 24, 2007 @ 9:43 pm
I can’t remember listening, let alone watching a SONA when I was there… I think I’d rather watch a paint dry
Comment by pining — July 24, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
i like the idea of collecting ‘all Gucci bags, Rolex watches, Bangkok jewelries, diamonds, Italian leather shoes, Italian leather women’s shoes, Armanis,..’ he he
Comment by bingskee — July 24, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
Nothing new to our ears if you ask me. Its the same old rhetorics without giving us results. As usual, she again used political props to make it appear she achieved something.
If she’s sincere about putting a stop to extra-judicial killings, she should have the Rome statute ratified.
I agree, the sgt-at-arms should collect all the valuables her cronies have and put them into a social fund.
Maybe next year, she should deliver her SONA in front of the common man and lets see how many applauses or boos she’ll get.
Comment by Schumey — July 25, 2007 @ 5:10 am
Apathy. I am no stranger to it. But each year, I will myself to listen. It is part of my job to keep abreast of economic achievements (whether real or exaggerated or imagined) and of goals (whether realistic or impossible).
Well, she talked mostly of infrastructures many of them completed … and I guess its very hard to pull these out of a magician’s hat.
I am not enamored with GMA. But I daresay we can do worse. I agree with Alex Magno that whatever other people say, this is a president who works her ass off.
Comment by annamanila — July 25, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
I stopped watching these things ages ago. Lots of promises…broken promises. I can still remember Mang Pandoy during the time of Ramos. Hindi naman siya umasenso. Mahirap pa rin. Hay buhay.
Comment by ladybug — July 25, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
To eric: The pictures would have been dramatic and introduces a new form of photography that you could venture into—if there’s such a term as “political photography”, then that could have been it—maybe next time around you’ll get the shot.
Comment by Major Tom — July 26, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
To pining: Ha..ha…Now that’s funny. Wonder how’d it feels to be watching paints dry. Haven’t tried it before…
Comment by Major Tom — July 26, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
To Bing: What could be most beneficial and successful fund-raising activity in Philippine history….
Comment by Major Tom — July 26, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
To Schumey: Why haven’t we thought of that? An annual speech in front of the common people, and those important individuals on the background—would be a more meaningful exercise. I wonder if we could suggest this idea to the higher-ups.
Comment by Major Tom — July 26, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
To annamanila: Definitely those are achievements and the stabilizing economy is also one of such.
Comment by Major Tom — July 26, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
To ladybug: We need to see more action and progress that is, otherwise such exercise becomes to routinary and perfunctory somewhat—just to get by and be done with.
Comment by Major Tom — July 26, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
lol @ Pining…funny lady =)
Anyway the only thing I was grateful about this SONA thingy is the traffic in Commonwealth. My previous boss resides there so during SONAs, he’s always on leave.
Comment by verns — July 26, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
To the contrary, I have never watched a SONA from beginning to end. It’s like listening to an old priest’s homliy… only without the religious affirmation. I would often surf back and forth changing channels between the SONA and MTV.
I must say the idea sounds great! Hahaha… I believe a single Hermes bag can support a family of five for 2 years. But I think if “these people” can’t even spare time to actually “see” what’s going on in the country, I doubt if they’d personally give up their Rolexes and Jimmy Choos.
I think your plan will work if we use either water pistols or blindside them with a SONA/Fund Raising Campaign.
Hehehe… If only…
Comment by Alternati — July 26, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
I believe that education is one area that the government should put more attention. I heard from a friend that she also wanted prices of medicine to go donw. Oh, that’s welcome news indeed/ Now she has to do is tell that to the big pharmaceutical companies, bleeding us dry.
hmmm…there was one part my friend mentioned it was her personal thought on who’s going to reap what she is sowing right now. If you try to analyse, this is very true you know. Implementing fiscal policies is one, harvesting the result takes a long time. That’s just reality.
Comment by ipanema — July 26, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
With the recent SONA (Same Old Nuts Again) of gloria, it is once again “Happy Days Are Here.”
The billion peso projects lined-up, it is indeed happy days ahead for some.
Comment by myepinoy — July 27, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
To Verns: Now that’s also funny—LOL—wishing your boss to be stuck on traffic
.
Maybe it’s time to investigate wheere the new boss is often passing and then hope protesters of some sort rally there in a huge way.
Comment by Major Tom — July 28, 2007 @ 7:36 am
To alternati: What’s a “hermes bag” by the way? Not really wanting to poke fun so much on them but hey, it is just an idea that might click.
Comment by Major Tom — July 28, 2007 @ 7:38 am
To alternati: What’s a “hermes bag” by the way? Not really wanting to poke fun so much on them but hey, it is just an idea that might click.
Comment by Major Tom — July 28, 2007 @ 7:39 am
To ipanema: The setback on the cheap medicine prices bill is really one huge blot on this year’s SONA. We all know that most of the time, GMA could get almost anything she wants with Congress, if she’s only determined; but it died like a leech, under the covers, with that feeling that they are trying their darnest to hide it under the carpet. Such shenanigans…
Comment by Major Tom — July 28, 2007 @ 7:42 am
To Myepinoy: I know what you mean by that. And I know some personas in the audience would have been smiling ear to ear. Big projects—big money—and big…. you know what….
Comment by Major Tom — July 28, 2007 @ 7:44 am