State of the Nation Address

I watched the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo earlier today and I admire her courage and professionalism. The way she delivered her speech indicates that she has no plans of extending her term. Her speech includes the economy, war on terrorism, education, sports, and her trip this week to meet U.S. President Obama.

President Arroyo said:

“A year is a long time. We will continue to invest in the economy, the environment, and education,” she said, adding that after her ninth and supposedly last Sona, it would be “more work” not “all politics.”

In fighting form, Arroyo turned the tables on her critics and urged aspirants in next year’s elections to “give the electorate real choices, not just sweet talk.”

While she did not say whether or not she supported her allies’ push to convene a constituent assembly, Arroyo blasted critics of Charter change, whom she said, opposed it when they could no longer benefit from it.

On Charter change, the President said: “The noisiest critics of constitutional reform tirelessly and shamelessly attempted Cha-Cha when they thought they could take advantage of a shift in the form of government. Now that they feel they cannot benefit from it, they oppose it.”

Faced with several military uprisings, Arroyo she said she never declared martial law even if her critics were “running scared as if I did.”

“I say to them: do not tell us what we all know, that democracy can be threatened. Tell us what you will do when it is attacked,” she said.

“I know what to do: As I have shown, I will defend democracy with arms when it is threatened by violence; with firmness when it is weakened by division; with law and order where it is subverted by anarchy…” she said.

Arroyo thanked Congress for passing reform measures that prepared the country for the global recession.

The President’s annual report to the nation started and ended with a standing ovation. At the start of her speech, she asked for prayers for former President Corazon Aquino, who is battling colon cancer.

per inquirer.net dated 07.27.2009