Friday, August 5, 2016

Reflective Journal: SONA 2016, CHANGE IS COMING





MISS MARIA PURIFICACION R. RAZON
Grade 10- Katarungan                                                         July 29, 2016


President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivered his much-anticipated first State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City, at 4:07 in the afternoon of July 25, 2016, and lasted for an hour and 32 minutes. According to Secretary Andanar, the speech was written by the President himself with inputs coming from his Cabinet members. The speech made a history for the longest first SONA as well as the first Mindanaoan Philippine president, broke a lot of records, protocols, and milestones, as everyone noticed it. Traditional long gowns and elegant Barong Tagalog were supposed to be the fashion of the day, were almost out of sight. All spectators weather VIPs or not, were required to pass through security check. There is no doubt that change is evident, for the benefits of the Filipinos.
The fight against criminality, illegal drugs and corruption, promises of peace, FOI, free public Wi-Fi, pushing to federalism, solution on NCR traffic and lower tax rates are just some of the highlights of SONA. Unilateral ceasefire with the CPP, NPA, NDF has been declared.  The militant organizations, instead of burning effigy of the president which they usually do, are now expressing support, as their slogan implies: "Kilos suporta hindi kilos protesta". These are good indications that peace can be attainable. Duterte’s government sees to it that the living condition of the poorest to the poor will be addressed at once objectively, not only to have foods on their table but also in order to end the culture of street crimes, theft, robbery and other inequities that man could ever think of. This social ill called crime is mainly the product of poverty. Thunder has already been stolen by way of Executive Order when it comes to FOI as per Du30. Everybody knows if how intricate the procedure being done in the Lower and Upper Chambers of Congress. We have now all the rights to scrutinize public documents especially on bidding processes. Drug related issues/crimes are in the top priority of this administration with no let up in this campaign in order to put especially the last big fish behind bars. That’s why Oplan Katok was being launched recently to show its seriousness for putting this menace to a stop that persistently plagues Philippine society for decades.
The government and its people will be working hand in hand to perform what is needed to be done. It cannot deliver good results without the other. As they say, it takes two to Tango. This country is in dire need for a genuine transformation. And now is the time. It is happening in our own generation. Let us give change a chance. Let us take advantage of this once in a blue moon phenomenon. We cannot afford to lose this rare opportunity if we fail this time. We have no right to deal this endeavor into a mess because opportunity seldom happens twice in like form.  If ever we miss, will there be a rebirth of another Digong in a couple of generations ahead? Well, based on recent history, I doubt it. This man is a selfless leader, a kind hearted fellow yet clad with an iron fist as a tool to reform this land. As we can see with our own eyes, finally change begins to evolve. God bless the Philippines.

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