I Choose to Hope and Trust.

President Aquino delivered his 2012 State of the Nation Address today. Despite critics expectedly expressing their discontent over the address, I agree with the prevailing opinion that the SONA indicates a promise of a brighter future under PNoy.

Certainly, we still need to see if his plans pan out. Will a bigger budget allotment for the education sector translate to better student performance? Will more tourists come to experience the country since “it’s more fun here?” Will pensioners receive their promised increase from GSIS? Will the roads and infrastructures he mentioned materialize in the next few years? Will the economy continue to boom despite the global slowdown? These are questions to be answered and measures to refer to once the next SONA’s come.

Personally, the SONA reinstated my hope and trust in the government through tangible proof that positive change, once thought as impossible, is upon us. Despite a political system that may still be mired in corruption and the seemingly intangible effects of macroeconomic growth, I believe that the government is working doubly hard to fulfill its prime duty of serving the people. It’s always easier to doubt that plans will work and that positive change is going to come but I choose to trust in the government.

Of course, crab-feasting critics would beg to disagree. Most do so because they lack the trust that the Philippine government works. I cannot blame them if it’s an effect of a decade or so of experiencing a government embroiled in scandals. However, times have changed. We are under an administration that not only prides itself in taking the matuwid na daan and forgiving but not forgetting the crimes of the past but also walks the talk. Sure, corruption still exists and poverty remains but change does not happen overnight. Progress, especially after suffering a multitude of setbacks, is bound to be painstakingly slow. However, the important thing is that the government has already lived up to fulfill its mission of serving the Filipino people, its bosses, as PNoy would say.  

Will progress continue or even hasten? It does not rest on PNoy alone. Revisiting the SONA acronym, we realize that the state address is not just of the president but of a nation 90 million strong. Thus, the process of development can only hasten if all of us do our part in heeding the challenges of the next few years. One can begin by shelving immaterial negative opinions. Unfounded or biased negativity and hate do not do our nation any good. Instead of helping us progress, it cripples us into a culture of doubt and distrust. Thus, instead of instigating negativity, why can’t we just play our part of being good citizens and course it through proper channels? The process of progress is already complex and difficult enough, let us not add any more burden to a recovering nation.

Is it really possible? A nation working united towards progress? I think it is. Just as a country stops to watch its pride box for worldwide glory so it can unite under the tutelage of a president who has shown that change is possible. I am reminded of the popular Filipino metaphor of the walis tingting. A single tingting cannot rid any dirt but if all the tingtings work together, then no dirt escapes them. A president cannot effect the change alone, he is relying on every single one of us to do our part. We may be mere tingtings too but if we all work together, progress will come. Thus, I choose to trust the Filipino people.

  

To end, I’d like to reiterate one of PNoy’s most lauded statements, “Masarap maging Pilipino sa panahong ito.” (Aquino, 2012)

Masarap maging Pilipino sa panahong ito lalo na kung nagtitiwala ako sa kapwa Pilipino ko na uunlad ang aming bansa kung sabay-sabay namin itong pahahalagahan at pagsisikapan.