THE State of the nation's address (Sona) has become a national day of political entertainment in July.
The people do not really care about the state of the nation of which they lack control of, confused as they are by the exaggerated truth or perversion of it. They watch the Sona like a nude show and go home in disbelief.
The Sona takes only about 35 minutes, it was announced. But today’s activities leading to delivery is a mixture of drama and comedy, a combined charade and maximum tolerance.
Some heads will get busted but the sufferance is par with paid “hakot” crowds whose destiny has been a life of hard knocks anyway. Rally frontliners are always outnumbered but never “out-bought.”
Today’s road show will be highlighted by the burning of the president’s effigy. This is no different from the torching of a Hudas figure on Easter Sunday. Both extravaganzas amuse the crowd by the sight and sound that fulfil the demand for remorse and justice; they go home confronted by harsh reality-- like stiff galunggong and NFA rice and the rising cost of living.
A prelude to the Batasan affair is the subdued fashion show. This much awaited part of the Sona is a ladies show, properly choreographed and scripted. Some clueless wives aka congressional ladies are escorted by their cheating husbands, all honourable.
Outside the Batasan halls are the united groups who will deliver their contra-Sona. There is no meeting of the minds between Pres. Duterte and the unbelievers. After all, the President has a different and a more effective God than the rallyists’.
The unifying people’s Sona groups will not debate Mr. Duterte’s claims and supposed achievements. They protest the Train, Extra judicial killings, the sell out of certain South China Seas territories, ENDO, rising prices, corruption and incompetence in his administration.
The most outstanding and visible achievement of the president is the reduced crime rates, the result of his unforgiving drive against illegal drugs.
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Generally, the people are not supportive , being ill-informed and ignorant, of Federalism and charter change. Majority of the voters do not approve of the twin plans which results to a No Election in 2019.
“Noel” is simply “No L” to a lot of lawmakers who are not on the heat. Their colleagues, the gurangs and oragons, may be described as “Ma L.”