Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s SONA 2009 a failure – half of the truth said, the other half unsaid – no categorical statement she will step down in 2010
this SONA 2009, supposedly arroyo;s last SONA is classic arroyo – say half the truth, keep the other half a secret, while the other half that has been unsaid is the more important part.
the filipino people want to hear one and only one thing – her plans after 2010. the people want to hear a categorical statement that she will step down from power in 2010.
arroyo cannot say she does not know this is what the people want to hear. this is clear in all the surveys where the people want her out. aside from the surveys, key political figures, ramos one among them have categorically said arroyo need to let the nation know that she will step down from power in 2010. that says she has no excuse to ignore that desire, not to say it.
what we got is one half of the truth or so at least that is what she wants us to think – “I have never expressed desire to extend myself beyond my term.”
what she said there is that she has not uttered the words “i want to extend her term”, she did not say she did not want it in her mind. it is possible it is in her mind, but she just did not say it.
that statement sets us up for what might be next – it can happen where the congressmen she controls at the lower house will launch a “clamor” for her to be the leader beyond her term. she can say the call for her to stay beyond 2010 is not coming from her, not her desire but the desire of the congressmen to do so. she will then in all humility accept the clamor and challenge and extend her term.
that is the last half of the truth that she did not “utter” today. this is classic arroyo.
Arroyo: No ‘expressed desire’ to extend term
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:07:00 07/27/2009(UPDATE 3) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she “never expressed desire” to extend her term beyond 2010, but still kept the nation guessing on her political plans as she delivered her ninth and final State of the Nation Address (Sona).
“I have never expressed desire to extend myself beyond my term, many of those who accuse me of it try to cling like nails to their posts,” said Arroyo, who was wearing a bright purple terno.
“At the end of this speech, I shall step down from this stage but not from the presidency. My term does not end until next year. Until then, I will fight for the ordinary Filipino. The nation comes first. There is much to do as head of state to the very last day,” she 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.”
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read other posts:
- 9 Years Of Arroyo: A Review – Cayetano Paderanga Jr.
- Budget unbalanced, injustice in tax policy – Cielito Habito
- Employment record: Good, bad and ugly – Tomas Africa
- Education: Plugging leaks, shortages – Juan Miguel Luz
- Gloria and her SONAs: Long on show, short on substance – PCIJ
- Health: Good news with lots of buts… – Jaime Galvez Tan
- Sona 2001 revisited, Performance against targets – Ibon Foundation
- Palace stinks with scandals – Eliza Victoria, Cyril Bonabente
- At Supreme Court, she won some, lost big – Isagani Cruz
- Scandals without closure overshadow successes- juliet labog-javellana
- Environment suffered badly, say critics – philip tubeza
- Arroyo’s performance, trust ratings. It’s downhill after 2004 -Minerva Generalao, Kate V. Pedroso
- 8 State of the Nation Addresses of Arroyo
- Arroyo ‘has done little or none at all’ – PDI readers
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The Presidentiables Blog 
I never did like GMA, coz she as we all know, like ALL politicians, have devils in her closet too. But I would admit, it is indeed a very hard and rigorous task to handle a country with so many great minds that “know” how to run a country…. I just feel with great surety that when those great minds, be given the same problem… like the ones she faced, i really do think, they’d go lame! Gloria i don’t like you, but i recognize the great effort. By the way, i don’t think you know much of what she has done, you only highlighted the “half-truth” issue here. if you’re really sure of who you are, and where you are standing, highlight the miss points in all the points she made…. i’m not against you, i was just hoping you’d give me a different light from what i just heard in GMA’s SONA.
this is arroyo’s last SONA, arroyo is in her last year of the presidency, civic and church leaders have said it, the people themselves have said – they want to know arroyo’s plans after 2010. they want to know if she will step down from power.
none on that was said. it is a fact.
@ wawam:
pls allow me to make a minor comment on your position above. first of all, it is not the objective of the SONA to discuss about future personal and political plans of the one delivering it. SONA or State-of-the-Nation Address is a speech regarding where the nation stands right now and is hoped to be in the future AND NOT about where SHE (the person) is right now and will be in the future (personal and political plans).
the SONA can initially be thought of as a good and tempting venue to discuss about her own personal plans – this is what MOST of us would really expect. but a smart and intelligent president should first understand the basics (what speech she will be doing and what aspects are to be appropriately discussed) – and I guess she passed this basic test. thanks.
SONA 2009 being arroyo’s last SONA on paper (read: constitution) in effect is arroyo’s valedictory address. aside from achievements and statement in legacy, it is also a good-bye.
no definitive good-bye was said.
president aquino did it, president bush did it and most other presidents whose term ends did it.
arroyo’s plans after 2010 is a national issue of import. it has been talked about in all forms of media, key leaders have urged arroyo to speak about it and the people want to know. unless you have been living under a rock for the past 2 years, specially in the last few months, arroyo’s plans after 2010 is not only a national issue, it is also a controversial one.
presidents of countries are supposed to be aware of these things and they also ought to address controversies specially when it concerns them specifically.
we have to stop thinking arroyo is a private person because she is not. arroyo is the MOST public filipino in this country. that comes with the territory of being the president of a country.
declaring her plans after 2010 goes beyond the personal and the private, it is very public not to mention constitutional.
with the above, not only is arroyo morally bound to declare her plans post-2010, she is duty-bound to do so. unless of course half the truth of what will happen in 2010 is being kept.
i’m sorry but i might have missed some of these points during cory’s and bush’s SONA. can you pls cite the statements where these are explicitly mentioned? explicity should mean expressly stated in their address and not interpretations only.
and what part of the constitution does her declaration of the 2010 plans will align with. i’m sorry but pls enlighten me on this aspect.
i agree with you; arroyo’s plans for 2010 is an issue of concern – a public concern, not a national concern. only when her plans become unconstitutional and will threaten public security and welfare will it become a national concern. it is currently a public concern as it is just that – a “famous” and “juicy” topic to discuss about.
just because people keep silent and do not “entertain” and “discuss” about controversial issues doesn’t mean we dont have a position in the issue. and not all who open their mouths spew words with substance. silence is a strong message itself.
and how will the president incorporate this in her speech should her plans after 2010 is to be mentioned during the SONA? let’s try a few examples:
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“after the elections, i will become a plain housewife and mother for my kids”. OR
“my dear countrymen, i will concentrate on my sari-sari business from now on. pls email me should you have any orders.”
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see, it’s awkward and irrelevant towards the entire thought of the SONA. no matter how this is said and how words will be organized, it wouldn’t connect with any of the thoughts to be incorporated in it. there are other appropriate venues to cater this type of discussions but not the SONA.
i agree arroyo is not a private person – NOW. whatever her plans in the future will determine whether she becomes a private individual or continues to be public. when she goes to public office then she’s still somebody public.
ultimately, whatever happens after the SONA both to her and her political plans will be greatly judged at the turn out of events. sometimes, it is better to wait for the outcome rather than speculate with empty basis as it is just considered plain blabbering – only words; no substance. what good can speculating give to our economy? speculating, in itself, is not value-adding.
i am not a GMA fan either but i am just trying to be realistic here.
video of president cory aquino’s last SONA where she did say she will hand power to the next president. and of course as history is witness, cory did transfer power to ramos. https://2010presidentiables.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/president-cory-aquinos-last-sona-will-arroyos-sona-measure-up/
the issue that is hanging on arroyo’s neck and that everyone wants to know about is will arroyo step down as leader after 2010. or will arroyo hang on to power in whatever means? that covers constitutional, national and moral aspects.
the country wants a reassurance that she will respect the constitution. we have of course seen arroyo tell a lie many times before (“I talked to God and I have decided I will not run for president” statement but weeks after she ran for president) and all actions and non-actions seem to point to her desire to keep to power.
the people are not interested on her personal plans – she can have another round of breast implants if she wants to, what the people want to know is if she will step down from power in 2010.
she has not said that on her SONA, supposedly her last.
to wawam – THIS IS MY REPLY TO YOUR MESSAGE BELOW JULY 29, 4:39PM…
as you might not have noticed it, i would like to inform you i cannot reply to your message thread BELOW dated July 29 at 4:39 pm. maybe there was something wrong with your page or something happened or was done disabling the “reply” button. therefore, i just made my comment in this area of the thread.
pls allow me to make my comments in a bullet-form (reaction format to your paragraph format below):
a.) On your first paragraph:
your given video doesn’t answer my question at all. cory’s SONA is a beauty of its own – but that doesn’t mean the same thought has to be followed by another president. there are different ways to say goodbye. and GMA has said it HER way. it might not be YOUR way but its HER speech; not yours nor cory’s or bush’s. and besides, she did say her own version of farewell when she said in her SONA – “My term does not end until next year.” isn’t this self-understandable? just because she’s not a copy cat to the speeches of other presidents doesn’t mean she’s not saying goodbye. sometimes, we just have to be a little trusting to people – a reflection in our own personal lives as well.
b.) On your second paragraph below:
i think your reasoning below on why declaring the 2010 plans is constitutional IS NOT valid. these are just your mere interpretations and opinions on a given subject and not based on expressly-stated constitutional provisions. it’s just as good as me saying – “arroyo has the right to remain silent about her plans on 2010. it’s her right not to divulge her personal plans as being provided in the 1987 Constitution Bill of Rights stating about the RIGHT TO PRIVACY.” – see, it’s as good as your opinion with mine having even a better factual basis citing a provision in the constitution. nonetheless, my point is that your point is not good enough to justify your premise raised. and besides, as with my point A above, i guess there’s no reason to argue on this as GMA has her own version of the good-bye speech. i believe this is just what matters to you at all – if wheher she steps down or not.
c.) On your third paragraph below:
quoting “the country wants a reassurance that she will respect the constitution” unquote.
– when you said “the country” it seems like you have conducted such a scientific census or statistical gathering analysis so you could reach a conclusion that indeed it’s THE ENTIRE COUNTRY’S clamor. dissecting your statement, i can say of course it is the country’s clamor that the president (and that means ALL presidents; not necessarily she alone) will respect the constitution. but i dont think all of us needs the re-assurance as we ourselves are already assured that eventually, she will have to step down. there are ways that this can be ensured rather than just seeking her word. do you think if she says during the SONA that she will step down, this would be enough? the re-assurance that you seek is not actually a completely assurance – it is just words, no compliance controls attached.
quoting “all actions and non-actions seem to point to her desire to keep to power.”
– well, this is a pretty general statement which can be very subjective at all thus, i think i dont have to argue this one as i can always say the otherwise as well. bottomline, this is only a statement of opinion where everybody has its own say.
d.) On your fourth paragraph:
at last something that i can agree with! you’re right. the people doesn’t have a care about what she does with her personal life. and i guess this is what my entire argument is all about. now, we’ve reached a common ground and you’ve agreed with me.
you said this: “i’m sorry but i might have missed some of these points during cory’s and bush’s SONA. can you pls cite the statements where these are explicitly mentioned? explicity should mean expressly stated in their address and not interpretations only.”
so i gave you the link to what you said you “missed” in cory’s SONA. now you can’t miss that part, its right there.
you need to stop thinking of arroyo as a private citizen because she is not. she is the most public among all of us and she is much more public than private.
the question of her plans after 2010 is not a private matter of hers, it is a constitutional and public matter.
if arroyo is able to stop the election from happening in 2010, that is a constitutional violation. if arroyo is able to hold to power after 2010, that is also a constitutional matter and a violation of morals and the greater good.
anything the president of a country does affects the rest of the country. arroyo is not just a ordinary woman who lives in manila, she is the president. anything and everything she does, including those she does not do or do not say (as is in this matter) affects all of us, for better or for worst.
just a short and concise comment if you may.
have you noticed yourself saying a lot of “ifs”? this means they are just as that – IF’s and WHAT IF’s. thus, going back to my previous point and i quote – “sometimes, it is better to wait for the outcome rather than speculate with empty basis as it is just considered plain blabbering – only words; no substance.”
did you view the video to see what you missed? i think i have made my point.
and also read this: “How Cory made her graceful exit”
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090730-217883/How-Cory-made-her-graceful-exit
our arguments wouldn’t reach a common ground and as of this time, im too exhausted to write some more for now. so i’ll make this as quick as possible.
on your first statement – did you view the video to see what you missed? i think i have made my point.
– nope and i dont have too. i dont need to scrutinize her words with an eye of overkill skepticism and negativity. i trust her she can make her own unique version of a SONA – a very strong SONA indeed. as strong as GMA’s own version too! both ladies are good; no matter how unique they are and i am proud we have both strong women who had (and has) the chance to lead the country.
on your second statement – and also read this: “How Cory made her graceful exit”
– i read it and thank you. based on this, i’ve realized somethings:
a.) people are not fortune-tellers or oracles or mind readers. but we can be good commentators and opinion-makers
b.) each individual is unique – they have their own ways to make their SONAs. let’s respect this diversity.
c.) dont judge a book especially if you’re not familiar with the cover (moreso with the content), especially if you are judge-able as well.
d.) life would be better if we just work and do something value-adding rather than complain and throw back waste at each other. most of the ones complaining are those who have done nothing.
e.) we dont need to be loved to be called effective (think about your boss; if you’re already working) sometimes, there are personal sacrifices to be made.
f.) we are indeed a free and democratic country and i love this freedom which is bestowed upon me by my ancestors and protected by my leaders. the least i could do is to be just thankful.
i’m signing off today…you too as well. have some rest.
If GMA says she will run for a seat in Congress, can we legally bar her? She cannot be forced to divulge her plans beyond her term of office because that is already her private personal life.
there is no legal impedimment for her to run for another elective office after 2010.
which is another issue by itself. the con-ass and cha-cha that her surrogates in congress have been trying to push is part of the scheme where the form of government will be turned into a parliamentary system and by sheer number vote arroyo into The Great Prime Ministe For Life.
quoting – there is no legal impedimment for her to run for another elective office after 2010 which is another issue by itself – unquote.
– if you said yourself there is no legal impediment for her to run in congress as it is her right, then why do you say it is another issue by itself? i dont think any right granted by the rule of law makes any issue at all as the law is the final determining factor for anybody’s right. unless of course if you have the tendency to go outside or even circumvent the law. in which case, the issue is on you and NOT on the president.
again as i said there are legal (constituional) and moral issus here. and on both, arroyo pussyfooting on her plans past 2010 fails on both.
arroyo running for congress is a cover for her plan to become prime minister for life. any person will suspect the sinister plan given the quickness the congressmen rammed HR 1109 through congress.
again, as i said as well above, there are no concrete legal and constitutional basis that you have cited that supports your claim. all that have been said are purely opinions and comments where everybody has a something to say as well – and it would be endless.
the constituion states arroyo needs to step down from office on june 30, 2010. that is a concrete and constitutional basis.
a president on her last term of office is duty bound by principles and morals to state that she will step down from power SPECIALLY when that has become a naitonal issue and controversy.
here is an example of how that is done: How Cory made her graceful exit (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090730-217883/How-Cory-made-her-graceful-exit)
there is a difference here between these two women presidents – one is moral the other is not. one does things that are right, the other not.
on your first statement: the constituion states arroyo needs to step down from office on june 30, 2010. that is a concrete and constitutional basis.
– yes indeed it is (and everybody including GMA knows that). this is a given fact and not the point of argument. this is not the point that you raised. the point that you raised is about the constitutionality of HER DECLARING HER 2010 PLANS. and i dont think you have a constitutional basis that supports this.
on your second statement: a president on her last term of office is duty bound by principles and morals to state that she will step down from power SPECIALLY when that has become a naitonal issue and controversy.
– the operative word is not “to state” but “is implied” through the constitutionality of the six-year term – and that is applicable to all presidents not just her. and it seems like you have acted like a fortune-teller as you have forecasted the future (with so much confidence) that she won’t step down. can you tell us how have you read her mind and if she’s really thinking about that?
and the way you said this statement seems to say that you want her to step down NOW when her term ends next year. who’s opinion is then more constitutional – yours (where you want her to cut the term as provided in the constitution) or her (who is following the six-year term when she said “my term doesn’t end until next year”.
on your last paragraph: there is a difference here between these two women presidents – one is moral the other is not. one does things that are right, the other not.
– it seems like your crowning yourself with too much authority to decide what is moral and what is not; what is right and what is not. i dont think any one person has an absolute discretion to say to another that she’s not moral and the other is. morality is subjective (and sometimes impaired by close-mindedness) and depends upon the person. and the fact that you have judged the person right there and then without knowing them entirely is IN FACT NOT EVEN MORAL. the bible says, “he who is perfectly clean should cast the first stone”. and i dont think any of us is perfectly clean thus, we dont have the right to judge others – a reflection in our OWN personal lives as well.
the topic of this post is “Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s SONA 2009 a failure – half of the truth said, the other half unsaid – no categorical statement she will step down in 2010”
and on that i have made my point.
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where is it where i said declaring what she will do is a constitutional issue? you must have misunderstood.
actually, you’re confusing everyone with your “going in and out of the point”. but for all time’s sake, here are what you said – i hope you can recall all of them:
quote 1 – declaring her plans after 2010 goes beyond the personal and the private, it is very public not to mention constitutional. (wawam, july 29, 9:21pm)
quote 2 – again as i said there are legal (constituional) and moral issus here. and on both, arroyo pussyfooting on her plans past 2010 fails on both. (wawam, july 30, 5:40pm)
quote 3 – the issue that is hanging on arroyo’s neck and that everyone wants to know about is will arroyo step down as leader after 2010. or will arroyo hang on to power in whatever means? that covers constitutional, national and moral aspects. (wawam, july 29, 4:39pm)
quote 4 – the constituion states arroyo needs to step down from office on june 30, 2010. that is a concrete and constitutional basis. (wawam, july 30, 6:37pm)
the words are plain and self-understandable. unless of course you want to bend down these statements again to “get out” of the point – which i know you can always do (interpretations can sometimes be bent to each one’s desires).
everytime i try to comment on your previous points, you establish another one and not even answered all of my counter-arguments raised against your previous points. thus, this causes us to get out of your main topic (read: your statement “the topic of this post is “Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s SONA 2009 a failure – half of the truth said, the other half unsaid – no categorical statement she will step down in 2010″).
just an opinion though. after i pasted the last quote above (quote 4), i have noticed that most of the topics here in your blog are all negativities of the administration. i think you need some balanced presentation as well. having a little bit of a positive posting of a person can sometimes lift your own spirit and gain positive energy thus, avoiding some wrinkles (read my statement in your other page: “sometimes we just have to see good in people. after all, seeing bad in others won’t be better for us in the end. national success is a matter of teamwork – leaders and public.”)
unless of course if you make this a personal vendetta and taking it personally. i wouldn’t wonder and comment anymore as i would understand.
you were reading too much into what has been written.
“quote 1 – declaring her plans after 2010 goes beyond the personal and the private, it is very public not to mention constitutional. (wawam, july 29, 9:21pm)”
“plans after 2010” can either be constitutional or not, it can also be just private.
there are her options:
if she just retires from elective office – that is personal. and that is constitutional.
the unconstitutional part is when election is not held.
the immoral part is when cha-cha is done, turns into parliamentary system, she runs for parliament and becaomes prime minister. when that happens she can be primer minister for life.
“quote 2 – again as i said there are legal (constituional) and moral issus here. and on both, arroyo pussyfooting on her plans past 2010 fails on both. (wawam, july 30, 5:40pm)”
i had explained this one, above.
“quote 3 – the issue that is hanging on arroyo’s neck and that everyone wants to know about is will arroyo step down as leader after 2010. or will arroyo hang on to power in whatever means? that covers constitutional, national and moral aspects. (wawam, july 29, 4:39pm)”
same explanation.
“quote 4 – the constituion states arroyo needs to step down from office on june 30, 2010. that is a concrete and constitutional basis. (wawam, july 30, 6:37pm)”
same thing.
“just an opinion though. after i pasted the last quote above (quote 4), i have noticed that most of the topics here in your blog are all negativity of the administration. i think you need some balanced presentation as well. having a little bit of a positive posting of a person can sometimes lift your own spirit and gain positive energy thus, avoiding some wrinkles (read my statement in your other page: “sometimes we just have to see good in people. after all, seeing bad in others won’t be better for us in the end. national success is a matter of teamwork – leaders and public.”)”
that goes back to the core question – are those what you see as “negative” true or not? what is posted here are backed by facts, figures or opinion that is well articulated.
you may see these as “negatives”, others as i do, see them as an advocacy for truth and a strong desire to lift this country from what is wrong and bad.
as i had posted previously – we are where this country is now as we do more bad things to it and much less good. stopping the bad is what this country needs to do.
one example – corruption. second example – lies.
there are more, but we can just stay there for now. we will not go anywhere if we simply continue to “see no evil”, “speak no evil” and “hear no evil”. seeing those is the beginning of doing good for the country. not doing any of those is to perpetuate decay and degradation.
and i have made my choice.
That dreamed scenario about her surrogates catapulting her into power again after 2010 is an imagined ghost. We are all “nostradamusing” i think on what will happen beyond 2010. And the opposition is over reacting as if GMA is the most powerful creature that nobody can topple.
i agree with you samvoy. as what i’ve said in my statement above – “sometimes, it is better to wait for the outcome rather than speculate with empty basis as it is just considered plain blabbering – only words; no substance. what good can speculating give to our economy? speculating, in itself, is not value-adding.”
history / experience has taught that with arroyo – quick and massive reaction is most key. we have seen them very often emply the scheme of first floating ideas to gauge piblic and critics reactions to whatevfer it is they float.
if no or weak response, they go on with it. if strong and massive response, they stop. although of course as we have seen on cha-cha, they have been attempting to do it in many ways already even though the last response was massive and strong.
that tells you the character of this administration. you sometimes get the feeling arroyo seem to be tempting another people power revolution.
to be a president is not easy ok,it is a rigorous task to handle a country that has a lot of problems to solve and to give attention. we also the Filipinos should know what are the tasks to do in this country. sorry out of time.. i will continue dis nxt time.
well, all i can say is why we need to proceed to cha-cha?a big question on my part. im a student. i dont want cha-cha to be approved!! its a immoral things to do.
and my friend here, she dont wants to comment about GMA’s sona.. hehe babbbussh!!!
let her go down