'State of the Nation'

We all know why July 25 was declared by Malacañang as a 'special non-working' holiday.. because the President would deliver her annual "State of the Nation Address" at the Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City..

Well as a diligent, Filipino citizen, i watched the SONA speech in our TV set.. it was her shortest SONA ever delivered.. according to INQ7.net, 9,000 characters were counted on the copy of the speech.. but 33 applauses and 5 standing ovations greeted the President during her speech..

I believe in her speech that the country is divided into two.. the Philippines on the verge of 'economic take-off' with the necessary 3 laws passed by Congress to alleviate the economy and fiscal crisis.. the other Philippines is beset by a deteriorating political system which keeps the country backward.. In my own opinion, it is a good idea to bring up to the people the debate on Charter change--shift from a Presidential government to a federal, parliamentary form of government.. the only thing the government should do is inform the people the positive effects of charter change for our country..

however, even though the change of political system would bring radical changes to the country, it would not succeed if the mindset of the Filipino would not change.. our negative traits of 'Crab mentality', 'ningas kugon', 'bahala na' still plague each one of us.. unless we Filipinos would set aside our differences, we would never achieve a ONE PHILIPPINES.. for the politicians, they should set aside their political ambitions and partisanship, and start thinking about the country's welfare.. it is us, Filipinos, who are affected from their political bickering..

as you all may know, i'm not for the resignation of President Arroyo since she did not violate any law, when she talked to a COMELEC official.. what is weird is that their impeachment complaint filed before the Congress is based on wiretapped evidences which is according to RA 4200 , Anti-Wiretapping Act (if im not mistaken) does not admit wiretapped evidences as valid evidences in any court.. how would the impeachment complaint prosper?! well, its a good thing that the Opposition chose the legal way in settling their complaint against the President, and not starting another 'People Power' or Junta government..

the 'state' of our nation.. well is in near ruin.. deep divisions and conflicts, poverty and unemployment still beset our country.. the President CANNOT solve these problems all by her own, she needs us.. She asks each one of us to help her in nation-building..

"Now is not the time for divisiveness, and while there's no avoiding partisan politics, there can be a determined effort by all sides to limit the collateral damage on a country poised for take-off.

"Let’s call on the Lord. Let us ask Him for the grace to make us worthy of His healing our land.

"Alam kong tayong lahat ay naghahangad ng isang makabuluhang pagbabago para sa ating bayan. Tayong lahat ay nagsisikap para matamo ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran. Kung kaya't ako'y nakikiusap na tulungan ninyo ako, para sa kapakanan ng taong bayan.

"We may disagree among ourselves but let us never lose sight of that greater battle for one people, one country, one Philippines.

"Not the country of this or that president but the Philippines of our shared and passionate affections."