Arroyo's 9th SONA

The time had finally come for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 9th SONA or State of the Nation Address which highlighted the achievements of the president to her country.

Today, June 27, 2009, the president delivered her speech despite failed uprisings, coups and the ever popular issue on charter change (CHA-CHA). Arroyo’s 9th SONA highlights her achievements in infrastructure though were again deeply disturbed by yet again another issue on contract deals with her husband, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. Her SONA was plagued even more with the issue on charter change because of her 9 years as president, people are getting worried about her intentions of extending her presidency. Gloria Arroyo’s 9th SONA, does not, however, address the issues on corruption in her Government though people would really want to hear about the issues plaguing her leadership. Her husband, too, was included in the list of persons who have made controversial deals and corruption in the government. The failed uprisings were also signs of a poorly run government of Arroyo. Issues such as corruption and other things other than infrastructure must have been emphasized in the speech. She could have included the things done by her governance to solve the corruption. If issues such as these are not dealt, then surely people are not happy.

The joined protests from around the country are signs that her people needed more answers not only good news from her about the real state of our country. They greeted Arroyo’s 9th SONA with protest only because she had not been running the country to her people’s satisfaction. The people needed more answers on corruption and her stand about extending her term as president because rumors have been circulating and it must have been ended with her speech. People doubt of a hand-over of government. It is even more heightened because of Malacañang’s statements and a pre-release of the SONA on about constitutional change.

Her 9th SONA is about an end, a transition of power and a SONA that the people would remember as an end of a term of yet another president of the country. Her achievements would have been great if not for all of the accusations, controversies and other plagues in her rule. If yet another SONA from her would come then the people would be very unhappy because the rumored plan of extending her term would have been true. Everyone is anxious before her SONA and now that it is over, we still should not rest and be vigilant. We are still not sure of an election this coming MAY of 2010 because of such an issue of charter-change which is a troubling news coupled with her, hopefully, last SONA.

Though it seems to say, her Presidency, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 9th SONA ended with yet again, another unanswered issue which everyone had wanted to clear up which is the issue on extending her term as president. Another thing that bothered me was her statement that she is stepping off but not as president of the country. There are still doubts of an impending extension of term of Arroyo.