Thank you, President Aquino
I’ll make this simple, Mr. President. Your term is coming to a close. Over 100 million people benefited from your six years of honorable service. You call them your bosses, and that may be, but you were their leader. You were our leader, for even those of us who are not citizens gained from your leadership.
My family . . . my Filipino son and Filipino wife . . . also wish to thank you. You are the only President my son has known and he thinks you are a hero, right up there with the Filipino Flag, Jose Rizal and the national bird, fish, plant and animal. I’d say he is pretty smart.
I personally appreciate the stability and integrity that got translated across the land as security and hope for a better, more productive, richer nation.
I wish more Filipinos could feel those intangibles, but I suppose when someone is poor, they tend to focus on that which they can see and touch.
I’ve already written a blog explaining why I respect you as President (“Why I respect President Aquino“). It is the most popular article every produced here, topping even a tribute to AlDub, so that’s not bad at all. 🙂 People keep pulling the article up when they need a proper balance against the relentless criticisms coming your way from those taking care of themselves, rather than the nation. You know, the political opportunists, the crooks, the extreme left and a media that is so desperate for circulation that they will leverage any old single-source complaint into a bold 60 point emotional headline.
Indeed, as I look back on your six years of stewardship, I’d peg that as one of your top three successes. The ability to apply reason in the face of fire. It is not unlike how a soldier must hold his ground as mortars are pounding the earth nearby and machine gun bullets rake the bunker. You have been an iron man in the face of whithering fire. Thank you for the emotional strength that requires, and the intellectual strength you’ve displayed to articulate sense in the face of frequent barrages of nonsense.
Another point I would like to recognize is your superb selection of cabinet members. In that military metaphor, you have assembled a group of generals who themselves display the character and strength needed to win battles . . . and the war. It is easy to see in them your two main criteria: capability and character. I won’t single any individual secretary out at the risk of omitting someone who deserves just as much credit. Plus, the list is very long. But I’ve worked at a large corporation under Americans, British and Japanese owners, and they all struggle with the hiring of top executives. Many executives wilt under fire, or neglect to follow-up or meet deadlines or assess their business objectively, or they make bad decisions or play political favorites.
Your hires are characterized by integrity, knowledge, and effort. By strength and professionalism and dignity.
Many Manila residents would like to fry Secretary Abaya because the trains are broken. They aren’t interested in the facts, so well laid out by author chempo in his article “On a clear day, you can see the MRT“. They only see the lines they are standing in. Because they can’t have Abaya’s head, they come after yours . . . without considering how well run the National Government has been. How professional. The critics tend to be uni-dimensional, judging the entire forest by a single tree. Such critics abound. Fortunately, you are a multi-dimensional leader. Thank you for the strength it takes to hire strong people, and to keep criticisms in proper perspective.
The third major success I’d like to cite is the work you have done internationally to raise the nation back into prominence as first world in terms of diplomacy and importance. The Philippines is right in the center of today’s major player face-off between the US and China, and you have charted a course of independent strength to project the Philippines as a player to be dealt with forthrightly ON HER OWN. Not played for a pawn by anybody. Yet respected by all.
Your work at ASEAN and APEC . . . and your alliance building for security . . . stand as superb accomplishments. I think not all current presidential candidates even recognize your achievements, and only one, as far as I can tell, will build on them.
I’m sure you have your favorite moments. But for me it was your speech to the Japanese Diet, for the articulate crafting done within the speech, and for the thrill of that standing ovation which I wish we, as a Philippine nation, could replicate as you step away from office.
We don’t know what the future holds.
But very clearly you worked diligently to build the kind of sound foundation needed for a rising, modern Philippines. It is the kind of foundation that can support a great nation.
The time is near when you will release the burden of leadership effort and accountability, and return to a normal life. Ha ha. I’m sure walking will feel a lot lighter.
I hope your brand of normal life includes fast cars, intelligent women, and the enrichments that can come from travel and reading.
At the risk of my seeming parental, do remember to take care of your health. And dine thoughtfully.
Live well. Prosper. Be proud.
You’ve earned it.
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[…] Source: Thank you, President Aquino […]
The Society of Honor by Joe America 
The contents of this article could be summarized into ONE powerful meme I think.
For the modern audience, which due to the Internet and consumerism has low frustration tolerance and a shortened attention span. All over the world – Philippines, USA, Germany.
I’m sure someone will. This is my personal way of expressing my gratitude. I don’t really do memes, and I hope that the message also goes to the cabinet officials who have worked diligently to build a better Philippines.
Or maybe I’ll write a special thank you to them, as well.
Thanks for the idea.
Correct!
If you’ve lived in the Philippines, corruption is the norm. At the moment, many provinces are already in a state of calamity, yet our government remains nonchalant. Yet it’s been 7 months this drought has ravaged our country, many farmers are already in dire straits. In fact, there is no hope unless some people would donate to them. If only the department secretaries did their jobs well, if only our leaders cared for the people, there won’t be the so-called ‘Dutertards phenomenon’. Yet you see them everywhere. Why? Because Duterte is the only hope they could hang onto. Cussing and cursing, even the Pope? Making rape as a joke? To those people,these are the LESSER EVIL than reckless abandonment by our leaders. To a mayor, who can easily risk his life to save a child and other people in a hostage crisis, but would rather quit the presidency than change his mannerism, to people who see hope of change in him, he’s the lesser evil. If you would choose between a prim and proper leader, who boasts of boosting the economy by 6% for the last 2 years, yet remained nonchalant to the Hong Kong bus hostage-taking situation years ago, against a gutter-talking one, but who is willing to risk his life to save even one baby, and even can humbly apologize to his people (He apologized to ALL Filipinos but refuses to change his way of talking), so-called ‘Dutertards’ will still choose him over the ‘safe ones’. I’m confidently and with a heart saying, DUTERTE IS MY PRESIDENT
One hardly knows where to start to argue against such nonsense. Linking economic growth to a bus hostage incident? Failing to see the investment in roads and people (CCT beneficiaries up to 4 million) and military, failing to see the rise in stature of the Philippines internationally, failing to see the jailing of corrupt people, removal of a corrupt SC Chief Justice, failure to see . . . well, anything that would contradict this neediness to feel something other than impotent.
The CCT is thanks to MCC’s compact of $434 million, given in 2010, https://www.mcc.gov/news-and-events/release/release-092310-philippinesreceives434
Yet indiscriminately used in personal campaign, http://news5.com.ph/top/E2BE665554FA41E/1001/pondo-ng-4ps-nagagamit-sa-kampanya
The President has prepared the stage. Let the right person chosen by the people end this corruption in government. No need for black propaganda. It’s the people’s money.
Thanking the President of the Philippines is black propaganda? A different view than yours is black propaganda?
CCT was not just thanks to MCC. If you read the article again the money was for improving infrastructure and the funding of projects that empower local communities. Furthermore, if you actually read the platform of Daang Matuwid you’d know that based on data our nation budget and income is not enough to alleviate poverty+build better infrastructure+paying debts, thus the Aquino administration resorted to outsourcing, which is why MCC is giving us funds. MCC gives funds to countries who have clear and practical plans on how to develop a country. In other words, they just give money, but the government of the country they are funding does the planning. You are giving too much credit to MCC when in fact you can’t get funding if you don’t have any plans on what you are gonna do with the money they give you.
I LOVE YOUR REPLY MA’AM anna lissa salvado INDEED YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY,POSITIVELY RIGHT!
THE NEEDY PEOPLE NEVER GOT THE FULL DONATION AMOUNT JUST A CHIP OF IT!
HANDLERS OF SAID DONATIONS ARE TO GREEDY TO PUT IT OWN THEIR OWN POCKET!
It is impolite to type all caps. I don’t read such abusive expression.
Im currently living here at the Philippines and I can say that he has done good for us Filipinos, some may not see it because what they were looking for is something that only a highly established government can provide. Remember, when President Aquino first assumed the office, he was left with the huge burden of paying all the credits the previous admin had. It took him a year or two to make the country recover from that depth and from that huge budget deficit.
Now as a filipino i am now proud that my country is considered one of the best performing country in Asia. I have seen the fruit of that hard worked labor. I was very fortunate to graduate during this administration, Finding work was not that hard and benefits can now be seen from all those credit rating upgrades.
I never indulge on rebutting other peoples opinion because they are entitled on it. What i can only say is my experience. Living in the Philippines for over 27 years. I can say that my life got better under this administration.
Exactly. Thanks for the uplift.
Hey, Mr. Joe, saan ka ba nakatira at this time? I mean, are you residing in or out of the Philippines or in or out of this government? Kung nasa labas ka, I presume, maganda economy or whatever you can read in the internet according to you. Sumaglit ka sa Pinas at pasyal ka sa rural areas, tingnan mo ren mga kasama ni Pnoy sa gobyerno. Nasaan ang mga corrupt (sabe mo nasa jail), common man, wake up. Baka lasing ka lang. Nasaan ang mga kriminal, pusher atb. Sasabihin mo nasa jail. You are absolutely right. Lumipat lang sila ng opisinang pwede sila gumawa ng transaksyon. Sa labas may huli at mata. Sa loob protektado sila ni Pnoy. Common man. Siguro valedictorian ka, Digong is only passing grade, according to him, but his mouth does not actually who he is. Although sabe sa isang verse na nabasa ko na what comes out of the stomach is what could tell a person is. Kaya lang kay Digong, di galing sa stomach, bunganga lang. Correct me id I am wrong sa mention kong verse. Anyway kay Digong may hope kase may SAMPLE kase. but don sa iba, alam na naten ang resulta after six more years. Mabuhay ang Pinoy ngayong susunod na anim na taon. Siya nga pala Mr. Joe, isa ako sa mga galing ng urban area, nasa abroad ako kase mahirap sa Pinas. Lalabas ba ako kung may pag-asa sa Pinas? Mabubuhay kung nasa Pinas but not magandang buhay na aasamin mo sa pamilya mo.
Ano raw?
Alam ninyo naaasar na ako.
Every damn day someone says.
Imperial Manila.
Kung wala ka lang sa Ibang bansa.
Kung nakatira ka lang sa probinsya.
WTF guys. There is a reason that sites have an about page.
https://joeam.com/about/
please read this before you start spewing ill advised rants that is so far from the truth.
This is an insult to the host and all the regulars of the society.
Ay caramba
Ay caramba, indeed, and thanks, Giancarlo.
Thanks for the input Ricarte. I live in the Philippines and have seen huge improvements under President Aquino, reflected in improved global rankings, better roads and schools, better international reputation, and much, much more. My ‘thank you’ to him is genuine. There is much more to being President than jailing the corrupt. I hope President Duterte can match or exceed the improvements of President Aquino. Six more years of this kind of progress will see the nation begin to blossom.
Pasalamat siguro tayo rito na at least binasa iyong artikulo – o parte ng artikulo at hindi lang nagcomment ng biglaan sa Facebook share nito. Iyon ang nakikita kong madalas mangyari.
Iyan ang mahirap sa maraming mga umaasa sa social media – mabilis maghusga at mabilis maniwala sa kung anu-anong kalokohan na kinakalat doon. Kulang sa pasiyensiya.
Madalas na pampagulo ng isip ang social media lalo na para sa mga hindi pa sanay talaga gumamit at alamin ang totoo. Kaya ang daming mga hindi na matinong kausap doon.
Joe, it will be very hard to argue with misguided individuals such as the one arguing with you. A different point of view is considered wrong. Ideas other than mine is useless. I agree with you. Philippines has never witness an incredible economic growth such as what they are experiencing under PNoy Aquino.
True. Both points.
@Joe America. Bigotry happens when a person locks himself up and doesn’t want to look from anther person’s perspective. If you really are smart, you could try to look from the perspective of people, as to why they’re throwing a different sentiment, a different point of view from yours. 6% growth is attained by the soft loan from MCC, and that loan should go to its right place, the people. Not for one’s personal campaign, for that is STEALING. Besides, we can’t eat NUMBERS. They’re just that…NUMBERS. Using government property, like the 5 helicopters for ‘sending off’ ones celebrity sister for one’s campaign, is STEALING. And that’s what I mean by BLACK. The problem of insurgency in the Philippines is becoming a growing cancer, because the complaints and suffering of the bottom quintile fall on DEAF EARS, like what’s happening now. The economy might have grown 6%, but it was done by not giving the proper services and welfare to the bottom quintile and for those who are in urgent need. The Yolanda donations were filtered and redirected. The supposed RELIEF for the farmers in Kidapawan and in other provinces, didn’t reach them. The mitigation measures that were supposed to have taken place in the form of building reservoirs and distributing food to the people, never happened. Why? Because of the lack of leadership of the executive head. The 6% you boast of is the achievement of the Secretary of Finance and you’re acknowledging the wrong guy. The duty of the executive head is to make sure his Cabinet does their job and if you don’t know that the majority of them failed to deliver, then that’s your problem. Don’t focus too much on what’s published on local media. Even if the Philippines ends up LENDING to the IMF, the country won’t get acknowledgment because its leader lacks INTEGRITY. Its leaders lack INTEGRITY.
We disagree on the cabinet failing to deliver. Your sweeping conclusions are not supportable. The rest of the world has granted the Philippines high honor and respect. You seek to denigrate that for narrow political interests.
Your Duterte is an admitted murderer, an admitted philanderer and a thug. If he ever is elected President of the Philippines, he will be shunned by all civilised nations.
Make duterte your president if you must. But to dscredit the president for his accomplishment is unfair. If you dont like mar roxas its OK.. it is your right but to say “walang Philhealth sa Davao” is a big Fat lie! Anong claseng city yan na walang philhealth? Pnoy is not a perfect president but he has done well. Among the president sya lang na na feel ang pagbaba ng Oil. At bumaba din ang pamasahe… for the past presidents hindi kailanman bumaba ang pamasahe.. always increasing.. na solve ba lahat ng problema? Of course hindi… The problems we have today is the fruit of the past presidents… di dretso ang solusyon nyan… we might be able to feel the hardwork of pnoy maybe when Duterte becomes president… I have nothing against Duterte. I am from Mindanao but to dscredit Pnoy of his accomplishments thats dutertards. The president is not perfect. What happnd to the hongkong hostage taking happnd na hindi pa nag 1 yr ang pagka presidente nya… why he did not say sorry is merong diplomatic implication yan… the president is sorry for what happened but he cant just say sorry because it would imply that the president, a representative of the Filipino people has committed a mistake… please study international studies and economics for us to know all the facts please… because even davao has its own imperfection. We know that! Meron ding slums and poor sa davao… But we cant focus on those because Duterte has also done a lot in Davao in fairness to Mayor duterte. So we should not discredit Pnoy just because we dont like Roxas or We should not be just be focus on the imperfection because there will always be kahit si duterte maging presidente… I have nothing against Duterte. I look forward if he will become president but I am against dscrediting the presentnadmin for their accomplishment! LONG LIVE THE PHILIPPINES…
Nicely said, Cesar.
I agree!
Noynoy discredit all GMA’s accomplishments.
President Noynoy’s government is running after President Gloria for her corrupt and thieving ways but never discredit her good accomplishments.
GMA ‘overcharged’ us for the efforts n time spent on her few accomplishments while in office. Hope Duterte does not release her from hospital arrest.
@ Anna
“At the moment, many provinces are already in a state of calamity, yet our government remains nonchalant. ”
Shame on you Anna, you probably never read newspapers nor watch TV news. The govt has been doing lots of preparatory work since late 2014 to soften the impact of the coming drought. Your biased un-researched comment do no justice to many workers, not politicians, in organisations like DOST, Pagasa, DA, DSWD, National Council of Churches, LGUs, and many other agencies both civic and govt. Whilst you simply open your mouth fast to condemn, thousands of workers in these agencies have worked long hours, over late meetings, cracked their brains for solutions and a lot of work were actually done. Of course it cannot be 100% satisfaction to all concerned and I’m sure there were oversights, some things overlooked, etc. Those who can help chip in, those who can’t be sympathetic, those with nothing to add, do what Duterte says “SHUT UP”.
I think Anna is probably Jose in real life, and is merely slogging in the Duterte troll pits whipping up various slanders and nonsense. It is easier than climbing coconut trees, I suppose, although not as honorable.
Hi Joe,
This is Jose. Just to be sure, I AM NOT A DUTERTE FAN. I will not vote for someone who has no respect for women and people with disabilities as exemplified by some of Duterte’s recent behavior. Character, to me, is often a deal-breaker. Even if that means the person can acually deliver. THE END NEVER JUSTIFIES THE MEANS.
Just to be sure, I am really sad that Mar will NOT WIN on May 9th. But that is mostly due to his camp’s failure to connect well with voters across the board. His camp (and by this I include many of his supporters like you) failed to acknowledge that while many of Mar’s detractors saw the current administration’s failures as part of Mar’s failures, they did not attribute any of its successes to Mar. This, many voters did fairly or unfairly. I think I have been rather consistent on harping on this weakness of the Roxas campaign.
But maybe the consolation right now is that Leni has taken the lead in the VP race. We have enough people who think of her as yet being untainted by her short direct political exprience (though she has served many people for quite some time as part of her late husband’s team). The debate has certainly done Leni big favors. She came across as being sincere and passionate in trying to get her work done, and unafraid to say that wrong is wrong. So maybe there is hope in the future.
But not on May 9th, 2016.
I hope my earlier comment makes it clear also that I AM NOT ANNA. In fact, i would even REFUSE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH HER.
That’s what I thought!
Agree.Only blind , deaf , mute and pretending to be stupid are the one who can not see the truth that the worst CORRUPTIONS, CRIMES and DRUGS are in the PHILIPPINES and yet the current PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT are doing NOTHING AT ALL.The FILIPINO PEOPLE need a GOD send PRESIDENT that will CLEANSING of DRUGS, CRIMES and CORRUPTIONS . His name is Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
“The FILIPINO PEOPLE need a GOD send PRESIDENT that will CLEANSING of DRUGS, CRIMES and CORRUPTIONS . His name is Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.”
God sent? What religion are you affiliated with?
May He forgive you for your blasphemous pronouncement.
His name is anyone BUT Rodrigo Duterte.
Also, troll detected
Duterte is now your president Anna Lisa. Happier now? You seem so bitter about a lot of things, vulnerable to tabloid based news. You’ve been cracked. Stay in touch after a year and tells us if you are a lot happier then.
Thank you, President Noynoy. Nice feeling and proud to be on your side, fighting for you in all those more than six years since the 2010 campaign, believing in your promise never to let us the people down.
Mr. President, you never let us down.
@Joe America, it’s not for narrow political interests. That’s your opinion, that the Cabinet didn’t fail to deliver. Even when LTO, under DOTC, is so notorious for giving the people its license cards and plates on time, after we’ve paid for it. That’s just to name one. What high honor? Truly Feudalism is the cancer of this country. Sorry but you can’t hinder PEOPLE’S PROGRESS. IT’S INEVITABLE. CHANGE IS COMING
Citing one example and generalizing it to encompass people who have built roads and offered cash grants to the poor and superbly tread a firm, fine line of peace in dealing with China, or secured improved debt ratings for the nation, or gained improvements on all global rankings from business competitiveness to transparency . . . well, that is the method of those seeking to posture a pig’s ear as a purse. I’ve asked you to kindly cease trolling the blog with your advocacy, as this is a discussion forum for which you simply don’t qualify. Discussion requires listening and an open mind and earnest teaching and learning.
Define trolling. And from my perspective, you’re trolling. And you aren’t qualified either. I’m a Filipino and I’m as qualified to express my own opinion on your opinion. You’re living in our country.
Pertaining to your other note, I did not delete your comment. But you are in the moderation stack, where Chinese trolls and troublemakers go.
My blog is a private enterprise and you participate here on my terms, which you agree to by making comment (see the ‘Policy and Terms’ tab). You have free speech rights only to the limits that you accept responsibility for what you say, and are contributing to the dialogue in a way that is constructive. Peddling your wares is not constructive. I’ve determined that as editor, solely responsible for the character and quality of the blog. If you wish to speak just as freely, start your own blog and spend years building it into a respected enterprise.
Now kindly stop bickering and get lost. 🙂
I sent your last comment to trash. You said “And you are a persona non grata. Kiss up well there.”
I don’t know if that is meant as a threat or what. But all future comments from you will go to spam.
Anna is the embodiment of the “cancer of society.” No one can be thankful for something if she doesn’t approve of it. Why can’t she just respect other’s opinion? So, if my life is saved by her worst enemy, I shouldn’t be thanking that person because she doesn’t approve?
You know Mr Anna Lissa Salvado Canones..You are participating in an international blog of people interested in an informed, intelligent conversation about the Philippines.
As Joe says you’ve attempted to disrupt that conversation and been a bully as well…And so now Joe has blocked you.You are not welcome in this civil world…And an important part of the reason why the Philippines has the problems it has, is due to persons like you.
Actually, I have seen and read many Duterte fans in Joe’s blogs spewing insults and curses and engaging in name calling without even attempting to argue intelligently on issues. Compared to those, Anna Lisa Salvado Canones is a “saint”. And she does not hide in anonymity (if this is her real name). I have been campaigning against Duterte and promoting Mar-Leni. Along the way, I have heard arguments like hers. They are not new. So called “Journalists” and “Radio Commentators” have made these same assertions. And since we live in a Democracy, I think they do have the right to say their piece if they do so with civility. We cannot change the Duterte fans who have already made up their minds. But we can still convince those who have doubts. And the best way is not to shut the door to contrary opinions but to persuade others that our opinions hold water too. Then they decide using their intellect and wisdom. Now as for the trash talkers, no objections. Ban them.
@jumerccadelina, you make good points. As I go back and read the comments of ‘Anna”, I find that the remark that caused me to react badly was that President Aquino “remained nonchalant to the Hong Kong bus hostage-taking situation years ago” which I consider both wrong and unkind to the point of cruelty. She has no idea of his activities or personal feelings regarding the tragedy, and to politicize them is the same kind of cruel approach used against Roxas in Tacloban. Then to complain about “black propaganda?” Having a dialogue requires two people who are willing to listen as well as speak. After a time, it gets wearing dealing with people such as Anna who are here to speak. At some point it becomes trolling, and as moderator of a blog that aspire to honest, open teaching and learning, I have to cut it off. The points that Anna makes regarding government agencies that are not up to the task of taking care of things properly are worth discussing, but to politicize that discussion from the getgo also makes entering into the conversation fruitless. The reasons are deeply embedded in poverty, tribalism, dynasties and entitlement, and cheating as the rule rather than exception. Plus no teaching of self-awareness and personal accountability, and weakness in critical thinking. If we can’t get to the actual disease itself, and are just slamming one another for the symptoms, it is futile. I would love to engage in a discussion with a Duterte supporter who could actually listen and reason, rather than execute on a sense of personal moral righteousness that declares any objection morally wrong.
That’s the thing. That’s why he has unbiased views. Please do not discount the fact the the current president has done a lot. Sure there are misses here and there, not to say that those should be acceptable, BUT overall we are in a better place now. You say CHANGE is coming. What change are you hoping for? CHANGE from someone who does not even have a clear platform apart from crime eradication? He should be head of PNP if that is his greatest battle cry. I cannot understand for the life of me how seemingly intelligent people can just abandon their morals to root for someone who is a self confessed murderer. That will be the start of abomination. You speak of Aquino as being nonchalant when it came to the hostage taking incident, but what about your candidate who does not care about the people he kills? Let us not be hypocrites please. Nakakahiya to justify why we are electing a goon to the highest post of the land.
I normally don’t get personal, but I make the comment as it generally applies to Filipinos who refuse to summon up the grace and strength of character to thank a man for leading their nation out of troubled times toward stability and respect. Who made the tag “Filipino” one that citizens can once again wear with pride. Who focused on peace and national security as priorities. Who accomplished so much to climb the international rankings, and garner accolades and respect around the world.
You have a tight, miserly, shriveled little soul.
Yes, indeed, CHANGES, not one, are coming: 1. 6+ GDP to (-) GDP; 2. old form of corruption to new form–bribers making bank deposits in one’s account as non taxable gifts to corrupt recipients; 3. slow due process to fast no process; 4. morality to immorality; 5. domination of the barumbados n tarantados; 6.to foreigners, proud to be a Pinoy to ashame to be one; 7. during national disasters, foreign aid to NO aid from the international community; 8. democracy to revolution if not communism to ‘equalize’ Philippine society; 9. arrested corrupt officials to released ones;10. NPA as outlaw to ‘inlaw’; etc.
We can hold this comment as a benchmarks to see if what you say comes to pass, or if Mayor Duterte is able to put together a professional administration. His cabinet and SC selections will say a lot about that, along with achievements. Thanks for laying out the benchmark.
I will be watching his reign closely by my “benchmarks”. We will both know sooner than later if I am wrong. I hope am wrong. I am an expat retired here for good.
Yes, yes. Thank you very much, PNoy. The country has regained its economic momentum. In the future perhaps there will 3 of you on the 500 piso. Ninoy for fighting for our political freedom, Cory for restoring it, and you for the economic freedom.
Si Binay na lang ang ilagay sa 500 piso.
Mukhang pera kasi.
🙂
Magdedepreciate kaagad ang 500 peso at wala nang value….collectors’ item na Lang.
Thank you for your encouraging support of our President and his Daang Matuwid administration!
On Sun, Apr 24, 2016 at 3:00 PM, The Society of Honor by Joe America wrote:
> Joe America posted: “I’ll make this simple, Mr. President. Your term is > coming to a close. Over 100 million people benefited from your six years of > honorable service. You call them your bosses, and that may be, but you were > their leader. You were our leader, for even those of” >
Funny, I love your sense of humor:
“Another point I would like to recognize is your superb selection of cabinet members. In that military metaphor, you have assembled a group of generals who themselves display the character and strength needed to win battles . . . and the war. It is easy to see in them your two main criteria: capability and character.”
Are you mocking my heartfelt expression of gratitude, adobochron? Kindly take your political claptrap elsewhere and let me express myself. If you can’t appreciate what has been done, just suffer your petty misery by yourself.
Oh, the Filipino people have already suffered much from the misery brought about by the Aquino administration, we are already so callous 🙂
Pig’s ears.
Good governance is reflected when even the bottom quintile of our society enjoys the 6% growth of our economy. #CHANGEISCOMING
And a reasonable person would understand that the PH has been digging out of a deep, deep hole for 25 years now, and it will take another 15 years of world-leading 6% growth to get most of the nation’s poor off the poverty list. Interrupt that, and it is back into the hole. The kind of change you promise is the kind of change I don’t want for my son, in terms of values and ruthless disregard of human rights.
AGREE.
I respectfully agree to the 6% growth the country has undergone in just 2 years. The $434 million grant (actually soft loan) of MCC(Millennium Challenge Corporation) spearheaded by then Secretary Hillary Clinton, which funded the projects of DPWH, 4Ps, etc to the Philippines and received by Pres Benigno S. Aquino III, as based on our compact agreement with the US, helped in building the accomplishments you’ve mentioned, And don’t worry, MCC granted the Philippines a second compact. But this is my advocacy… Federalism, Planting the seeds of unity of all our people, and Overseeing that all Cabinet members do their jobs sincerely. No one is qualified but the Mayor. I want to introduce the term ‘Great Gatsby Curve’. The Great Gatsby curve is a chart plotting the (positive) relationship between inequality and intergenerational social immobility in several countries around the world. To make it simple, there are countries in which intergenerational social immobility (for example: if the parents are poor, the children would be poor, too) is high. Here in the Philippines, there are many with this plight. Many factors contribute to this phenomenon, but one of the core reasons is the fragmented infrastructure in many rural areas. All developments have been poured to the NCR and might have trickled to some tourist destinations in rural areas. Due to funneling and filtering of public funds, progress in rural areas has been slow.
The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. And the people use 8 major dialects. The people of the Philippines are a mixture of diverse ethnicity, culture, and beliefs. Centuries of apathy towards the minorities in the southern part of the country resulted to our insurgency problems here. Centuries of self-centeredness of the elite and ignorance of the poor led to the current political state of the country, as well.
The Philippines is beset with problems emanating from Climate Change (drought, flooding), lack of military equipment and funds (occupation of Spratly islands by China), and so on. Global temperatures are expected to rise at an alarming rate, that will cause a significant rise in the sea level. Droughts could even last for years, like what’s happening in California. NASA even predicted that the megadrought California is suffering could last up to 40 years. WE ARE NOT READY FOR THIS. The effects of Climate Change alone could leave the bottom quintile of our society vulnerable to these. They will not survive. People in developed cities in our country wouldn’t be safe either. For when islands in our country would encounter calamities all at once, how could we systematically extend help when our geography makes it difficult for even help to come?
Federalism is the best alternative for our country to prepare for these. At least there is someone who is willing to bite the bullet. There are many conventional and ‘safe’ options, but OUR CHOICE WOULD ENTAIL the very lives of many of our people. WE NEED TO CHANGE FOR CHANGE TO HAPPEN.
“No one is qualified but the mayor.” Haha. So little respect for Filipinos far and wide. You are trolling the blog with nonsense now. What I call that “pig’s ear” method. I’ve allowed you your say. Thanks for stopping by so our readers know the kinds of advocacies that are out there. Kindly take your message elsewhere now.
Thank you for this article. Buti pa po kayo, you know how to appreciate our President… unlike other Filipinos na puro imperfections ang nakikita. In a way, fault din kc ng media talaga.
Thanks again and more power! :]
Thanks, Nuhaiti. We all struggle to get outside ourselves at times. With practice, more can get there I think.
Adobochron, the Filipinos suffer because of weak-minded people like yourself who drag this nation down.
I’d rather be a part of the solution by helping my country in any way I can, and I don’t even have to run for public office.
You picked the wrong forum to make an assholic comment, adobochron. I was not an Aquino fan before, but people like you only drive me to reconsider. I just watched the last presidential debate, and Roxas trashed the opposition, you moron!
thank you adobochron for your contributions to ease the sufferings and miseries of the the Filipino people..by the way, can you mention one callous guy?
“THE ADOBO CHRONICLES is your source of up-to-date, unbelievable news. Everything you read on this site is based on fact, except for the lies.”
In such a politically immature country Mr President you led.
My heart felt thanks.
REPOST: DUTERTE is a phenomenon – Aquilino Pimentel Sr….Duterte is a great political strategist hindi gumastos ng malaking halaga para makilala at manalo, isang dakdak lang pinag uusapan at pinag kaguluhan na hindi lang sa pinas worlwide pa ……The most is nka free airtime pa, either good or bad -it is still publicity ….kulang man sa pera at makinarya panalo naman sa taktika o diba pang General Luna ….Hindi na kailangan mangurakot sa kaban ng bayan para sa Eleksyon kaya naisahan mo silang lahat (MARuming POElitikang BINAYaran )at dahil sa ginawa mo diyan mo masusukat kung sino lang ang totoong kaibigan mo,sino lang ang totoong nagmamahal sa iyo at kung sino lang ang tototong nakaka kilala sa iyo at hindi ka iiwanan kahit sa ano mang paraan, at dahil lang sa isang bad joke nag si labasan din ang totoong kulay ng iyong mga katungali na nasaksihan ng boung sambayanang Pilipino… eka nga matira ang matibay….Iba ka talaga Digong !!!! Isa kang tunay na mandirigma ….Isa ka sa patunay na Action speaks louder than words , at dahil may tapang ka at malasakit di ka kayang tibagin ng kahit sinuman , ikaw parin ang number One …my snappy salute to you our 16th President 👍👍👍👊👊👊Hurrayyy!!! #DuterteParin #DuterteCayetano #BisayaNapud #Duterteforthewin 👊👊👊
And he took back the bank waiver when Trillanes exposed him.
What a warrior, you say?
And his performance at the MBC yesterday hit new records of crass, as he extolled his ability to murder people without trial, and follow his penis around to make economic decisions.
How do we picture a warrior?
Maybe it’s this;
Ala Rambo with an armalite ablaze ala-ra-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
And a non-stop cussing tongue ala-ra-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Seriously what happened to the old Pimentel?
One Pimentel and a pair of Cayetanos couldn’t even buy a cup of rice these days. Such a horror they must be living, if they have just a wee little bit of shame.
The problem here is you drank too much of the Mayor’s cool aid. One word for you: Quiboloy.
Quiboloy is the clear example of what he promises you that he will getting rid of, but instead, you see him by his sideooking like his spiritual adviser.
If you really believe in everything your Mayor says, that person Quiboloy should already be rotting in jail or dead as soon as soon as his term starts, but instead, the soon to be strongman owns him big favors. This is one enormous flaw you failed to see.
Watching the debate right now….i see they have a translator for deaf persons…………
I think they need to put 5 of them on screen because most Filipino’s are deaf because they hear all the time about the major improvements in the country, roads, financial status, healthcare etc. etc. etc …….but they refuse to listen… 😦
God, the clash of the titans: Rody vs. Mar. Hottest faceoff of the year.
You are right, not only are they deaf, they are also blind and mute. They see the progress but they close their eyes and look elsewhere; neither do they say or appreciate anything because they are too busy finding faults when all they had to do is to remove the plank from their eyes.
Thank you very much, PNoy, for the things you have done; and thank you too, Sir Joe, for the support you have thrown behind him the past few years. I very much wish to say it in real life, too, but I live in a place where people are doubly critical of the President as people in other parts of the Philippines are. I wish him, and Sir Joe long and happy lives!
Thank you, Mr. President. Your candidates are rising, the yellow army is rising, your yearning for private life is rising, and it’s all good. You are a combination of science, art and religion, for you have navigated the waters in your watch like the good economist that you are, with your economic team. You have gracefully breezed through criticism, and you look not a day older than in 2010, proof of your resiliency. And you have been a walking homily for all of us, believing that God will make a way, but humans will have to do their part. Thank you for the last six years. It must have been hard for you, but seeing how you have stood up for what you thought was right encourages us to do the same with our own lives. Not everyone will agree with us, but the job has to be done according to our stewardship principles. The Filipino will prosper, thanks for your example.
Yes, yes and yes. Just came from the voting centre here in Hong Kong. The Silent Majority are not silent anymore. Met a lot of supporters today we had photo ops inside the double decker bus, we outnumbered the Duts supporters this time they were the ones who were silent. Next Sunday volunteers like us (whole family except the dog because it was not a registered voter :)) would again meet to support our RORO.
They were silent because of foot-in-mouth.
It’s a disease..Cattle and other animals that get it are usually put down for quarantine reasons.But these human sufferers may recover and be healthy again.. : – )
Foot-in-mouth means saying something stupid or offensive.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease is, indeed, a terrible livestock disease.
Yes Madlanglupa..I know..It was an ironic joke on the followers of the Big D.- from a former organic farmer in OZ…
Actually it not that terrible a livestock disease..Almost all animals recover after 2-3 weeks.It is endemic in Europe and many other parts of the world..However it spreads rapidly and uncontrolibly so quarantine authorities always kill any infected livestock. An outbreak in the UK about 10 years ago lead to a huge number of animals being shot and burned in huge fire pits..
DUTERTE, DUTERTE, DUTERTE!!! CHANGE IS COMING!!! SMALL CHANGE!!!
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE! WE ARE BORG!
@ Irineo – Maghunos dili ka!!!
Way to go waray-waray! To tell you honestly, I wasn’t sold on Mar till about a week ago. I yearned for a more assertive leader. But then seeing all this groundswell of support, looking at him more closely and then seeing him perform in the Pangasinan debate, I guess he is the right person after all. More power to your group!
Thanks @ typhoon. You can help too With Facebook log in to TSM (The Silent Majority). One voter at a time, use your charm offensive but with respect.
Yes it’s true.The pangasinan debate, is my eye opener.Now, Im RoRo.
Thank you Mr. President.
From an American thanking our President, and from a Filipino, thank you very much JoeAm for seeing what is good about us.
It’s easy to see, Waray-waray.
From an outsider looking in, a lot easier and more credible. Thank you Joe Amercia! You are a blessing to us.
Yes, perhaps unspoiled in a way, or it is just that I worked in a large corporation and understand that executives deal with tough issues in an arena of considerable risk. To expect perfection, or that the President will always do it “my way”, is highly unreasonable. Bitterness gets carried a long time in the PH, I noticed.
Thanks Joe! In social media they call me a yellowtard. My response is always simple. If yellowtard means being proud of the accomplishments of the president they call abnoy, then I am a yellowtard and am proud to be one!
Good for you, Rico. Indeed, labels like that say more about the person uttering it than the person it describes. One is inclined to ask them if they have ever felt an ounce of loyalty to their nation.
Me, too. Always, have been.
And on behalf of my family thank you very much President Aquino.
It was just amazing how through the years me and my siblings have supported you and maintained the same political principles and convictions no matter where we go and take up residency.
Thank you po, Mr. President. Mahal na mahal namin kayo.
I am a guest here and and a recent one also, so I cannot with really join you in thanking President Aquino for his service over the past 6 years. This is not because of a wish to criticise – rather because frankly I do not know in any detail what he has done. I am too new on the scene !
But I wish him a happy productive post presidential life
A night has passed and I realise that there are some things that I would like to say thank you to President Aquino :
Thank you mate for being a good servant of your people the past 6 years.
Thank you for not using the power & authority of president to be a plundering thief to enrich yourself as some have done previously.
And thank you for not using the power & authority granted you by the Filipino people to turn your self into a dictator for 14 years as one former president did.
Thank you, JoeAm, for this article. Outsiders usually see first what it takes forever for insiders to see.
Interesting, because it took some persistent and patient Filipino mentors, Bert among them, to get my eyes to see straight. 🙂
Really? That is very good, then!
Haha, really and truly. We outsiders typically arrive with our mouths open and our minds closed, so I appreciate those who insisted that I open mine to the fact that the Philippines cannot be judged by what others have seen, but only by what Filipinos have had to deal with.
Thank you so much Joe America for appreciating the outputs of our beloved president.. if people from other country does, why we Filipinos can’t? May be we just have to open our eyes to see something good and not the negative ones. We should be proud being a Filipino and do anything we can to improve our lives so that we don’t have to rely on what the administration can do for us.
Negativity is easy and tiresome, I agree. None of us could do the job better, I suspect, even if our brains delude us into thinking so, as we sit in our chair and sip a cool refreshment, distant from any real accountability.
This is painful if not horrible to the opponents. Success is the best weapon against the enemy of the few good men. Coming from a foreigner to stand behind what made us feel globally embarrassed. Oh what power that is!!!
Thank you Mr. President. May you have the rest that you deserve after 6 years of working for the country that you, your father, your mother and your family love. And please continue to help the country while retired.
And like Joe who is a great admirer of yours, I greatly admire the speech you gave before the Joint Session of the National Diet of Japan on June 3, 2015. I was taken with a surge of patriotic emotion while reading the speech and I had misty eyes on finishing the great speech.
Thank you Mr. President. Enjoy being a plain citizen again. Hope you’ll find your dream girl now that you have time to do so.
I hope after his term Mr. Aquino or one his cabinet will share what has transpired during his 6 years and how he turn around a mediocre economy into a world class standard.
It will be a very good topic for future economists and leaders
I am from the medical business and only in his term that there was an exponential growth within private and public sector and his method was so simple. Strengthened Philhealth and extend its benefit. 200K PHP package for a cancer patient sent hospitals to an investment frenzy to build a cancer center.
That is a rather fascinating readout, junecart, of benefits few understand. Interested in writing a guest article about it?
I have a feeling when Pres. Aquino goes back to a private citizen Noynoy Aquino, that he would be invited to forums, summits and different economic symposiums to share what he learned and what he and his cabinet did to turn the country’s economy as it is now. He may even author a book. He is leaving this legacy to his bosses with the same stature as Bill Clinton sans a Monica Lewinsky scandal.
A heartfelt thanks, Mr President.
You achieved a lot, yet others choose to whine. Who can meet all the expectations in six years, after all?
You did things with malice toward none, that we are sure of.
Segments of the populations whose personal lives are not sources of happiness either fairly or unfairly put the blame on this administration since it salves their suffering. A few years from now, they will still be miserable, since electing the beneficiary of plunder or the man with a murderous tongue won’t change their lives one bit.
Keep the powder dry, sir. We may still need you as the tip of the spear in the coming years, if the situation deteriorates.
Mr President, I will leave out the economics, the numbers speak for themselves, but I will say 2 things which strikes me as a manifestation of work well done :
The first thing that you did when you assumed office — you banned wang-wang. and convoys. That was an act like a new sheriff in a wild wild west town who put up the sign “No guns allowed in this town”. Wang-wang and convoys to me was the most sickening glaring open display of impunity of the entitled. I’ll admit each time I see such a procession passing by me I silently said an “F..U”. It was your way of saying “it’s not business as usual” to the entitled. To your credit, Sir, I have not seen wang-wangs and convoys in your 6 years in office. Well, actually, I saw a video of Jun Jun and his goons on the highway still doing that …good thing he is history. Thank you Mr President for saving my eardrums in the process from damage by those most disgusting ear-shattering stuccato sounds from the vehiclular horns.
The final things we see from your term in office — a relatively tame Election 2016. The battles are fought in debates and rallies. There are so few murders. You have done what all Presidents before you could never do. You have tamed the Philippines election. Of course, all who understands this know that much of this is due to the professionalism that has been put in place in the AFP and the PNP.
Thank you for the great work done at the beginning and the end of your term, and lots of others in between.
Amen.
Thank you President Benigno Simeon Aquino. You have made us proud indeed.
Thank you Pnoy for the progress of the last 6 years. You have done your parents proud. I knew voting for you in 2010 was the right decision. Thank you Joeam for opening peoples’ eyes to the many positive things going on in our country. Please continue doing what you do.
Thanks, wanderer. Will do.
THANKS, Joe! i couldn’t have written it better in gratitude to and praise of our President Noynoy Aquino. I vote for Mar and Leni — walang atrasan! (No retreat, no surrender!!) You are right! as May 9 approaches, our air is polluted with lies, malice, politicking, rumors! so many mosquitos! How all of us — our country, our people — would be disgraced and scorned in history, with Duterte or Binay or Bongbong Marcos, after May 9! — God forbid!!
Indeed, night or day, May 9 decides.
Am with you! No other candidates compare to lead decently and properly. Go RoRo go! Let’s do it.
The Philippines is a few weeks from entering a very dark place, though.
A dark tunnel… reminds me of a joke by Austrians.
An Austrian, a German, a nun and a beautiful girl are in a train that enters a dark tunnel.
After the train leaves the tunnel, the German has been slapped and is holding his cheek.
The nun thinks: “I guess the German tried to touch the beautiful girl and got slapped”.
The beautiful girl thinks: “The German tried to touch me, touched the nun and got slapped”.
The Austrian thinks: “next tunnel I will slap the German once more”.
The German thinks: “aysus, akala ko type ako ng charing na ito, arekupo, sakit.”
Ex-boyfriend ni Jeffrey Laude iyong German, kinapa iyong Austrian kaya nasampal.
Thank you President Noy Aquino for Joe America and his integrious Bloggers in the Society of Honor, without a word or lifting a finger you have caused their presence in cyber media WHICH CAN NOT HAPPEN in any previous administration or future corrupt administration. Thank you PNoy for such an intangible gift to your people.
Well said, Mr. Joe America! Thank you.
I am a Filipino and I will join a grateful nation in giving Mr. Aquino a standing ovation .
Thanks Esther. Grateful nails it in one word.
Thank you very much, Pnoy!!! You were my and my husband’s inspiration in reacquiring our Filipino citizenship. Thank you for all the hard work and leading our country to a significantly better place. Maraming salamat, Joe, for the invaluable support.
Thank you, Jasmin.
Thank you, Pres. Aquino, let that Aquino spirit keep you always in God’s grace.
Thank you,JoeAm, for giving voice to the silent majority.
Still, we labor while we wait.. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Nori. I’m not aligned with a political effort, but I for sure can judge who would be the best president and vice president for my family’s well-being. I definitely appreciate President Aquino’s steady, stable, intelligent leadership. Admire it, actually.
Salamat pu keng kekayung serbisyung progresibu, Presidente Aquino.
Apagmaragul dakayu pu deng pengari at kapatad yu uling binye yu ing angang agyu yu bayang miyangat ing Pilipinas.
Mitas na pu ing lawe da reng foreigner keng balen tamu uling pepakit yu na mayap lang tau at intilihenti la reng Filipino.
Dakal pung salamat at apagmaragul ta ne naman ing kekatamung lahi at balen.
Thank you so much Pres Noy for your sacrifices and relentless struggle to fight for what is right despite being sometimes unpopular.
I can not find a much stronger word…
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
God bless you sir!!!
“The third major success I’d like to cite is the work you have done internationally to raise the nation back into prominence as first world in terms of diplomacy and importance.”
Hear! Hear! As an expat living in another country for almost two decades now, these past 6 years of the Aquino administration have given me and many others like me a good number of reasons to be proud of the mother country and our people. But apart from (and perhaps because of) the achievements in growing the economy and enhancing our stature in the international stage through the able handling of the territorial dispute with China, I would like to add to the list this administrations’ phenomenal success in promoting the country as a travel destination in key markets across the globe. And just as importantly, for creating the conditions and putting in place the supporting structures that enabled most of those over 7100 islands and hundred million people or so to live up to the promise.
In the last two or three years, we have been asked so many times by Australian friends, young and old, for more information, tips on where to go, eat, shop and so on in the Philippines. These friends were going to the country either on business or purely for pleasure and adventure. Travel agents here are offering up travel adventure packages at competitive prices to young Australian adventurers and backpackers (thanks to Cebu Pacific entering the market and offering budget fares for the Sydney-Manila route). Just last December, at least ten of my teenaged daughter’s Aussie friends all went and explored Palawan, Bohol and the Banaue Rice Terraces and came back with many wonderful stories and photos from their trip. Many of my husband’s work colleagues did likewise.
So thank you, Mr. President for this (and of course the very competent people you have chosen to help you in this undertaking). For allowing us this moment to share with the rest of the world what we Filipinos have always known – the natural beauty and charm of our country; the gentle, kind and warmhearted nature of our people.
Below is a video that best captures the pristine beauty of the land and the soothing nature and spirit of the Filipino people that is enticing many more visitors to the country. Seen through the eyes and captured by young European travellers and filmmakers.
@Cha, you are right. I travel to MNL at least twice a year.
I was in MNL a month ago and the flights now from my place to MNL and vv. are always full. And you know what, a few years ago, if you take PAL the majority of passengers would be Filipinos and Ofws. Not so anymore. With my recent trip, only a third of the passengers were Filipinos the rest were foreigners either tourists or businessmen. And the flight was full.
Before you end your term Mr.President.Kinly remove the boyfriend/partner of Boy Abunda from Pagcor.You gave him a VP position even he is not a college graduate.
Couldn’t agree more.
For me the strike of genius was the “wala wang wang” This aggressive form of entitlement changed from being the rule to being the exception. A needed cultural change of epic dimensions.
So very true.
Haha Josephivo, we share the same thoughts. See my comment above.
Honestly, I was not sold on Pres. Aquino, and was actually considering Duterte over Roxas before. Since the rape issue broke out and having watched the final presidential debate, the choice is now a no-brainer.
Thank you Mr. Joe America for this blogsite of yours. I am sorry you cannot vote and, perhaps, greatly limited with what you could do given what I know you would have wanted to. But I think I could confidently say you gave light to many of us lurkers. Much, much more than many of our countrymen can and did. Thank you.
Thank you, typhoon. I appreciate your candor and the fact that you kept an open mind when many have closed theirs.
Typhoon, you are not the only one..When I first came here last October, I was ‘taken’ by Duterte’s blunt, strong handed approach to fixing the big problems I saw staring me in the face.
But as time went by I saw also the raw & brutal side to the man…And then realised that the Philippines would not benefit if he became president….And I have to confess my gentle Bicolana lady helped me to see & learn a lot in this time…
Bill, normal people like you, typhoon….we process info and think critically and our impression is shaped and re-shaped over time. Like you, when I first came here, Duterte seemed like and anti-dote for Philippines’ woes to me, and Binay seemed like a very professional guy as Makati looked so well-run. Then I learnt of the garbage and all the bad stuff. Seemed incredulous at first, but it was’nt difficult to connect a lot of the dots.
@chempo…re-Bangladesh heist.
http://nypost.com/2016/04/25/hackers-stole-81m-and-compromised-the-global-financial-system/
Thanks Joe Can for the update info. Interesting. So it’s confirmed it’s the Alliance app that was hacked into. The thing is, BCB has no need for the Alliance app, they simply don’t have that kind of volume to justify use of that app.
Well written!
Please continue to write about the new Filipino hero-Pnoy.
I am a witness to the feeling of a proud Philippine citizen in my few times traveling with the President in U.S. Europe and Japan!
Let’s call on all Filipinos to support Mar and Leni so the gains will be preserved and we continue to grow as a nation with honor and pride!
Thank you Joe for this article, one of those which activated my already active tear glands.
You and the others have expressed almost everything I can think of.
Let me just join the other non whiner Filipinos in thanking the President Pnoy for a job well done. We are truly grateful.
Thank you MG. Be well.
Thanks, Joe.
Ditto.Be Well Mary.🍎🍏
thanks, karl…
Thank you President Aquino for your hard work and dedication to the job we have entrusted you. It’s still a long haul for the most marginalized to feel the progress your leadership has brought about that’s why we are doing our utmost best to get your bets elected this coming election, so they can continue to work on the foundation you have built.
As for those who cannot see and feel what your team have so far accomplished, it’s either they’re dumb or numb.
As for you Joe, thank you for loving the Filipinos. Kudos!
Thanks for the kind words. Josephine.
I am glad to find a ‘grateful nation’ and intelligent people in this blog! No polluted emotional discourse but discussion using reason. I guess Duterte fanatics do not read things like this? Thanks, Joeam for your good words about the selfgiving president! Your blogs articulate the thoughts and feelings of many.
Nakonteto n kayo sa ganung performance kuno ni pnoy? ? Ako hindi kailangan natin ng pagbabago.#DU30
There’s almost close to zero chance the President will be able to read this, but I’ll try anyway:
I have been a defender of you and your administration’s policy since the day you took oath. It has been one of the most difficult things to do, sir, as often I am surrounded by Filipinos who are too quick to ascribe to you all the miseries they experience. And yet I remain an admirer of your intellect and your steadfastness. I have not been raised by the most noble of fathers, and so to you, Pres Aquino, and with many other mentors I have learned and continue to learn how it is to be a man. A Filipino man, distinctly.
Pres. Aquino, thank you very much for making me love the Philippines even more. My wife and two small children will look back to your administration as a proud example of what we as a nation can become.
I pray for a good wife for you sir, one who can take care of you in the future when the quietness of private life shall take you jealously away from us. When we can no longer be witness to your life, I pray that a wife will. Only to share with us how great a man you are to the very end.
May God bless you.
Hello, brian. There is a good chance the President will read your comment. Thanks for expressing your appreciation so well.
Thank you JoeAm for writting this, as I do felt bad for Pinoy everytime he is targetted by people who has nothing but all criticism.
Mr. Pres. Pinoy, Thank you very for all you’ve done for our country. God bless you!🙏🙏🙏
Thanks, Diadem. Glad you appreciate the piece. Thanks for adding your hands to the applause.
Countless times I asked God to bless the Aquinos for everything they did and been doing for the Philiipines. Selfless…for a country with so many ungrateful people and always look and ask for more, its hard.
Unwritten etiquette dictates that any being who has an opposing view with another person or group or person is neither obliged nor compelled to rebut that being who professes his views. I appreciate that there is a comment section in this blog, but it doesn’t entitle anyone to bash o trample the view of the author. Freedom must be a byproduct of discipline and not otherwise.
I forgot to say, I am with you, JoeAm in being grateful for the legacy of PNoy. He’s no perfect, as much as he’s no failure. He did much, and it’s the people’s turn to do their part.
Thanks, J. Matt. Here’s to civility! And the graciousness of heart to recognize those working on our behalf.
Great blog!!
Thank you, PNoy.
We love and very proud of our pres.Noynoy Aquino the best pres we had ever had.Thank you our beloved pres.and God bless him!
Yes indeed, Sylvia. When we think back to those days in 2009 when this quiet senator was being pressed to run, it was hard to imagine that he would build a corporate “machine” that would re-orient the nation to good works. Applied intelligence.
I read and eventually stopped reading as the conversations were long and seemed unfounded. My thoughts are;
1. What’s wrong with gratefulness? Why do we attack a person who expresses gratefulness. Can’t we express our own thoughts without attacking another’s line of thought? Why the anger and hatred? If we constantly live this way, no leader will ever be good enough because there are always people who live in discontentment no matter what.
2. Other than expressing our discontentment and frustration and standby to wait for what wrong that could happen, did we do something about it? if our leaders fall short, can we not fill in? Or did we fill in? Are our words stronger than our actions? Or our actions stronger than our words, else we don’t have so much time to notice all misgivings and errors along the way.
3. True. President PNoy may have done something wrong, may have overlooked what some of us have seen, he may have totally ignored our woes. But all past presidents have done the same too. His term is only six years and he is stepping down. He is passing the baton to the next and, I should say, peacefully. May the next leader satisfy the angst of our hearts and mind.
4. Yes, Duterte is the Knight in shining armor to many or the very many. Let’s wait and see if after 6 mos, you will still feel the same. Because if you go back to these thoughts, feelings and attacks again, ,no matter what, you are a perennial complainer. It is an attitude that has taken roots in your being. And I am very sorry you have become one.
5. Let us pray for our leaders. If a father or a mother who leads a smaller cluster of people fails, why not the President, or a governor, or a mayor who leads a bigger cluster of society and each one coming from different “beginnings”. Let us pray, pray and keep constantly praying for our leaders and for one another. If our hearts can do it, let’s forgive one another and move on.
6. Another thing, just because other people have different views from yours, you consider their views erroneous, scandalous, or whatever? What about yours? How solid is the foundation of your claims. Yes, let’s argue. However we can do it in a manner that eventually will unite us. Maybe, not in having a common view or opinion but “in unity” of continuing expressing our differences of opinions. Who knows, in doing so, we can enlighten one another.
The next leader is coming. Let’s tighten our belts, wait and see, what he has to offer. Andshould he weaken or fail, let us rally to support so he can continue to do what he has to do. After all, we are one nation, one people.
Wow I guess it pays off to be an heir of a convicted Japanese collaborator. Just like the human rights victims, there will be a compilation of all the names of the Filipino guerillas that where killed and tortured by the Japanese imperial army. The living relatives will claim for damages and will be paid through the assets of the Aquino family. with the assistance of his great relative. I guess it runs in their family. I’ll the curse end with BS Aquino?
You are one of the bitter, thankless kinds of patriot, I suppose, who could never serve in the military for lack of dedication to nation and its leadership. Personal grudges rise above common courtesy and selflessness.
Hi joe. I’ve been reading a lot of blogs, articles lately and the discussions there are stupid, usually ends in threats by a bigote fanatic and is beyond comprehension. I would like to thank you for the article you wrote. I will share this so people on my list will be informed as well. God bless and thank you! Keep it up!
Thanks, Shin. I’m glad you found the blog and found it meaningful. I’ll do more articles after a brief break.
I would agree with everything except that part on Abaya. To me he lacks foresight and acumen on the railway system.
Mr. Joe America, thank you for the heart-warming words for our President Aquino! Indeed, it is sad that only few people see the accomplishments he has done for our country. I hope and pray that the new leadership will continue to raise the Philippines as Pres. Aquino did. Thank you, sir.
Now that the Philippines is entering her new phase in administration .. I wonder how the new President will be able to fulfill his promise of cleaning the government of the corrupt officials and getting rid of the criminals in six months time. That remains to be seen. I wonder if my country, the Philippines will continue being “the Rising Tiger in Asia”. In her economic standing. I hope those who voted for Duterte did the right decision to put him in power. I hope GMA will not be forgiven for what she did. I hope former President Ferdinand Marcos will not be buried at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani. I hope those corrupt senators will not be released from jail for their corrupt doings. I have so many hopes for the Philippines. God bless the Pilipinos and my beloved country, thenPhilippines.
Nice hopes, EJ. I tend to think that President Elect Duterte has an excessive amount of JoeAm’s tendency to exaggerate or use colorful language for effect. Except his flair is for the ruthless and macho, or ‘dirty’, not literary. He has already said he can’t really get rid of crime in 6 months. The promise was hyper-hyperbole, I suppose. I find him unpredictable and highly political. These can be strengths or weaknesses, depending on how applied. I’m hoping for less hyperbole and more executive bearing. We’ll see . . .
Amen to EJ’s hopes about the new Duterte era, and I so agree to JoeAm’s assessment of Duterte. Duterte’s prospective key people to advise or assist him (they’ve been named in the news) are they the best and brightest as he said they would be? More importantly, are they with sparkling character integrity and IN to continue build a livable Philippines for all her people.
Good standards. Yes, that would be an excellent early reading, on the caliber of cabinet appointments.
Another early reading is how he will deal with CCP founder Jose Maria Sison, who seems to want to assert a newfound influence. Sison is advocating for the arrest of Noynoy Aquino and Butch Abad for PDAF ‘plunder’, along with release of ‘political’ prisoners.
Very well said. A true Leader indeed!!!
Thank you for this. Always when I read an article you’ve written about PNoy, I can’t help but wonder why you can see the goodness in my President yet most of my countrymen don’t. Are we so hopeless that we never see the light at the end of the tunnel but instead see only the tunnel? He has his faults but who doesn’t? He never said he is perfect. But for me he did a great job and for that I will be grateful. If only other government officials will see us as their bosses and not their slaves or milking cow then maybe then we can stand truly proud of our country. Also I would like to say THANK YOU MY PRESIDENT.
They look at it through their own circumstance and emotional filters. Sometimes it is as a child would respond, I think, with temper tantrums and grudges. But they would call me elitist for saying that.
…..
I agree!
Heh heh
Hehe. “Testing the waters” before I jump
Thank you P-Noy! I salute you. No matter what your detractors say, the fact is you delivered a great Presidency worthy of honor and global recognition. Thanks for the impressive economic growth throughout your term of office, the jobs created, the anti-corruption cleanup, for putting the Philippines on the map, for the FILIPINO PRIDE this country now exudes.
Yes, it’s true that many of the country’s issues are yet unresolved, but I believe your administration when it said that the necessary programs are in the pipeline. I know it’s a tough job. If only you had 12 years to work with instead of only 6, if only more Filipinos would realize that CHANGE lay more in themselves than in a country’s government, and only if you were a miracle-working god that many enfeebled minds picture you to be, I’m sure you would have delivered a lot more.
To Mr. Joe America, many thanks for this article. I loved it.
Hi, Wehrmacht. Thanks for the kind words. Glad your test worked. He he
Your article is amazing. Pleasure’s all on this side. It’s just a shame that not all of my countrymen see the big picture the way you have articulated it.
Those willing to grow and become kind will grow and become kind, those who won’t, won’t. He he. Glad you appreciate the article.
Thank you, Mr. President!
Thank you mr joe for the article, very well said.
Those who cannot appreciate Pres. Pnoy are categorized as selfish Filipinos. It’s like that, Mr. President is an OFW father, 2 things might happen to his children; one will be messed up because he or she thinks that he is nowhere when he needed them where in fact the father has sacrificed a lot to provide for them or the other one will strive to be a better productive child to give back the gratitude for his father’s love & sacrifice.
The Enquirer today published an article by Gene Lacza Piiapil ob democracy in the time of Aquino. Here is a section :
“The most dramatic example is the freedom of information bill, the legislation tailor-made for democratic deepening. It would have institutionalized Mr. Aquino’s personal anticorruption drive by legally empowering citizens in exposing government shenanigans through the increased access to information—transparency, accountability, citizens’ participation, empowerment and anticorruption all rolled into one great bill.
But the President simply dribbled it in Malacañang and then passed the ball to Congress where the House dribbled it to death in two Congresses, betraying both his campaign promise and the array of civil society groups that heroically tried to push the bill into law.
Not only did Mr. Aquino’s weak democratic leadership fail to engage in institution-building; some of his actions also resulted in the serious damage of institutions.
The most disastrous example is his mishandling of the Philippine National Police. From Rico Puno to Alan Purisima, Mr. Aquino bungled the management of the police as he gave priority to friendship over professionalism, which undermined police reform, performance, image, discipline and morale. This culminated in the Mamasapano tragedy where he bypassed his own interior secretary and the PNP chain of command to deal with the Ombudsman-suspended Purisima on an ill-conceived mission that sent 44 Special Action Force troopers to their death and brought the PNP to an internal crisis just a year before the 2016 elections.
This damage is dreadful: The democratization literature emphasizes that police reforms are critical bureaucratic reforms in deepening democracy.”
To read it all : http://opinion.inquirer.net/95137/democracy-in-the-time-of-aquino#ixzz4BBNyESVz
Curious I have commented in other posts about Puno & Purisimo. as mates of Aquino and their involvement in key ‘stuff ups’ over the past 6 years.
The Enquirer yesterday published an article by Gene Lacza Piiapil ob democracy in the time of Aquino. Here is a section :
“The most dramatic example is the freedom of information bill, the legislation tailor-made for democratic deepening. It would have institutionalized Mr. Aquino’s personal anticorruption drive by legally empowering citizens in exposing government shenanigans through the increased access to information—transparency, accountability, citizens’ participation, empowerment and anticorruption all rolled into one great bill.
But the President simply dribbled it in Malacañang and then passed the ball to Congress where the House dribbled it to death in two Congresses, betraying both his campaign promise and the array of civil society groups that heroically tried to push the bill into law.
Not only did Mr. Aquino’s weak democratic leadership fail to engage in institution-building; some of his actions also resulted in the serious damage of institutions.
The most disastrous example is his mishandling of the Philippine National Police. From Rico Puno to Alan Purisima, Mr. Aquino bungled the management of the police as he gave priority to friendship over professionalism, which undermined police reform, performance, image, discipline and morale. This culminated in the Mamasapano tragedy where he bypassed his own interior secretary and the PNP chain of command to deal with the Ombudsman-suspended Purisima on an ill-conceived mission that sent 44 Special Action Force troopers to their death and brought the PNP to an internal crisis just a year before the 2016 elections.
This damage is dreadful: The democratization literature emphasizes that police reforms are critical bureaucratic reforms in deepening democracy.”
To read it all : http://opinion.inquirer.net/95137/democracy-in-the-time-of-aquino#ixzz4BBNyESVz
Curious I have commented in other posts about Puno & Purisimo. as mates of Aquino and their involvement in key ‘stuff ups’ over the past 6 years.
What is important is to look at the entire record of the Aquino Administration and do a fair accounting of the progress of the nation, against those results that you consider “stuff ups”. If you do the tabulations, I am confident you will join me in thanking the Aquino Administration for having done so much for the nation.
Re: Pres. Aquino’s administration. Gene Pilapil chose to highlight the unfulfilled promises vs the fulfilled ones, the 1/4 empty glass vs the 3/4 filled one; destruction vs construction. His crabby opinion was better off ignored. Looks like Inquirer ran out of educated opinions to publish? Spoiled repeats are toxic.
I support Joe’s reply…to be thorough and fair about what’s being critiqued, the whole pie should be evaluated rather than slivers of uncooked side/s of it.
Sorry LG I operate on different standards.. While I agree that Aquino’s government did a lot of good stuff while in government, there were also 3-4 extraordinary incidents which Aquino was involved in, that would have lead to his resignation in many countries including Australia..I guess australians have less tolerance, patience with our political leaders for stuff ups like Mamasapano.
Cultural difference I guess..
Bill in Oz., thank you for taking time. Help me out here. In what other countries, the president or PM would have resigned after a disaster like Mamasapano?
Pres. George W. Bush certainly did not resign nor did he even apologize for his Iraq War mistake. Neither did the British PM Tony Blair resign or apologize for blindly following G.W. Bush. How about Australia? Did the PM then send Aussie troups? If so. did they all come home alive? If not, did the PM resign after learning he had sent them by mistake?
For the strategic mistakes of generals in war, some generals may have, but I have yet to read about a president or pm resign because of their generals’ mistakes.
LG you want me to gove you an example where an Australian minister or PM has resigned after presiding over a mistake similar to Mamasapano ?
Frankly I do not know of one. Your comments about the Gulf War are not relevant LG so I will not respond to them
But no Australian minister for police or defence would tolerate being undermined by the PM as Aquino did to Roxas. He would resign. And then my friend parliament would make mince meat of the PM. So would the media. Public opinion would fry such a foolish PM..So it does not happen.
Getting back to Mamasapano : Remember Roxas was the Filipino secretary for internal affairs in charge of the PNP in 2014 . Did he know that PNP special commando units were going to Mamasapano ? NO Roxas dis not. Aquino gave his blessing to it behind Roxas back…
NO staight path !
And who was running this PNP operation ? Aquino’s ‘shooting mates’ Puno & Purisima…And Purisma was on suspension from his position as head of the PNP by the COA because of charges massive corruption re gun licenses in 2012.
No Straight Path
In Oz by 2014 Purisima would have been in either in jail convicted or found innocent and a free man.. Instead Purisima was out ‘uncharged’ protected by his mate the president And being employed by Aquino as an ‘adviser’ and ‘Mr fix it’…
No Straight Path
Aquino did not have to face questioning by Congress for Mamasapano. But I remember that senator Poe effectively dumped the Liberal party at this point. She tried to get to the bottom of it all.. by grilling PNP leaders in senate hearings.. And there, right there, is the big split which would lead to a diminished vote for the Liberal party candidate Mar Roxas in the elections…
Many people think Roxas knew of Mamasapano but lied about his knowledge. Poe certainly thought this. I do not. I think he did not know but was bound by his loyalty to Aquno from criticising what Aquino did behind his back. And for that loyalty Roxas paid high at the election
And the split between Poe and the Liberal party gave Duterte the presidency…
Consequences…
I have been trying to remember an example similar to Mamasapano.. There is no recent one. There was one in 1916 during World War 1. The Labor PM wanted to introduce conscription to reinforce the Australian troops fighting Germany in Europe
.
The minister for defence disagreed and was supported by the Australian army general staff. The PM persisted so the defence minister resigned. supported by the Labor party back bench.
Despite this the PM wanted conscription to the army.He finally got parliamentary support for a referendum on the question. The referendum failed.
The PM was a fuckwit and a bastard – named Billy Hughes and British by birth & upbringing. He had the arrogance to try again with a second referendum. It was touch & go but failed as well on the votes of Australian soldiers ( the Diggers ) on the Western front.
Hughes lost government. His Labor party refused to support him
He was ressurected later with support from pro british non labor parties.But there was no conscription.
The clear lesson, Australian PM’s who fuck around the Australian people, get put in their place
That’s the nearest example I know.. US history is not my strength.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/05/21/1585434/purisima-arrested-airport-posts-bail
Purisima was suspended because Poe investigated him… tried to leave in May got arrested. Purisima once saved Aquino in times of coup, so Aquino protected him – difficult situation.
I don’t think the President took any overt acts to protect Purisima, he just did not fire him the way people were demanding. He let the law take its course . . . a fine example to a point I was making with Bill about President Aquino letting the law provide the resolutions to difficult situations.
Joe, by my standards someone who has been stood down because of corruption charges has been ‘stood down’…Ie No longer trusted to be in government until proved guilty or innocent
The very fact that Aquino kept Purisma in his circle of friends and advisers protected him for 4 years…
Sorry that is either political naievity or not living by his stated standards
I would imagine that he had no idea about the alleged corruption until just recently. He did not really protect him. He valued his information and advice, which is why he was the contact on Mamasapano. We ought not let hindsight move back to reconstruct history. The ethical threshholds here are much weaker than in Australia, so no need judging the President on Aussie ethics.
Remember LG that Edgar says “one could also…” IE The truth lies in all of these bits of the puzzle… He is not saying discard this bit…Yes there are other bits to add to the picture..
Life for life! Besides, it’s Purisima who allegedly did have more of the background knowledge to make a likely successful Get Marwan operation.
Today Rappler published a balanced article about Aquino listing the good & the not so good aspects of his presidency.. Plus lots of links to specific reports on earlier articles…
http://www.rappler.com/views/animated/136140-aquino-duterte-lesson-leadership
How Duterte responds to unprecedented crisis events remains to be seen. Already, he appears to show streaks of debt of gratitude type of loyalty, like Aquino’s (e.g. bury FM at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, rather than Leni, maybe give BBM a cabinet post…head shaking👎🏿. What love of country?
Like Aquino, will Duterte keep underperforming men just because he “trusts” them? Trust to be loyal to him, trust them to be honest, or trust them to be fit for the demands of their post? Nice if his men would be all the above. Sadly, some Aquino men he trusts/trusted, we now know, were/are no fit. Peter Principle always right?
Rappler today on Purisima & Napole re Mamsapano
“MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has affirmed the filing of criminal charges against former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima and former Special Action Force (SAF) chief Getulio Napeñas Jr for their role in the botched Mamasapano operation.
The Ombudsman said in its order that the Motions for Reconsideration of the two police officers “deserve scant consideration.”
The Office of the Ombudsman said in a statement on Thursday, June 16, that Morales has directed the filing of informations with the anti-graft Sandiganbayan for violation of Section 3(a) of Republic Act No 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and usurpation of authority or official function.
“Purisima’s active participation and supervision of Oplan Exodus despite the 10 December 2014 preventive suspension order of the Ombudsman and the 16 December 2014 cease and desist order of OIC-PNP Chief Espina both issued against him, violated the PNP chain of command and amounted to usurpation of official functions,” the Ombudsman said in its order.
( This is what I have been saying all along. And Purisima was reporting to Aquino. )
As for Napeñas, the Ombudsman said “his constant reporting and official dealings with Purisima, notwithstanding the latter’s suspension, and sans the knowledge and approval of then-OIC PNP Chief Espina, made him liable as a cohort of Purisima in usurping official functions.”
It also said that “Napeñas’ plea of leniency on account of his 37 years of meritorious service in government cannot be countenanced by this Office considering that the penalty of dismissal from the service is an indivisible penalty.”
Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code provides that for one to be liable for usurpation, “there must be a clear showing that the person being charged had performed an act pertaining to any person in authority or public officer of the Philippine government, under pretense of official position, and without lawfully being entitled to do so.”
Section 3(a) of RA 3019 prohibits a public officer who persuades, induces or influences another public officer to perform an act constituting a violation of rules or regulations
Purisima and Napeñas also face administrative charges of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Since both are no longer with the service – Purisima was dismissed in June 2015 while Napeñas retired in July 2015 – they were meted the alternative penalty of a fine equivalent to a year’s salary.
They were also meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification for reemployment in the government service, forfeiture of retirement benefits and cancellation of eligibility, the Ombudsman said.
The Mamasapano operation was carried out through “Oplan Exodus,” a Philippine National Police (PNP) SAF-led operation to neutralize terrorists wanted by both the Philippines and the United States. While the SAF troopers were able to get one of their targets, the operation triggered clashes between police and Muslim rebels and private armed groups in the area due to flaws in executing the plan.
The Mamasapano clash was one of the biggest controversies to hit the Aquino administration. The President’s ratings dipped to their lowest in its aftermath, amid allegations he was indifferent to the plight of the SAF troopers and as questions arose about his involvement and that of his friend, Purisima.
It also derailed what would have been the smooth-sailing passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the result of peace negotiations between the Aquino government and the MILF. – Rappler.com
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Such vast simplification.
One could as well easily say that the Duterte ascension was due to:
1. Poe with her ambition playing the spoiler
2. Roxas’ “inability” to connect to the electorate.
3. The neediness of the people for fascistic control
4. Post Marcos, the failure of successive administrations to curb corruption and poverty
*****
Not to mention people’s ignorance about the achievements being made, and impatience with not having someone help them out of their frustrations, whether those be need for food and jobs, or need for a quick ride across town.
Yes Edgar.. you are right. I have simplified for dramatic effect
HEY, THAT’S MY LINE . . . I do it for “literary effect”. 🙂
Salamat Edgar for jumping into the exchange. Your analysis make most credible sense.
Fist bump Edgar👊.
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Fist bump, LG!
*****
If you are only familiar with what has happened in Australia, you could just have stuck with Australia. You provoked me to beg for education. It’s unfair to cite that Aquino should have resigned after “extraordinary 3-4 incidents”, and insinuating, such resignation would have happened “in other countries including Australia”.
The “Gulf War”, you mentioned, I believe developed from Bush’s Iraq War. It’s most relevant as an analogy, to me, to the Mamasapano with respect to command responsibility mistake. Both declared mistakes only in hindsight. Bush’s far devastating than Aquino’s.
Joe’s inputs in this exchange, below, are much appreciated for enrichment and their wisdom👍.
LG you demand I talk about the Gulf war. I choose not to.That is an entirely different conversation irrelevant to the Philippines. political situation…
You state that I think Aquino should have resigned after Mamasapano. I have not said that. I did say that in other countries like Australia, the minister responsible would have resigned or been forced from office by public opinion …or by a vote of no confidence in the parliament..
Here in Philippines the man ‘in charge’ theoretically was Roxas. But he was kept ignorant of the whole operation til the very day of the stuff up…Instead Aquino used a couple of mates, Puno & Purisima to run it. He authorised it & them. So by my political assessment he was the elected person who was responsible…
Should he have resigned ? Given Binay as VP was waiting to take over, not a good idea ! Ditto via vis impeachment.
So in your presidential system there is no real effective way to hold elected officials accountable. for major blunders
But that is a different debate & conversation
Bill, I would put this into the category of you making judgments rashly without considering all the nuances of the incident, and granting no consideration to the testimony. I believe you did not watch the testimony that many of us did, and so don’t have a grasp of the reasons for the President’s decisions. He was misled at several points, by Napenas, by Purisima, and by the AFP Generals. His reason for going with Purisima on intimate knowledge was sound. He excluded numerous people with no need to know, in his judgment. I fear you are doing what Poe and others have done, gone directly from Tragedy to the President without granting him the right and responsibility to make command decisions. What other nation takes its president to task for a battlefield incident? Only undisciplined ones.
I would add that the Poe report was never finalized, was political and omitted significant details (slow response by peace team, and no artillery). It was mainly a tool to point at the president, which I’d guess that few bought, if they heard the testimony. The intense anger at the President was for his failure to attend the arrival of the coffins, not his decision-making on the incident itself. Even his bitter enemy Enrile could not make a case of it and largely got laughed off the stage.
Thanks Joe for bringing the ‘coffins’ up. Aquino’s failure to welcome the 44 at the Tarmac and personally greet their families on the day it might have counted and meant the most sparked the outrage. It’s been downhill from thence.
Bill in Oz, we agree somewhere, to an extent. As Joe had implied or stated clearly, if I understood him correctly…it’s unfair to the Philipoines to judge her government, it’s officials, and/or any aspect of it, based on Australian standards of government. And on any other foreign government standards for that matter. I am not happy about that, but I hope desired change happens, starting from withIN, withOUT, next. Duterte can inspire such but if he is not willing to change what he ought to about himself……
Actually, in this case, I am the one doing the comparing because nations that are warfare states understand that the field forces operate in high risk circumstances, and the President of the country rarely can influence outcomes. Yes, he is responsible for approving the engagements at some level, but he is not responsible for acts in the field. The Philippines is an immature or inexperienced or undisciplined country in some respects. The proof is in how the Mamasapano senators had generals crying and secret operating details on the table in public view, and were willing to undermine the integrity of their commander in chief . . . for politics. Also, the public’s reaction to the Mamasapano deaths was that of a prize-fighter whose ego got bruised by the loss. It hurt. Compare that loss to the 33 deaths (last count available) in a diarrhea outbreak in Samar this past week. No confrontation, no test-of-egos loss, no outrage, no publicity or senate inquiry.
I also disagree that it was “downhill” for President Aquino after Mamasapano. He handled the INC protest well, and other activities of state, and his trust ratings climbed back to comparatively high levels. This is in spite of the beating political opponents of Mar Roxas were providing, trying to leverage the idea (false) that the nation is broken and needs to be fixed. That goes down in history as one of the biggest sets of pigs ears ever successfully sold to a national audience.
“…..in many countries including Australia”. What “many countries” would these be? Care to name a few?
I believe that a minister of government, in the following countries, presiding over a similar situation would have lost his job: Canada, New Zealand, Britain, Ireland, India, The Netherlands, the Scandinavian countries, Germany, Austria, Israel, Spain, Switzerland Greece, Japan, Malaysia, All the countries have functioning Responsible Parliamentary systems of government.. There are probably others. France for example has a long tradition of elected ministers being held accountable even though it has a president with strong executive power.
That’s an interesting subject. I went to Wiki to discover which of the nations has enduring armed rebellions within their ranks, such that ‘stuff ups’ might have arisen from police/military operations gone bad, and resulted in the ejection of a leader. Ireland, India, Greece. Add in France. Add in Israel’s ongoing war with Palestinian groups. Add in the Philippines. The armed rebellions are listed below. I don’t believe there have been no stuff ups, nor do I know of circumstances when leaders have been readily tossed because of stuff-ups. Has the IRA rebellion produced new leadership because of deaths? Israel? ummmmmmmmmm . . . I think blame is generally assigned to the rebels, not the police or military or president. Mamasapano was different because of the brutality of the slaughter and the number of deaths. In Syria or Iraq, it would be a blink of the eye, in the news today and out tomorrow, because slaughter is the new way of waging war. That is not President Aquino’s doing, I might acerbically note.
Ireland
Continuity Irish Republican Army: 1994–present (separatist/Irish nationalist)
Real IRA: 1997–present (separatist/Irish nationalist)
Óglaigh na hÉireann (Real IRA splinter group): 2009–present (separatist/Irish nationalist)
India
Communist Party of India (Maoist) (Communist)
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (Islamist)
Hizbul Mujahideen (Islamist)
International Sikh Youth Federation (Sikh)
Jaish-e-Mohammed (Islamist)
Indian Mujahideen
Khalistan Commando Force (Sikh)
Khalistan Zindabad Force(Sikh)
Lashkar-e-Taiba (also in Pakistan) (Islamist)
Maoist Communist Party of Manipur
National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isaac-Muivah
Students Islamic Movement of India[46] (Islamist)
United Jihad Council (Islamist)
Ulfa logo.svg United Liberation Front of Assam[47] (separatist)
Israel
Greece
Sect of Revolutionaries (leftist/anarchist)
Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei (leftist/anarchist)
France
Comité Régional d’Action Viticole (Winemaker)
National Liberation Front of Corsica (Corsican nationalism)
Philippines
Communist Party of the Philippines/ New People’s Army/National Democratic Front
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
Revolutionary Workers’ Party
Revolutionary Workers Party – Mindanao
Moro National Liberation Front
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Sultanate of Sulu
ISIL/Abu Sayyaf
Rajah Sulaiman movement
Jemaah Islamiyah
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
Joe we are talking past each other..
You are focused on military incidents/stuff ups in those countries and whether ministers resigned. Without detailed research to find parallel situations, I have no idea if this has happened..
However that is not my focus
My focus is on a political principle common to all countries with a functioning system of responsible government…The principle is that the ministers for defence, or treasury, or social security or education etc., are each individually responsible to the PM, the parliament and the citizens, for how they conduct their portfolio.
This ‘sword of Damocles’ hangs over their heads all the time they are in charge.
This political principle also works the other way around. If a minister is ‘gazumped’ by the PM and told to implement policies or actions which the minister believes wrong, he/she, has a responsibility, a duty, to resign
There is an interesting example that has just happened in my old home state of Victoria. There the female minister for Emergency Services has just resigned her portfolio. Why ? She disagreed with the policy of the premier of Victoria over him taking control of a major issue which she was responsible for, and telling her what to do. In laying down her ministerial job she has stuck by the political principle in the face of being bullied. and as she has done it publicly before parliament & the media, he has lots of egg on his face.
So now, let’s apply that to Mamasapano in the Philippines…
Roxas was the secretary for DILG appointed by Aquino. But he does not know of the planned operation at all.He found out on the day. It was done behind his back with the approval of his boss Aquino. Roxas could have resigned. If he were a minister in a parliamentary government, I think he would have done this.
But Roxas was not a minister. He was not responsible to the Congress at. He holds his job at the will of Aquino for whom he stepped aside in 2009 so Aquino could be the Liberal candidate.
I think in a responsible parliamentary system, Aquino’s job would have been up for grabs by challengers in this situation. He would have faced a motion of no confidence. Roxas could have challenged and become PM….
Yes that’s a hypothetical…But it illustrastes the differences between a presidential system and a parliamentary system.. As an American I doubt you have experienced how a parliamentary system operates.. Having studied presidential system and lived in the USA, and in a few other countries, I know which I prefer. And maybe the Philippines would be better off. if it had a parliamentary system.. But that is for Filipinos to judge.
I react to your use of the term ‘stuff up’, which I view as a sharp condemnation. Roxas decided not to call it a stuff up because he works in the PH. You call it a stuff up because you like parliamentary mechanisms? I guess I am confused. I believe the upcoming federalism proposal will likely put a parliamentarian form on the table.
But bill the wrong fact from your story is that Sec Roxas did resign twice. But here is where the story varies depending on your prejudgement. He was too ambitous to go through it and lose the president’s blessing as party standard bearer or if you believe in Sec Roxas’ integrity He put his love of country above his ego and continued serving his flawed but entirely capable president.
If Sec Mar did resign then all your judgements mean nothing because he did resign and the Philippines belongs to the class of nation where your stuff up causes resignation.
Yaaaay…Giancarlo👍
Joe for me the term ‘stuff up’ carries no judgementalism..
I am reminded of the words of a former mate who became an Australian labor senator & minister.
“If ever you have to choose between a plot & a fuck up ( his words )
Choose fuck up, because 9 times out of 10 that’s what it is”
‘Stuff up’ is, in Australian terms a poiiter way of putting the same idea
So just a slight cultural difference not intended to insult
I do not know Dutere’s mind on Federalism.. Or if he intends to make responsible parliament government part of the package..
It’s curious how our common English political heritage has evolved in different directions in different countries. It’s my opinion that the early English settlements in North America took with them them the political model then current in Britain ; an executive king & his governors with elected councils. After independence in 1778 the executive king was replaced by an elected president.. The kings governors were replaced by elected governors.
Meanwhile in Britain after 1688 the kings no longer played any significant executive role. Sovereigns but not rulers’. Instead an entirely new system developed where whoever had the support of parliament became the king’s prime minister. The first such person was a member of the house of commons and was PM for 30 odd years : Horace Walpole during the reign of 4 monarchs. It was oligarchical- aristocratic not democratic. The process of democratisation came later in the 1830’s. But the PM & other ministers were responsible to the parliament not the kings.
It was this model which was carried to th colonies of the British empire in the 1800’s & 1900’s
Guys can you comment on this :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/06/12/brexit-vote-is-about-the-supremacy-of-parliament-and-nothing-els/
It is about why he is voting for brexit.
@Josephivo @Edgar is this writer pulling a fast one and deceiving me?
@Bill the brazen disregard of democracy by the EU if the article is true has not caused any resignation. I measure this as more an affront to democracy than what Aquino did.
The line that incensed me was:
The EU crossed a fatal line when it smuggled through the Treaty of Lisbon, by executive cabal, after the text had already been rejected by French and Dutch voters in its earlier guise. It is one thing to advance the Project by stealth and the Monnet method, it is another to call a plebiscite and then to override the outcome.
Filipinos would be out in the streets if ASEAN did something as brazen.
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I may not be qualified to comment. I am not up to date with the intricacies of the EU. For what it’s worth, here are my reflections of a very general nature:
1. My original thinking was that regional associations were the way to go in the future, the transformation of neighboring nation-states into a bigger political entity, for mainly two reasons — trade and security.
2. The basic trade-off is one of balance between state vs. union sovereignty: how much sovereignty do the states surrender to make the union effective?
3. It seems that the conception of the EU gave too much centralized powers to the union. It was too ambitious, a case of too much, too soon. The powers covered not only the conduct of trade and security, but the exercise of executive, parliamentary and judicial powers.
4. I can think of three factors that would militate against the success of such a union:
4.1. Nation-state power would not be equally exercised even with the formation of a union parliament. The balance of power would naturally gravitate towards the strong states. They would dominate policy making, enforce implementation and veto weak-state initiatives.
4.2. Although regional states are adjacent to each other, their cultures are not homogenous. Concerns will differ, values will differ, and styles will differ.
4.3. The personalities of the heads of states will also differ and will affect the balance of power. One head may project power that is proportional — or disproportional — to the relative strength of his nation-state.
5. With respect to EU, it is now not possible to break down the walls of the edifice that has been built. Fortunately, an exit protocol — Brexit — has been provided by the very Treaty (of Lisbon) that sought to buttress the walls.
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There are some very profound lessons about federalism in this parsing of the EU, particularly the inequality of power and resources among the various states.
thanks edgar.
Thanks for the explanation of ‘stuff up’, which I suspect I shall use in my own writings now and then because it is such a great term and I know what it means now. I’ve climbed off my affronted horse now. My guess is that the Duterte Federalism proposal will take the Pimentel Bill (draft) as its foundation. They want to move quickly, and re-writing a bill would be a huge headache. The bill revises the existing constitution rather than requiring a new one. I’ve started to go through it to see where I think the strengths and weaknesses are, and as a reference point for the Duterte proposal likely to be forthcoming. If you have an interest in the Pimentel Bill, it is here:
Click to access pimentel-federalism-bill.pdf
Gian what he is writing is true… at that time many people just acquiesced because the economic conditions were a lot better… now frustration is rising and people are angry.
Brexit can mean a chain reaction – and we will be back to pre-EU conditions quickly.
Irineo, are you still in Munich? Not that it matters, but how would Brexit be good or bad for the Philippines?
European politics, not my strength. Lisbon was an effort to increase “democracy”, more power for the European parliament and more power for the European council, the assembly of the 27 heads of state, and consequently a huge reduction in the power of the commission (the administration of technocrats).
The painful fact in Europe is that many national governments play the “good cop”/”bad cop” game too well. E.G.: The Belgian members of European parliament belonging to the Belgian majority parties voting for austerity measures in Strasbourg, seat of the European parliament, and then the same parties blaming in the Belgian parliament that the budget cuts are dictated by Europe, no choice, a dictate from the European Commission. That they supported the proposal is wisely “forgotten” by then. Local “politics” and reelection always prevail, often at the cost of credibility for European institutions.
Hope the Brits will leave, that will make a lot of this politicizing, a London specialty, eliminated.
Comparing with the Philippines is useless. There are 2 types of federalism: centrifugal
centripetal, from one state into many (Philippines) or from many states into one (Europe). The formation dynamics are opposite.
Substantial with spice! Thank you Joe.
There you go. Thank you Bill in Oz.
All the countries you cited are, as you said, have functioning Responsible Parliamentrary systems of government, I add….developed countries. In stark contrast, the Philippines has a unitary form of government AND underdeveloped.
Further, culturally, the Philippines would stand out as each of them would, too, in comparison to one another. As culture plays out in most aspects of government, at least in the Philippines, the dynamics of governing and being governed, in the Philippines, would be significantly different in each of the countries you noted. I imagine, circumstances that lead to a head of state’s Resigning or Impeachment may vary from country to country, regardless of the operating system of government, because of attending socio-cultural-political factors at the time.
Finally, just because Aquino would have resigned if he was born and became a PM in Australia, if he misgoverned too badly (I strongly doubt there is an Australian with a similar bio-history and personality who would be elected as PM) does not necessarily mean he won’t survive either in any of the other countries you noted. Inductive (but not deductive) reasoning may suggest so. One premise (Australia) is not generalizable.
@Gian “But bill the wrong fact from your story is that Sec Roxas did resign twice”
Thanks for this.I did not know.I assume he offered his resignation to president Aquino. And it was declined by Aquino or maybe withdrawn by Roxas because he changed his mind.
But my basic point stands : the stuff up having happened, Aquino was not accountable to the senate or the congress for what happened.
There was no way for the Liberal party congress members to challenge Aquino and replace him with another leader who had the support of a majority of congress members. He was the elected president not a PM.
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1. John Howard was not replaced as PM for the Iraq WMD stuff-up.
2. Peter Reith did not resign over the children overboard stuff-up.
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Ahhhh Gulf War…But was it an Australian stuff up or an American one . Avery big question…which we could argue about till Xmas.
Howard thought there weapons of mass destruction being prepared by Saddam. Did Bush ? Maybe. Or did Bush rather more simply want to bring down Saddam because Saddam plotted to kill G Bush senior in Kuwait in 1994 after he retied from the USA presidency in 1992 and made a courtesy visit to Kuwait ? The plot was discovered & prevented. But Bush junior remembered till 2003…maybe.
Peter Reith was never minister for immigration.. So not something to put on him. He was minister for Industrial relations 1996-1998 and presided over the huge stuff up on the docks. He was not sacked..But curiously he resigned from Parliament at the 1998 election..I suggest he was worded up by Howard to not be dead weight around the government’s neck.
Re Tampa.. the evidence is that the overwhelming majority of Aussies want immigration & refugee entry to be controlled.. So the children overboard incident,& Tampa & moe recently tow backs are not ‘stuff ups’, but strong actions by a govrnment determined to implement popular and wanted policy.. The “No Borders” extremist small minority & the Greens don’t like it. Tough
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From Wikipedia on Peter Reith: “Howard transferred Reith to the Defence portfolio in 2000. The following year, Reith announced his impending retirement, and did not contest the 2001 election. Late in the election campaign Reith became embroiled in the “Children Overboard affair”, in which the government made claims that asylum seekers had thrown children overboard in a ploy to secure passage to Australia, and failed to correct the record when advised there was no evidence for the claims. ”
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Of course, it was (an Australian ‘stuff up’ as well)! Take responsibility for your own actions. Bush forced no one to join him. Don’t pass the blame.
Edgar, Thanks for the correction re Reith
But check out this.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_Overboard_affair
The attempts by various almost all Muslim people smugglers to undermine legitimate Australian immigration & refugee policy, has been ongoing since the early 1990’s. The system of detention centers for such people was set up under Labor PM Keating.in 1993.
Howard won in 2001 by being quite strong on the issue – faced with a string of people smuggler organised boats attempting to sail to Australia. Labor was more wishy washy & paid the price…
And of course the people smugglers operated in Indonesia with the ‘unofficial’ blessing of the government. After Australia assisted Timor L’Este achieve independence from Indonesian occupation and they were annoyed with Oz.. And the people smugglers were bribing officials as well to turn the eye away.. And take troublesome refugees away.. A nice game of pass the parcel with Australia to be left holding it…
Very clever but not for Australia. So Howard stopped it dead.There were hardly any boats from 2001-2007 under Howard as PM.
Labor was naieve from 2008-13 when they closed the detention centres and allowed boat peope. Another 50,000 boat people arrived.. Abbot won in 2013 on a policy of stopping the boats, even with tow backs.. And they were stopped.
Since the 1990’s Australia has accepted between 200,000 & 380,000 immigrants a year with 12,000 assisted refugees. Among them have been many Filipinos. The policy is simple : Australia will determine who migrates to Oz and who is allowed & helped to come to Australia as refugee.The No Borders mob are now a discredited. 5-7% minority. End of story.
Bill
We may admire the Japs way of taking responsibility where the top guy accepts the blame even though he may may be several lines of functionality separated from the erring incident, to the extent of taking their own lives sometimes, it is a tragic loss of top talent. And for what purpose? Appeasement, to those crying for someone’s head.
In other countries that you mentioned, top guys get the heat and resign or get forced out. The question is to what level up the organisation chart should it go. Politically of course, it goes up to the level of a personality targetted by the howling crowd. Is it the dept head, the secretary, the president? Often it all boils down to decision making responsibilities, not the executory functionaries. There is a need to understand whether the issue errs from the decision making (the policies, plans) or the execution. So it’s a case specific issue.
Regarding the Mamapasano incident, I cannot support your call for the President’s head. As the head of the govt, there is no doubt all bucks stop at his office. If we take the blame game approach, a president would have lost his job for Yolanda, Mamasapano, Chinese incursion, MRT mess etc… Every year would be an election year. Imagine the disruption, the instability, and perception of competence by the world and what all this means to the economy and thus jobs.
I agree with Joe on Mamapasano. The lash back on Aquino is his failure to attend the homecoming of the 44 dead policemen. And boy, all his political enemies and no less than ex-president Ramos sure lapped it up. Given the heated, extreme emotional and feeling of hopelessness of the time, they socked it to him real good. It had nothing to do with him using a suspended general — that’s a judgement call he made, that it was wrong we can all call him out from the wisdom of hindsight. It had nothing to do with the execution of the battle plan on the ground — that’s Napenas burden to carry. That’s the doctrine of responsibility in military engagement, and so it is for other situations such as police raid, a firemen’s fire-fight.
In many incidences in Philippines I have observed how the press, the public and politicians often get it wrong. There is an inability to understand line and functional responsibility. Take the bus hostage at Quirino Grandstand. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim took the hit for the way the whole incident was handled culminating in the most outrageous assault on the bus. Lim may be lambasted for some other stuff during the incident, but the boss man is the Manila Police Chief.
Chempo, I think you are right about Japan..It is a bit extreme there in the way ministerial responsibility is implemented there.
Responsible government assumes that the minister is in charge with public servants who are professional and do as asked to the best of their ability..I’m sure that’s the system in Singapore.But I admit it can get messy. Public servant stuffs up in Oz do happen. It can lead to being shunted off / transferred to a very unimportant hole in the wall type job and then early retirement.
Sounds like the AYES are taking the debate!!! I ❤️ your adds on Chempo.
Gian ..re the Brexit..I think it will happen… The EU has it’s origins i the post World War 2 western Europe. And the desire not to have yet another catastrophic war..( Really 3 major wars from 1870 to 1945 .
But the nature of the EU was determined by the elite.with little imput from ordinary citizens.. So now with poor economic growth, high unemployment even in Germany ( concealed!( and massive unregulated immigration both within the EU and from outside, many many ordinary people have said “enough” We want out.
The article you linked to is an informed and intelligent one..Well written also..Brexit will happen & the Euro elites will have to lump it..And the British parliament will regain control over British law making. and government.. Will others follow ? Maybe. Eah of the 28U members is it” own country.
Sad bill re brexit. The ASEAN integration is modeled after the EU. Hope we learned the right lessons with this slow moving disaster.
There is a traditional British mentality which is insular in character…And so they do not take kindly to being bossed around by ‘mainlanders’ even when there is lots of money being splashed around..
Back in 2009 I flew from Adelaide to Ireland via Rotterdam. At Dublin airport there a sign saying EU this way.. Everyone else that way.. Being Aussie I went that way. But could easily have just walked ‘this way’ where there was no immigration controls at all.. Just walk thru!
Later I flew from Dublin to Manchester.. And then there were no immigration checks at all…Bizarre ! Anybody could have git into the UK that way and probably have.
Brexiters are rejecting that type of thing..And saying we want Customs & Immigration controls
Wikipediia has an accurate report of Watergate..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate_scandal
It started in June 1972 with the arrest of the 5 Watergate breakin suspects.It ended in August 1974 when Nixon resigned .. Not that quick..And as Wiki states there was 2 years of constitutional crisis in the USA. I remember being in Sarawak reading about Nixon’s resignation in a kedai kopi and thinking why did this take soooo long
I wonder if Marcos would have started his martial law dictatorship if there had been a US government in Washington not consumed by the Wategate scandal
The way you describe it, I am no longer inclined to favor a parliamentary system of government, when politics or knee jerk decisions rule over sense regarding battlefield losses, which, entered into, are inherently risky. The parliamentary system seems to offer weak command authority, the way you describe it. It is totally political. The President can be fired for bad decisions by Joe Schmuck, or a decision by the enemy to slaughter SAF troops. It means that lunatics like Peping Cojuangco and his wife, who led the Aquino Resign movement during Mamasapano and INC protests, would hold sway over Philippine governance and military decision.
No siree. Forget that weak form of government. Give me a strong-willed president, thanks, elected to lead and impeachable only for egregious offenses. Then the malcontents can decide to join, follow or get out of the way. When we fight a war, we are not going to be second-guessing every battlefield loss coming down the pike. We’re going to be learning our lessons and fighting better and stronger next time . . . rather than backbiting our way to timid leadership.
Joe, I suspect you exaggerate for dramatic effect….
The reality is that parliamentary democracy can be very democratic with relatively rapid turnover of leaders.. Australia since 2007 is a case in point.. A total of 5 pm’s.. Why ? Because the two major parties threw up leaders who were more ‘left’ than the majority of the population ( Rudd & Gillard);and too ‘right’ for the majority of the population( Howard in 2007 & Abbot 2015 Rudd was given a second chance in 2013 by Labor but lost the election 3 months later conclusively )
That’s local factors.
But as Chempo can confirm for Singapore, Lee Kuan You was PM for about 40 years with Singapore’s people giving his PAP massive victories during those years.And massive change and prosperity for Singapore ( And he copped lots of foreign flack for his strong way of governing)
Let’s turn your thinking around Joe. and think back to Nixon in 1973-4.. Here was a president who ordered some massive stuff ups.. Watergate. winked at Marcos becoming dictator,. And the secret carpet B52 bombing of neutral Cambodia without any authority from Congress.. What could the US people do to get rid of him ? Nothing much at all by legal methods.. He finally resigned having arranged a pardon from his successor..
In the 1980’s it was clear that Reagan was losing it while in office ( I mean dementia here) but he stayed on as president till his second term finished in 1988.. nobody willing to say “Time Mr President” because his replacement ( G Bush senior ) would have shifted all the deck chairs in the government and put noses out of joint..
That does not make for good government
By contrast John Profumo mp lost his job as a minister in the UK in 1963 because he was cavorting with prostitutes.. And MacMillan the pm lost the election shortly after in 1964 as well..The 2 prostitutes were also being being bedded by a Russian diplomat..
Quick sorting of major problems is good government.
Hahaha, I have been discovered! But, truly, a President ought not be vulnerable to political whim, especially in the role of commander in chief. The idea that Aquino, an honest, earnest and productive president would get dismissed for a battlefield loss just stuns me. Nixon committed a crime, and American journalism and ethics and popular will took care of him. Reagan committed no crime, no ethical violations, and remained responsible in office. His naps during cabinet meetings were likely well earned, having to listen to the nonsense surrounding him. Most Americans loved Reagan, for his charm and willingness to shout things like “Take down this wall Mr. Gorbachev!”, and he has become more loved for his physical ailments and the way Nancy cared for him for the remaining days of life. I don’t understand this second-guessing or using examples that don’t apply to the issue at hand, command authority removed from the whims of politics. We can always find aberrations in deed and outcome, in any form of government. People are quite competent at screwing anything up, from dictatorships to parliamentary rules.
Citing the Mamasapano stuff-up as a reason to rid the Philippines of a president is just the wrong example to use. You are taking an incident you don’t like, and organizing a whole government around it. Meanwhile, due process in the Philippines moved on long, long ago.
And correctly so.
Joe earlier I used the phrase ‘sword of Damocles’ It refers to an ancient Greek ruler who reportedly had a sword hung above his head in the throne room… when asked about it he is reported to have replied “It is there t remind me of my mortality & fallibility”.
Being directly accountable to an elected democratic parliament is truly democratic….Unlike an elected king who is in practical terms not responsible to anyone .Impeachment is such a rigid & inflexible method that it is useless…
By the way, re Aquino & Mamasapano..I think that if here were a PM accountable to the House of Reps. he would have handled it very differently…
Could very well be. I recall watching Tony Blair arguing with the ministers in a big room that looks a lot like an upscale cock fight arena with benches for the fans. I suppose that is a form of accountability that cannot be escaped. Though smooth-talking handsome Tony succeeded in that regard (Iraq WMD).
But ever since he has copped it. He retired in 2007-8 (? ) after a long drawn out time being undermined because of the Iraq War..
Nixon’s escapade was not long and drawn out, which is my point that it is the people and circumstance that matters, and it is impossible to overlay episodes in one nation on another, and for sure, not on the Philippines. The Philippines should be examined on the basis of her own people, culture, institutions, history and acts. I share this as it was shared to me by mentors here, and it is the only way one can truly understand and recommend ideas that make sense in the Philippines.
A-M-E-N🙏.
For sure Deep Throat has a different meaning here in Philippines.
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For the record: the economic legacy of President Aquino:
http://opinion.inquirer.net/95503/the-legacy-of-aquinomics
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@Jolly Cruz.
Please read the article.
The issue that would probably face Sec Diokno is what Cielito Habito termed as agencies absorptive capacity.
Thank you Joe America ! We Thank GOD so much for giving to us President Aquino ! Me and my family never doubted our President ! We supported his parents and him all the way because we believe in their sincerity and honesty to serve the country … and they did , they were so self less , his parents died and fought for our democracy , and now President Aquino triumphed in making our country the “RISING TIGER IN ASIA “, “ASIA’s BRIGHT STAR ” and others ! Our President triumphed against all the evil that kept putting him down ! WE are part of the silent majority who supported the President and his family . We are now supporting the President’s LP team because we believe that they are the men and women who can continue the progress President Aquino made ! GOD be with you always Mr. President !
Try to watch this video and tell me what you see. Maybe, you’d be quick to tell me that it’s a terrorist video spewing nonsense. Maybe you’d be quick to judge that they would bring horror and murder to our land. Maybe, you’d be quick to answer that it’s a video not worth watching for it’s a video of lies that would make the country his lair for crime and violence.
But if you would listen to the man speaking, you’d hear, not a demand, but a plea. If you’d look at the man, you’d only see an old man, worn of blood and futile struggle. and if you’d try to look at his heart, he’s struggling to grab his last rope, his last hope, for redemption, of the bottom quintile he has been fighting for.
Our soldiers have been fighting our own people for ages. And for ages, rebel groups evolved and even grew in number. They multiplied and evolved into Muslim, Communist and even Terrorist groups. I dunno if there’d be Moonist youps in the future, too. But who knows?
But the reason they even exist is because of OPPRESSION. Remember that OPPRESSION is the biggest reason these groups came into existence.
If we keep on ignoring the suffering of the bottom quintile of our society, this will result to higher crime rates and eventually…INSURGENCY.
And finally remember that Jesus came to this world, not as King, but as the Son of a Carpenter…representing the poor. for no one can fathom how God works… in His mysterious ways…
Joma’s homecoming is truly concerning. What is most scary. Would he be the real prez and Du30 his puppet! Indeed, he could make ‘democracy’ pay for all the years he was kept out.
President Aquino’s legacy
– August 23, 2010: Hong Kong hostage crisis –
Barely two months in office, Aquino faces his first major crisis when a disgraced policeman takes a busload of Hong Kong tourists hostage.
The gunman and eight hostages are killed in a hail of gunfire hours later in a bungled police rescue operation that deeply embarrasses the young administration and strains ties with the Chinese territory for years.
– November 18, 2011: Arroyo arrest –
Benigno Aquino makes good on a vow to have his predecessor and arch-rival Gloria Arroyo arrested and stand trial for vote fraud.
When the country’s chief justice, Renato Corona, takes steps to get Arroyo bailed, Aquino allies have him impeached and removed from office. Arroyo remains under house arrest for the rest of Aquino’s term as the trial drags on with little progress.
– December 21, 2012: Reproductive health law –
Aquino signs a landmark law mandating the state provide free contraceptives to poor couples and teach sex education in schools, defeating years of opposition by the dominant Roman Catholic church.
– March 27, 2013: Investment grade –
Once regarded as Asia’s basket case, the Philippines wins its first investment-grade credit rating, with Fitch Ratings citing the political and economic reforms implemented under Aquino.
Similar upgrades from Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s follow later that year.
– November 8, 2013: Super Typhoon Haiyan –
Haiyan, the strongest typhoon ever recorded to hit land at the time, smashes into the central islands and launches tsunami-like waves that devastate the city of Tacloban.
The typhoon leaves at least 7,350 dead or missing across a swathe of poverty-stricken central islands the size of Portugal.
– March 30, 2014: China sea suit –
Unable to counter China’s military might as it lays claim to most of the South China Sea, Aquino’s government counters by filing a suit at a UN-linked international arbitration tribunal in the Hague. China refuses to recognise the proceedings.
A ruling on Manila’s bid to have the Chinese claims declared illegal is expected shortly after Aquino stands down.
– April 28, 2014: US Defence Accord –
In the face of an increasingly assertive China, the Philippines seals an agreement with its main defence ally allowing US troops and equipment to rotate through Philippine military bases in a move designed to bolster the country’s territorial defence.
– January 25, 2015: Mamasapano massacre –
Elite police commandos raid a remote southern village and kill Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, who is on a US “terrorist” most wanted hitlist, but the team is ambushed by other Muslim guerrilla groups and militias.
Forty-four soldiers die in what becomes known as the Mamasapano massacre, after the town where the killings occurred. The incident provokes public outrage that eventually derails a peace agreement with the country’s main Muslim rebel group.
– February 3, 2016: Peace deal on ice –
Angered by the killings of the police commandos, Congress fails to pass a law aimed at creating a Muslim autonomous region in the south of the mainly Catholic nation.
The law had been key to complying with the terms of a 2014 peace deal with the 10,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the nation’s biggest Muslim rebel group. The peace process is placed in limbo until the next president takes over.
– April 26, 2016: Canadian beheaded –
Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State jihadists dump the head of Canadian retiree John Ridsdel on a street on a remote island. Ridsdel was one of four people kidnapped six months earlier from yachts harboured at a luxury marina.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expresses outrage and Aquino vows to “neutralise” the group, which holds other Canadian, Dutch, Indonesian, Malaysian and Filipino hostages. But, as in the past, the militants survive.
Look! A reference to Jesus Christ. That must mean she’s right! All arguments, logical or otherwise, overruled!
Sarcasm aside, had you been in Pnoy’s shoes as the Chief Executive, what would you have done to address the problems you mentioned above? Would you have handled them with poise, composure, and reason at the exact moment they occurred, or are you just playing know-it-all because you now have the benefit of hindsight? Also, what makes you so sure that the incoming new President would bring about the CHANGE that you desire? (I have nothing against Mayor Digong).
Also, if no one can fathom how the Universe (God) works, then you shouldn’t be complaining and bickering at all. All that’s happened, whether you are happy with them or not, was God at work. Right?
That is a nice summary of the most discussed aspects of his presidency. I look at his legacy as a ‘style’ that was law-based, calm but firm, and building. Law based as in the UN arbitration filing, calm but firm as in how the episodes with the Sultan, Taiwanese fisherman’s death, Zamboagan siege, and INC protest were handled, and building, as in classrooms, roads, military, services for the poor, storm readiness, alliances . . . and more.
Legacy, to borrow someone else’s line above, if you were the president, what would you have done, as they happened, to the tragic incidents, you painstakingly narrated, as your legacy? You must not have made mistakes, ever, in your life, eh. Me salute you.
My kind👏.