by Nicasio Angelo Agustin
While on a plane, flying serenely through trouble-free skies after Typhoon Basyang on my return to Davao from Manila, I found myself pondering on the recent SONA of President Aquino.
There could not have been a more visual representation of the state of the nation than that of a dark, crooked road which thieves take to disappear into the night.
I was also amused with the fact that a similar analogy was present in that plane ride: after a turbulent storm, what P-Noy promises us is no less than clear skies and a well-paved, well-lighted and world-class runway on which to land. This is the straight path – an image he has ingrained with his own public persona since the start of the campaign period.
I have to admit that despite unending stories about the corruption of the previous administration, I was still very shocked at the extent of squandering of public funds exposed by no less than the President.
With our calamity fund practically depleted, the outrageous benefits and bonuses given to non-performing appointed officials, midnight deals left and right done at the midnight hour, I could only feel disgust and want those perpetrators brought to justice.
When proven, what has been done to the Filipino people is no less than the most deplorable and unforgiveable crime – a gross violation of public trust and the mandate an ailing nation had so willingly given.
The most honorable thing you could ever do is to serve the people – and if we believe the tip of the iceberg described to us in the SONA, what certain despicable officials have done was to dishonor our country in the grossest way.
And I want them all to rot in jail!
This, too, has been the battlecry of President Noynoy. This, too, has been the core message he gave to a nation that has allowed itself to feel hopeful again.
Unfortunately, the SONA was all this but not much else.
Thinking allowed, to catch a thief is almost always a good idea. But to chase a pack of thieves in a dark alley may not always yield the best results in the long term.
While it is laudable that what this administration will do to demonstrate good governance is to demonstrate what it will do to wayward officials – and garner a few pogi points in the comparison, sampling (or “sasampolan kita”) is not and should not be the standard with which we will assess P-Noy’s performance.
Imagine this: it is the end of the month and your paycheck is snugly inside your wallet. You are walking your way home under a slight drizzle when a snatcher grabs your bag, running into a dark street.
Only the brave will instincitvely chase the perpetrator, and maybe I will be one of them. But if I see a group of scary looking men meeting the snatcher in that dark street, the sensible me will think of my loved ones at home who are waiting for me, with hot soup to warm me on a rainy night.
I will let that paycheck go. I will turn around and go home, and work another day, and earn again. No amount of money is worth what I can do for the future.
I hope P-Noy’s pursuit of justice will not result in him forgetting the more important things about running a country. We did lose billions in the previous administration, but what will he do with the trillions that should be used to the best interest of the FIlipino people?
To catch a thief is a good thing. But to serve the nation in the best way possible is much, much better.
Feel free to send your comments to nic_agustin@yahoo.com.
