As we look around the Philippines, we are always plagued with negative thoughts. We complain about traffic, poverty, pollution and corruption. We bring these destructive thoughts with us wherever we go, and become a part of us.

We see no changes, and we close-mindedly blame corrupt officials, our trust broken into many pieces. This is especially true of the youth, as we are not only abreast of current events in the political world, but we also have negative thoughts instilled in us from our elders’ frustration with the government. We have lost faith in the government, and have come to view politics as a business run by cynics. Though we may not see the changes that are subtly coming our way, we are progressing as a nation whose trust is slowly getting restored.

Today, as I watched President Aquino’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona), I was captivated by his strong beginning, in which he fervently stated the need to delve back into the past in order to move toward a better future. Immediately, the president indirectly addressed the exact sentiment of the people—that is, a people disheartened and disillusioned. He emphasized numerous times that, though we have lost faith in the government, he is there to redeem our confidence with his new policies, despite his bringing in changes that many will fight against. Thus, he acknowledged the need for a general cleansing, which is what he did starting with the Supreme Court, the Bureau of Customs and Immigration, and now, the Senate. By having people such as Kim Henares step up and put pressure on taxpayers, we are able to start paying off our debt and essentially make the Philippines “open for business.” Most of the funds are now being used for social services—something we, as the youth, needed to hear, especially considering the fact that we view politicians as people motivated by self-interest.

Inspirational

The president was inspirational in his simplicity, giving us facts on the progress of our country during his speech. The accomplishments he listed show just how truly invested the government now is in creating a better future for our nation. It is my opinion, however, that there were many points touched on by the president that are of great significance to our generation.

First was the Technical Skills Development Authority (Tesda) project, an investment to have scholars trained and employed within the country. However, I would have liked to hear more about the plans for the K-12 system, and where the budget is going to come from.

Second, the war against corruption and good governance, which was emphasized by the president, definitely affects our generation. If we are taught the discipline of working hard for money, and that giving handouts and bribes is wrong, we will certainly be able to move forward as a nation with self-respect. This was illustrated through the metaphor recounted by the President from Maimonides: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

Tourism

Third, as global citizens, it is comforting to know we have been approved for more international flights (specifically to Europe and the US), as this brings in more employment, money and tourism to our country. However, I would have liked to hear an update on the status and negotiations of our territorial disputes with China. Without an update, I feel as though nothing has been happening. In addition to the aforementioned, the last point that he touched upon that was of interest to our generation was Philippine infrastructure, since a general complaint of many of us is that “the roads suck.”

The president in his speech seemed both fully armed and ready to face all criticism in order to put in place measures that would fix a very broken nation. For the youth, it seems apt that he addressed future problems, such as the impending scarcity of water, which shows foresight. Ultimately, Mr. Aquino’s State of the Nation Address inspired the fervent nationalists and aggravated the cynics. He is changing the current system in which we have lost faith, and though many are against him, he was clear in stating that the Filipino is “worth fighting for.”

Students speak:

“I find P-Noy’s Sona inspiring and very sincere. He was able to outline his achievements and contributions in boosting the Philippine economy in the last four years. He also mentioned the benefits of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) through the Tesda scholars, and how the government responded to different calamities and disasters.” —Kaye, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Batangas

“The only thing that I think was lacking in his speech was a more detailed explanation of how the DAP was spent, and the fact that the Freedom of Information Bill was not mentioned.” —Nursing student

“As part of the younger generation in the Philippines, I think President Benigno Aquino is a good president. His Sona articulated the issues this past year and how he dealt with them successfully. For example, he did something for education by offering scholarships to those in need, and he improved the country’s economy. He also stated that under his management, the government was able to raise the aviation level, allowing tourism and business to grow, which I think is great. He talked about infrastructure projects, with new airports rising, but our capital’s main airport remains one of the worst in the world. He had an emotional speech remembering his parents, as he often does, but I was hoping he would mention the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scandal, the progress we have made there, and what legislation should be passed so corrupt practices will become a thing of the past. He cautioned the audience on choosing the next leader who would continue in his “daan na matuwid,” yet he did not mention who he was supporting. We need a miracle to elect a next clean president; perhaps that is why P-Noy did not name his “choice.” —Ines Tambunting, Wheaton College