No Crumbs for Good Governance

It is the time where everybody is an expert. It is the time where everybody has an opinion.

Thus is the aftermath of the second State of the Nation address of Pres. Noynoy Aquino. And from top political honchos inside the session hall to the man on the street bracing Commonwealth Avenue, each one has a piece of his mind to give on the address. Positive and negative, passing grade or fail, each one falls on an emotional range from pleased to frustrated.

Nothing's new. This is the same scenario in the last SONA. And this has been the scenario in every SONA of the past presidents. So what's the truth then? Who knows? The media has succeeded in confusing us more than making it clear to us. Like in every other news pertaining to this administration, everybody is playing it safe.

But the true message of Noynoy's SONA is beyond the words spoken. The State of this Nation does not rely on the a speech which we all know are spun off expertly by political writers and advisers. The true State of the Nation is beyond what Noynoy has spoken this afternoon.

We must listen not to words, but to what has been done by this government and what it has committed to achieve. And those certainly go beyond words. What needs to be done to improve this country is a gargantuan feat. And no amount of words spoken the whole afternoon or even the whole day would be enough. But what is the common thread? Sometimes we are only left with a theme.

And the theme for me is good governance. This is the standard that this administration should be evaluated against. It is the standard they set, that Noynoy set, in his campaign when he said, "kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap." So contrary to what most commentators say, yes, this administration has set its standard for effectiveness.

And looking at the programs and achievements of this government in its first year, it has definitely taken to heart its campaign on good governance. It does so with its unflinching campaign to pursue the corrupt politicians and personalities, change corrupt systems, and start an uncorrupt culture. It has teeth to where its mouth spoke. It has not only given crumbs in its prioritization. It is the main course in its agenda.

People sometimes demand so many things from its government. But an administration of 6 years can only do so much. If it pursues its standard of pursuing, stopping corruption, and starting an uncorrupt culture in our country, then it has already done so much, worthy of a place in Philippine history.