Did you think that PGMA’s SONA was able to ‘offer hope’ to Filipinos?

Yes, she showed political will to face the challenges. Such conviction, backed by strong economic fundamentals, gives me hope. – C. Fundales, Bulacan

We should never anchor our hope on the shifting sands of human promises. But there’s hope for the native silk material in the lovely outfit worn by GMA. – L.C. Fiel, Quezon City

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Only false hopes

We are hopeless. Oh yes, there is still hope, but it’s nothing more than false hope. How many times has she lied to the people? I’m fed up. – Fortunato Aguirre, Bulacan

It was lucky for corruption to have been mentioned at the tailend of GMA’s SONA. She boasted that she is fighting it on a “daily” basis. She is hoping against hope. I pity her for she was painting a utopia for Filipinos which exists only in her mind. Nangangarap nang gising. – Jim Veneracion, Naga City

Very little hope; VAT stays, but she offered more doleouts, more vain promises and more pies in the sky. – Digoy Coro, Batangas

Hope springs eternal

It’s full of hope. But for hope to become a reality, we must be the one to till our natural wealth that lies idle beneath our foot. – Cris Rivera, Rizal

Yes, but regardless of the consequences, I hope for the best and prepare for the worst. To hope is better than to despair. – P. Alagano Sr., Vigan

I think this time, PGMA’s SONA can improve the lives of Filipino citizens. We should not think negatively in  the first place. – Valerie Joyce Go, Metro Manila

We make our own future, not PGMA. Dum spiro, spero. Where there’s life, there’s hope. Work hard. Practice family planning. – Gil Planas, Davao City

Yes, in fact, it’s the only thing left abundant. I’m hoping against hope that tomorrow would be better. – Ruel Bautista, Laguna

Yes, hope springs eternal and we should be optimistic. This time, GMA delivers. Maybe she wants to leave a legacy to Filipinos. – Leonard Villa, Laoag City

I’m still hoping for a better Philippines, even if the SONA was hopeless just the same. Her equivocation was good to hear: On one hand, the good side was for her self-upliftment; on the other hand, there is still the continuous deterioration of the people’s well-being. Only the officials on her side received the good blessings of her speech. - John Tadios, Muntinlupa City

Ano pa nga ba?  She is our sitting President kaya ang SONA niya ay pag-asa sa mga Pilipino, lalo na ang mga maralita. May bukas pa. – Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan

In this time of crisis, GMA gave a ray of hope in her speech, just as I do as head of the family. I give this kind of pep talk to my family. In financial terms, I have to impose my will on how to tighten the belt and get extra sources of income, just like with the VAT. - Ampilo Sevilla, Manila

While others may disagree (and this is healthy in a democracy), I thought,  like the true leader that she has been, PGMA’s SONA did not only offer hope but also radiated this hope to Filipinos. She might have been emboldened by the popular adages: “While there is life, there is hope.” and “Hope springs eternal.” – Manny Cordeta, Marikina City

It was full of hope. Well, it isn’t bad to keep hoping. It’s free, anyway. – Lydia Reyes, Bataan

No permanent solutions

PGMA’s eighth SONA did not offer hope for Filipinos. She doggedly hangs on to e-VAT and the church’s natural planning doctrine. If the government doesn’t control population growth, food will always be in short supply and more and more people will be unemployed. It is a fallacy to say that most of the benefits will go to the rich if e-VAT is suspended. The rich can afford to pay e-VAT but the middle class and the poor are the ones most affected. P500 dole outs to the poor as food and electric subsidies are not effective either. They are one-time deals, a shot in the arm, no different from winning P500 in the lotto. It is not a permanent solution. - Robert Young Jr., San Juan

In fairness, I find this year’s SONA quite interesting. The absence of too many props highlighting the litany of figures and promises saved it from becoming just another lousy, boring speech. I saved a tablet of paracetamol, too. - Imee Aglibot, Rizal

No, because she spoke in generalized and vague terms without offering specific solutions, especially to the problem of graft and corruption.  – Vic Sanchez, Pasig City

There was no offer as much as there was no hope. GMA said, “We appropriated more than P3 billion.” On VAT, she said, “It is unpopular, but necessary.” Vinod Khosla and other experts proposed a floor price for oil. If only GMA and her ilk had bothered to read Boo Chanco’s “Demand and Supply,” they would have learned something from the real experts that could have guided them on how to arrive at a win-win situation. Was it a SONA or a SANA? – Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan        

All for show

PGMA’s SONA was hopeless. She did not mention anything about how we can alleviate our economic woes. It was all for show – especially a fashion show. – Ella Arenas, Pangasinan

PGMA’s SONA once again promised heaven – which will always turn out to be hell on earth for us poor masses. Any economic gains are quickly dissipated by PGMA’s greedy minions. Remember the Ombudsman’s claims that P1.3 trillion was lost to graft in only five years of PGMA’s rule? – William Gonzaga, Marikina City

Same old SONA

What GMA said in her SONA has no effect on the Filipino people. They are tired of hearing the same things over and over again. – E. Linsangan, Isabela

All the other SONAs of the President, including this year’s, were made by very creative scriptwriters. As always, critics think of the impossible when it comes to survival. – Julio Ibon, Laoag City

PGMA’s SONA was essentially the same as the SONAs since the time  of Marcos – from Marcos’ “My good friend Reagan” (he pronounced it ree-gan and not ray-gan as the whole world pronounced it), to Cory’s “Sabi nga ni Knee-noy,” to FVR’s a la Westpoint address, up to Erap’s “Walang kamag-anak, walang kumpare”, everything she said seems like nothing but hot air. – Gerii Calupitan, Mandaluyong City

What’s new? I have been reading and hearing the same promises and visions for the country since her first SONA. – Thelma Garcia, Quezon City

Dampened by cynicism

Not unless the listeners were naive newcomers to politics, it was more convincing to GMA who, as usual, was fooling herself. – Dino Monzon, Caloocan City

People have been “taken for a ride” several times in the past. They should know by now the difference between reality and fantasy. – Jun Cajucom, Tacloban City

The good points raised by PGMA on her SONA were dampened by people’s cynicism due the impact of soaring food and fuel prices. – Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City

No, PGMA only keeps making promises that have never been kept since she started giving SONAs. – June Deoferio, Cavite

A flicker of hope

The SONA may not be the light at the end of the tunnel but coming from PGMA, who has the updated data, it offered hope to Filipinos. - Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

Yes, I am convinced, or those who joined the rally would have burned PGMA’s edifices in a more unceremonious way afterwards. – Ed Medenilla, Pangasinan

We do not cease hoping for the manna from heaven to fall, because we are desperate now and our destiny is without direction. – Ching Gaspar, Laoag City

Yes, there’s hope as long as we Filipinos unite and stand up as one in solving our woes and stop our crab mentality. – C. Manalastas, Manila

It offered a flicker of hope. Yes, it surely did. – R. David, Angeles City

The e-VAT is here to stay

There seems to be a glimmer of hope in her SONA, but as long as VAT stays and the EPIRA law is not repealed, hope becomes dim. – Nap Cinco, Rizal

GMA’s SONA, for us, did not constitute even a mere whisper of hope. She faulted external forces for our economic woes, like the skyrocketing price of oil, but did not touch on the likes of the ZTE-NBN anomaly and the overlords of tax evasion and smuggling. These, compounded by her VAT and e-VAT, have left us broke. – Elpidio Que, Vigan

Ano’ng State of the Nation address? Ano’ng hope? Pareho lang, puro matamis na salita subalit napakapait ang hinga ng buhay. – Rey Onate, Palayan City

The P0.50 cut in texting was the only thing good about GMA’s SONA, but that isn’t even permanent, it’s just up to October 28. It was a turn-off. VAT and natural planning stay on. – Vic Alim, Caloocan City

As long as she walks her talk

I expect no less from the President. She should keep doing the right thing, no matter how unpopular, no matter who gets hurt. – Norberto Robles, Taguig

Yes, as long as she walks her talk, this nation can be great again. – Johann Lucas, Quezon City

Depends where you stand

Sure, it was able to offer hope to Filipinos – a ray of “hope” to optimists and a tray of false hopes to pessimists. – Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte

For those who still believe in her leadership and her relentless efforts to neutralize the adverse effects of global economic reverses, the SONA was able to offer hope. But for those who refused to see the accomplishments and the positive direction in her administration, the SONA was not able to. – Rodolfo Capili, Caloocan City

It depends on who was watching. There is hope for those who think positively, or those who are close to the administration; there is none for those who think negatively or those who are always highly critical of whatever she says. – Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City

Yes, there is always hope, especially if one strives for more. For pessimists, PGMA’s SONA was nothing but empty talk. - Seth Carranza, Catanduanes

It depends on which side of the fence you are on. If you’re anti-GMA, walang pag-asa; if you’re pro-GMA, yes na yes. – C.B. Manalastas, Manila

PGMA’s SONA offers hope only to those corrupt officials and the uto-uto minority. Pare-parehong wala sa ayos. – Reynaldo Doroja, Antipolo City

Symbols of hopelessness

What hope? She has been fooling us for a long time. Now, I am miserable and strapped for cash. My husband’s salary has been depleted into half because of the big withholding tax, sobrang laki. When I see politicians in haute couture sayas and  ternos, the more I pity the many Juans in the street. There really is a great disparity between the rich and the poor. Where can we find hope, when the very people we expect to give us hope are the ones who pin us down and suck our blood? It’s a hopeless Philippines. Ika nga, matagal pa sisikat ang araw. Magdusa ka, Pinoy, nakapwesto pa si GMA. – Rose Leobrera, Manila

GMA herself is a sign of hopelessness. Until she remains in her position, there is no hope for the Philippines. - Chris Navarro, Las Piñas City

For as long as there are rebels, separatists, trapos, pseudo-Filipinos and other hypocritical elements in our midst, we will remain a hopeless people. – Felix Ramento, Nueva Ecija

Yes, although I think that with a global fuel crisis in our midst, the situation might be hopeless.  – Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City

We, the masses, can feel no hope from GMA’s SONA because of the VAT on oil and power. – Bien Anagaran, Manila

No, because we are a hopeless nation and a hopeless people, no matter who addresses the so-called SONA. – Chris Perez, Cebu City

She has the true qualities of a leader

Absolutely. PGMA demonstrated the true qualities of a leader in her SONA. – Herculano Babatido, Misamis Oriental

Not designed to offer hope

No, but in fairness to PGMA, SONAs are made to fool the people, sobra nang inaabuso ang taunang report na ito. – Ric Vergara, Calamba

A SONA is not designed to offer hope. It never was and never will. It’s there merely to let the people know what’s going on in the country. It focuses on improvements and what else to expect. Those who choose to see the dark will always have something negative to say. Those who dwell too much on themselves and think they’re better than any President will likely listen to the SONA with bleeding ears. - Rico Fabello, Parañaque City

Not for her critics

The figures and the direction of governance is there. The opposition can disprove that with facts, not empty rhetorics. – Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City

Soaring like an eagle, PGMA’s SONA gave Filipinos hope for the better, unlike critics who quack like ducks without tomorrow. – Dave Velasco, Cavite

The SONA offers hope and reflections of what’s been done by the government; the problem is the callous members of the opposition who don’t care to listen. – M. Sunico, Caloocan City

Yes, unless one does not appreciate what she is doing. So far, only her critics and militant groups who are not satisfied. – Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City

Empty rhetorics

GMA’s SONAs are full of half-truths and half-fantasies so people tend to lose hope every time she makes promises that are far from reality. – Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City

As long as there’s an Oil Deregulation Law, PGMA’s SONA is merely a voice in the wilderness. – Diony Yap, Bacolod City

Reading her SONA in The STAR lulled me to heavenly delights. But then reality knocked, with a 4x4 on this lunkhead. – Al Lopez, Manila

It was nice that PGMA admitted that our economic woes are complicated, but saying that we are better off than other Asian countries is unbelievable. What countries was she referring to, Afghanistan and Myanmar? Only a handful are improving their lives; how about the rest of the poor? She said those “accusations without evidence and privilege speech without accountability” were merely political, but she remained silent on the Bolante case, the truth about NBN/ZTE scandal and the reason why the North Rail construction has not started yet. Her SONA was full of empty rhetorics that made her projection for the future hazy. - Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City

The President said in her SONA that natural family planning method will be promoted. The questions are: Where’s the plan? What’s the methodology? Who will handle it? How much money is earmarked for it? It’s been a long time that everyone has only done lip service to this particular method. All rhetorics; no action. – I. Calata, Parañaque City

We’ll overcome this crisis

If indeed she offered hope, let’s pray that true faith and charity for the hungry have also been rekindled in the hearts of the powerful. – Tony Tudor, Metro Manila

Presidents come and go. With faith and determination, we shall overcome this crisis. – Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City

Yes. I hope so. - Anecito Loterena, Saipan

THE WAY I SEE IT

The decision of Joker Arroyo to stay away from the SONA was a master stroke, unlike the rest of his colleagues who had to suffer GMA, Joker had the vision to spare himself the agony just listening to GMA’s outlandish claims and grandiose promises. What was worse was watching the continuous clapping the sychopants had to do. It was masochism of the highest degree. – W.J. Garcia, Quezon City

The Supreme Court said Erap constructively resigned, hence, it will be the same Supreme Court that can stop him from running in 2010 election. – N. Zarate Jr., Quezon City

Just look at people viciously criticizing PGMA’s SONA. These are the same people who are either salivating to get to Malacañang or are plain rabble-rousers. – Felix Ramento, Nueva Ecija

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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