What struck you most about P-Noy's inaugural address?

On June 30, we witnessed the inauguration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. There was much to marvel that day: from the dignitaries in attendance, to the celebrities present and the music of our country’s best talents. But what everyone was waiting for was for our new president to deliver his first address. It was simple, direct and full of optimism. He spoke with the authority and wit of his father but with the empathy and warmth of his mother — yet also with a command and style that are distinctly his own. He was no longer just the son of his parents, no longer the candidate but truly our duly elected leader. Our president.

I watched it on television and what in particular resonated with me were his words and delivery. It also made me wonder how others viewed it. After all, he is now the leader of 90 million Filipinos. I couldn’t presume to know how it affected them.

What struck them most about it? What impression did it make on them? Here are but a few but varied responses to that question.

Aimee Marcos, writer, musician

Truthfully, nothing. The speech is what an inaugural speech is supposed to be: the outlining of vague hopes, encouragement of a people to look to a brighter future, etc. If there was anything that struck me the most, and what seems to have burned up the Tweetdecks and Twitter homepages was the mention of the sirens. It seems that this is one thing that is believable, and from what I gathered from everyone else’s response to this, that this is a bar we’ve set Noynoy up to. To get rid of the wang wang.

Symbolically, I suppose we can look at it as the slow decline of the social class system that is so prevalent in the Philippines...that no one is better than the other, rich or poor, which, I suppose, is a good thing.  At least, that’s how I’m trying to look at it. I wish I could get on the bandwagon of hope but really, it’ll take so much more than the lack of sirens on the streets to move me. I do sincerely hope that he delivers as he promises, but considering that he has so many expectations to live up to, there will be some that may not be fulfilled as the people see fit.  Then what? EDSA 4? The guy is only human and I’m pretty sure he has his limits, too, as any of us do. But let’s see. I’m willing to see what will happen. I’m just not sure if I’ll be seeing it from here or abroad. That is as candid as I can get about it without getting personal.  Oh, one other thing is that he has a better speech voice than our last president, so even for just that, he’s already upped her on one thing.

Buddy Zabala, musician

I found myself hanging on to every word of President Aquino’s speech. All those promises made, to right the wrongs and catch the thieves in government — feel like we have a champion again.

Raymund Marasigan, musician

Masarap makinig sa pangako kahit ilang ulit nang napaso. Umaasa.

Shawn Yao, anchor, TV 5’s Sapul and photography editor, Uno magazine

It was optimistic, like a call to arms. Exactly what the people need at this time. It was reminiscent of Ramon Magsaysay’s inaugural speech. On the other hand, though, President Noynoy Aquino still has to set his own bar. 

Aquilino Pimentel, former senator

Plain talk that everybody could understand. Sincere and direct to the point. Understandable that he omitted agrarian reform issues. But Moro rebellion was merely glided over.

Allan Madrilejos, editor in chief, FHM Philippines

I was glad a big chunk of his speech was in Filipino. Napansin ko lang na parang tunog-minadali yung delivery nya. Tuloy, bahagyang nabawasan nang bangis yung mga pinagsasabi nya. Malaman pa naman ang kanyang sinabi.

Napapalakpak pa nga ako roon sa parteng sinabi nyang di na uubra ang kaadikan ng ibang pulitiko diyan sa wang-wang. Maliban dito, taos at malinaw naman para sa akin yung damdaming ipinahiwatig nya sa kanyang talumpati sa pangkalahatan. I loved that his speech highlighted our role in making this administration work, that its desire for good governance, its fight against corruption, its plan to make taxes truly work for us (and not just become empty testimonies printed on tarps!) are tasks we should all have a hand in seeing through. It’s important to hear we have a stake in shaping this nation’s future and that he will not hinder us from letting our voices and our plans for action be heard. Para sa akin, ang hinihingi lang ng pagkakataon kahapon ay ipadama niyang may pag-asa ang Pilipinas sa ilalim ng kanyang pangangalaga at sa ating pakikiisa. That he communicated all this simply, sincerely and with conviction was truly commendable. Kaya kong sakyan muna yun ngayon.

Greg Domingo, DTI secretary

I was very inspired with the speech.  It was very good. It left an impression of his sincerity, that he is very serious and has set a higher benchmark not only for himself but for everyone else in the government. His speech serves as an inspiration for those who will be serving in the government.

Marie Hilao Enriquez, chairperson, Karapatan

President Noynoy said in his inaugural address:“Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi.”(Anyone who has done wrong must face justice. Impunity and continuous oppression must not be allowed to go on.)

We hope that President Noynoy will truly render justice to the more than a thousand victims of extrajudicial killing, torture and other human rights violations perpetrated under his predecessor’s watch. We hope that this also declaration includes the American troops in the country, specially in the case of the Filipino interpreter Gregan Cardeño who died under mysterious circumstances in a US troops barracks in Marawi City.

Gregan’s family deserves and has every right to know how he died and we support them in this endeavor.

The American troops’ seeming cover-up of the case, in connivance with the Philippine state security forces, when asked of the circumstances of Gregan’s death, and their silence, do not offer any clarity for the tormented family members.  Thus, we hope that under President Noynoy, cases involving US troops will be meticulously examined by our courts and other investigative agencies. Crimes committed by, and under the past administration must be prosecuted so that the nation can begin to stop impunity.

Evangeline Hernandez, convener and spokesperson, Hustisya

P-Noy said: “Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para masiguro na ang demokrasya ay maging kapakipakinabang para sa lahat, dahil alam natin ang pakiramdam ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi, manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan, sa mga pang aapi ng pamahalaan sa sambayanan ay wala akong karapatan limutin ang kanilang kasalanan,that there can be no reconciliation without justice, na sa paglimot ng pagkakasala ay sinisigurong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. Ang sino mang nagkamali ay humarap sa hustisya, hindi maaaring patuloy ang kasalanan ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi.”

It is true that one cannot have reconciliation without justice. And under the Arroyo government many Filipinos have suffered various injustices. These, however, are big words to say. And for many of us families of victims of human rights abuses, aside from our own missing, dead or incarcerated children, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, we will never forget the pain caused by the Hacienda Luisita Massacre. And with these larger-than-life words spoken by our new president, we hope that along with the many others whom he promised to help, the victims of that gruesome massacre be among those who will be given justice. With that, I think, it is only then can we begin working towards reconciliation.

Vince Lazatin, executive director, Transparency & Accountability Network

It was simple, delivered earnestly and free of rhetoric, and hit all the right notes about the true meaning of public service: transparency and openness, bringing credibility back to government, stopping the abuse of power (no more wang-wang) and honesty and integrity. It was a powerful speech as much for its content as for its lack of bombast and political sensationalism.