State of the nation

Between the State of the Nation Address of President Arroyo and fetching my six-year-old daughter from grade school ( Monday is my day-off and the only chance I get in a week to do this wonderful fatherly obligation ), I obviously chose the latter.

So I missed out on the SONA that everyone -- including Arroyo critics, though for clearly different reasons -- was watching out for. I did manage to get home in time to catch the final minutes of it. And what I saw convinced me that what I may have missed was nothing to die for.

There Arroyo was, in a red gown that looked to me like the crater of a red volcano with her head sticking out. She was acknowledging a team of athletes, the adventurers who conquered Mt. Everest, and Manny Pacquiao, who really didn't need any acknowledgement.

From what remained of the speech that I saw, it was more like a sporting event than an official report to the nation. Arroyo was even spoiling for a fight, daring her foes to bring it on. She just as quickly took it back, saying it was a waste of time.

Many of her political enemies were absent. Some boycotted while others, like Teofisto Guingona and Etta Rosales, obviously under the illusion they were still spring chickens, courted pneumonia by protesting outside in the rain. What a way to get sick.

Saint Risa Honteveros was also making splish-splash in the streets. At least, though, she has stopped wearing the flag as a dress. Maybe Etta told her it neither adds to fashion elegance nor gives substance to illusions and direction to lost causes.

Back inside the Batasan, the usual circus was in full swing. One interesting sight was the unintended study of contrasts involving Senator Rodolfo Biazon and Rep. Gilbert Remulla, both critics of Arroyo. Their body language on live tv showed the character of which they are made.

After the State of the Nation Address, which is heralded as one of the highest forms of speeches everywhere, it is the acknowledged common dictate of etiquette, protocol, good manners and human decency to stand up. If you feel like clapping, clap. If not, just remain standing.

Biazon, a former Marine commander and chief of staff of the armed forces, did not clap. A member of the opposition, he was not expected to. But at least he stood up. He showed the nation he was a true officer and gentleman.

Not surprisingly, Remulla acted in exactly the opposite manner. Born with a silver political spoon in his mouth, Gilbert acted like a real spoiled brat, staying seated as everybody stood. He appeared to be texting, letting the damn cellphone take the blame for his bad manners.

Gilbert was under no obligation to be present. It was not a crime for him to be absent. In fact, as had been said, many in the opposition elected to boycott. But having chosen to come, Gilbert was expected to behave in accordance with his position and the occasion. He did not.

I got sick after the SONA, but not from the speech. As I said I did not catch most of it. But it made my stomach twirl to see everyone trying to squeeze whatever mileage they can out of a formal state activity that does not really mean anything except perpetuate that formality.

The SONA itself is nothing. No SONA by anyone can beat what people see for themselves. As Bob Dylan said, " You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. " So, for once I agree with rabble-rousers that a speech can't substitute for the true state of the nation.

But the true state of the nation also includes the rabble-rousers themselves. The morning after the SONA, I saw one of them on tv, finding fault for everything under the sun but not once offering a real solution to the problems he enumerated, even if it only entailed his shutting up.