One heaven of a speech

I dare say that the inaugural address of President Benigno Aquino III was one heaven of a speech. The length of 22 to 23 minutes was just right – not too long to bore a crowd suffering from the sweltering heat but not too short that they would feel “bitin” and shortchanged. I thought that the combination of plain speak with subtle rhetoric together with the majority use of the Filipino language was not only proper for an initial Presidential address but in British English terms ”just brilliant”. I presume that the foreign dignitaries were provided with an English translation of the speech but I do not think the latter would capture the onomatopoeic language used (e.g., “wang wang”). Indeed the words were simple yet powerful. The delivery was straightforward yet sincere – one could sense that he was speaking straight from the heart. Let me briefly annotate some of the memorable passages contained in the speech. Apologies, Mr. President, if I rearranged some of your lines.

“Ang pagtayo ko dito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako’y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan.” Indeed, at this time last year, I do not think that the then Senator Aquino had an inkling of what his destiny was 11 months down the road. At that time he was ministering to the needs of his gravely ill mother, our icon of democracy whom pundits had dismissed as a political has been. But lo and behold, her death brought about an El Cid moment which led to the “son also rising.” His mandate is truly Divinely inspired. And just like when the biblical David was chosen to fight Goliath, the former was merely an instrument of grace in a battle won by heaven.

“Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wang-wang sa kalsada? Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong.” It would be presumptuous to claim that these ideas were taken from the title and topic of this column two weeks ago, but who knows? I must say though that these references were one of the most applauded parts of the speech.

“Ngayon, sa araw na ito — dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan. Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari”. This, to my mind, captures the essence of public service. In fact, the term “public servant” alone should be self-explanatory — a government official is a servant to the public and not the other way around.

“Ito naman ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, ngunit kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat.” While the President recognizes that he and his administration will need to do most of the heavy-lifting, he realizes that they cannot carry the problems alone. And like a modern-day Simon of Cyrene, he invites us, men and women of the Philippines, to help carry our country’s collective cross for in doing so, we help lighten each other’s burden. 

“Sa mga nang-api sa akin, kaya ko kayong patawarin, at pinapatawad ko na kayo. Sa mga nang-api sa sambayanan, wala akong karapatan na limutin ang inyong mga kasalanan. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado kong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi. There can be no reconciliation without justice.” The picture that comes to mind are the ex-Presidents of South Korea who were handcuffed, made to wear prison garb, and then presented to the media. This was a powerful message to the Korean people showing that the government was serious in its anti-corruption efforts.

“Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan” (i.e., no more junkets).

“Walang lamangan, walang padrino at walang pagnanakaw.” Sounds like a reprise of a line in the 1998 Presidential inaugural address. Hopefully, this time, the actions will better coincide with the words.

“Kayo ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawang-gawa. My parents sought nothing less and died for nothing less than democracy, peace and prosperity. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas.” In a Kennedyesque call to action, he swears by the memory of his parents as evidence that he will not stray from their path. He then invites everyone to follow him to our promised land of straight, not crooked, roads.

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This week’s four centavos are given to all the performers during the inaugural ceremony. But in particular, I wish to single out Charice Pempengco for her soul stirring rendition of the national anthem, sweethearts Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez who sang songs with different rhythms but with the same nationalistic impact and folk singer Noel Cabangon not only for his fun songs but also for being the space filler so that the President and Vice President could take their oaths of office closer to 12 noon. 

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“You block your dreams

When you allow your fear

To grow bigger than your faith.” — Anonymous

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