Look on the bright side

When it comes to the topic of Noynoy Aquino’s leadership style, I always have a mouthful to say. Sure, I voted for the guy (don’t throw kamatis at me, please) and I had my reasons for doing so (and my reasons were pretty scientific, based on empirical data available at the time, and had nothing to do with any of the yellow magic hyper emotionalism crap); but my vote doesn’t mean perpetual approval. God knows how exasperated I’ve been trying desperately to see some good in the things he’s supposedly done (if any) since becoming president.

For me, the past two years have been almost all talk, all blah, so much of ‘I’m spotless and GMA is evil’ mumbo jumbo–you know, the kind of hypocritical, holier-than-thou caca you just want to throw back at their faces.

Everything the government seems to say or do is aimed at diverting everyone’s attention from seeing the lackluster performance of the country’s chief executive. Take Grace Lee, Len Lopez, Shalani Soledad (who else did I miss?) for instance. I know it can be interesting for some to see our bachelor president finally settle down and tie the knot, in our own version of a ‘royal wedding,’ but my goodness, let’s know a diversionary tactic when we see one. Notice how each time there’s a big issue the Palace has to answer, there’s always a development in Noy’s love life? It’s gross and crass to exploit one’s personal life in this manner. Eeew. Just eew.

I’m starting to believe Malacañang may have its own rumor mill, creating all these useless stories about the president to veer attention away from the more important issues that we ought to thresh. Is that what the three-headed communications hydra is always up to? Spewing hot chismis lava every so often? Makes me want to cut their heads off! But the problem with hydras, you cut their heads off and they grow a couple more. Sus.

And oh, what about his baseless bravado, his annoying swagger, his usually unwarranted sarcasm? I fear for our lives each time he opens his mouth on the Scarborough/Spratlys scrimmage, our recent history with China—involving the hostages killed by a deranged ex-policeman and exacerbated by His Excellency’s condescending actuations and manner of speech—being less than ideal. I dread that his apparent insensitivity and braggadocio might force us to the brink of a war we aren’t ready to fight. 

Then again, setting aside all that, let’s look on the bright side. I thought his flagship program involving PPPs or public-private partnerships hit a snag because of the delay in the finalization of the terms of reference for its implementation.

But when I went to the new DFA regional office in Cebu—now located at the Pacific Mall (Metro Gaisano Mandaue)—to renew my passport, I was greatly impressed. It’s big, clean, and with better air-conditioning. It’s far more convenient than their old office near the Fort San Pedro, with ample parking space and fastfood restaurants and shops to visit while waiting for your turn.

I learned from DFA’s regional director Elias Palawag, who generously took the time out to meet me, and from its protocol officer Mr. Angel Espiritu (who was very helpful to me; many, many thanks!), that the decision to move their office there was a product of PNoy’s PPP, and that more front line government agencies like the other DFA consular offices, the LTO, the NBI, etc., will now have their office at the malls to make it more convenient for the public. Not only that, I was told too that they don’t pay rent! Can you imagine the savings for government? It’s a sweet and fair deal: government gets good, convenient space for the public that’s FOC (free of charge) and the mall gets a captured market for its tenants and department store and supermarket.

In the same way that I give credit to his predecessor, GMA, for the strong economy Noy’s government currently enjoys, the roads and vital infrastructure that have effectively connected the countryside, and the BPO industry that’s strengthened the local economy, I give credit to PNoy and the early fruits of his PPP program because it is very much due. Kudos! 

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Tonight on THE BOTTOMLINE with Boy Abunda, Asian Television Awards 2011 ‘Best Talk Show’: LADLAD Partylist first congressional nominee Bemz Benedito tries to address the most difficult and controversial questions facing the LGBT community.

Joining the fray as bottomliners are openly lesbian PBB housemate Divine Smith and beauty queen Miriam Quiambao, a born-again Christian whose tweets against the decision of Donald Trump to allow transgenders to compete in the Miss Universe pageant have generated a Twitter storm.

Watch it after Banana Split on ABS-CBN Channel 2. Encore cable telecast on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) on Sunday, 1 PM.

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