Babe's Eye View article

The “First 100 Days” or the “honeymoon period” for a new President was a tradition started during the time of US President Franklin Roosevelt when the great American depression took place. Today, it is used to grade a new administration’s performance in its early days, what it had accomplished or where it is headed. In the country this has since become a big production number like what we saw last Thursday. Even the heckling from some UP students gave the town hall-like meeting a little color.

To be fair however, 100 days is simply not enough to accurately judge a president’s performance, but it can definitely provide a gauge whether he will do good for the rest of his term or not. At best, the so-called “honeymoon period” can give a hint on a president’s intentions. Nobody expects this President to perform miracles in solving this country’s ills, nor do we expect him to give a stellar performance in the next six years. Yet from all indications, it seems he has a lot of good intentions. Whether these will translate in anything substantial is what everyone would like to see. The majority particularly the poor want to see money in their pockets so they can eat. As they say, “No money, no honey.” But one thing is clear: President Noynoy Aquino does not intend to taint the name he inherited. After all, that’s one of the reasons why he was elected in the first place.

As another saying goes, “There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip”—meaning so many things could happen before PNoy’s term ends. There are still 2,090 days until June 30, 2016. But then again, the number of days is just that: numbers. The end result will depend on how he will be able to change the attitude of the public in general and address the endemic corruption that has plagued this country for so long. Besides, this administration could be facing one crisis after another, each one different from the last.

In his 100 Days speech, Noynoy lambasted critics and said these people are just out to destroy his administration and want to bring back the old ways. But the old ways are still very much around, and this is precisely what needs to be addressed. It is also not accurate to generalize that all critics are out to destroy him. There are legitimate criticisms from people who genuinely want this administration to succeed and deliver on its promises. President Noy may dislike unsolicited advice, but it will do him good to take in some criticism especially on issues that will impact the future of the country and the people.

One characteristic that some people may not like, but one which I personally think is an asset of the President, is his stubbornness—especially on a major issue like population management for which the majority including the opposition has already expressed support. This issue obviously has a long-term impact on the future of this country. On the other hand, Bro. Armin Luistro’s K+12 program may just be a bit off-track and ahead of its time. Here we are, trying to manage our population so we can accommodate the millions of students every year and then, boom! We add a P43-billion peso program at a time when we hardly have enough classrooms for students who sometimes have three shifts, with many getting their lessons in stinky rest rooms or under a mango tree (if it’s not raining). This program may be good, but it’s easier said than done. Let’s fix the problem of too many students, too little classrooms and teachers first before we embark on anything major.

A draft report on the Aug. 23 hostage crisis leaked out, where apparently the President’s best friend Rico Puno and retired PNP chief Jesus Verzosa were excluded from the list of people to be charged as recommended by the IIRC. President Aquino may be severely criticized for that but if he truly believes Puno is not guilty of any wrongdoing then by all means he should stick to it. After all, it’s not easy to find someone whom you can completely trust even with your life. I’m told Puno has already proven himself many times over with Noynoy. It’s obvious Rico is the target of a “demolition job” both from within and outside the President’s circle. There is clear evidence that this latest “jueteng exposé” is part of a demolition job ultimately directed towards the President. This is a country that lives by rumor and intrigue and it’s so easy to destroy one’s reputation by simply starting a rumor.

One time, a CIA operative in the country spread a rumor. By the time it came back to him it was already considered gospel truth laced with a lot of juicy additives. Being one of the President’s closest and most trusted friends, the DILG Undersecretary will not do anything foolish that would jeopardize the trust and friendship he enjoys from his best friend. According to insider sources, Noynoy and Rico have a long history of friendship. When Noynoy was still a presidential son and there was a serious threat of a coup, kidnapping or assassination, Puno would personally fetch Noynoy and bring him to a safe house and literally be the bodyguard 24/7.

There will be many bumps along the way in the next 2,090 days. But if this administration is able to accomplish just 50 percent of what it set out to do and change the “I, me, myself” mindset of many Filipinos and bring back some patriotism in all of us, then the P-Noy presidency would have already been considered a success.