An emotional president
When President Aquino choked a bit with some lump in his throat and watery eyes towards the end of his SONA last Monday, he was obviously emotion-filled. Contrary to what critics say, I think it was a normal and spontaneous expression from him. He is human just like you and me. And he succeeded in putting a check to it but not before it was noticed by a whole nation watching. If not for the TV cameras zooming in on presidential sister Kris and the other Aquino sisters who were also shedding tears in the gallery, it would have been no big deal.
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END IS NEAR — His emotions got the better of him when he recalled his parents, Ninoy and Cory, and he probably felt he did his best to continue their legacies — and now he was accepting that his end was near as president, with about less than 24 more months left. It had also something to do probably with his difficulty in accepting that his survey results are now plummeting due to recent setbacks and missteps. I don’t blame him for feeling bad. But he should not also bedrudge the Pinoys for it. This trend happens to all previous presidents when the end is near. They become lameducks and P-noy is no exception. How he will handle this is what is crucial.
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SAVE THOSE TEARS — Of all presidents I have seen (some I personally served) this is the first time I saw a head of state becoming emotional while facing the whole nation in a SONA. FVR was able to rein in his volatile temper with a smiling facial veneer when in public. GMA managed adroitly her Hello Garci “I’m sorry” speil, although the infamous “Hyatt 10” still abandoned ship nonetheless. ERAP kept his jovial self for the public while unceremoniously removed and imprisoned. Yes, presidents should be made of sterner stuff. They need emotional strength not only in confronting challenges while in office but most important when they are no longer in office as the floodgates of accountability and responsibility shall then be wide open. The way President Aquino exacted these standards on others ( like GMA, JPE, Senators Bong and Jinggoy, etc) during his watch, he should likewise measure up to them after 2016. He must steel himself when that time comes. So save those tears, Mr. President.
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INKs VS CATHOLICS? — I was amused reading some exchanges, obviously between some Catholics and INKs as a result of what the INK head said when he mentioned about the “dwindling” Catholic church during its centennial celebration. There is really no reason for this if we listen to the way His Holiness Pope Francis had been conducting his papacy: ecumenism and unity are hallmarks. We can all be one. Let’s all be one!
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