Loida Nicolas Lewis expressed disappointment at Fr. Joaquin Bernas’ view on Charter change (Letters, 9/2/14), where the latter suggested that President Aquino give way to others (like Sen. Miriam Santiago) instead of looking to stay beyond his current term by messing around with the Constitution. Lewis strongly suggested instead that P-Noy be given another six years as president, citing as justification all the impressive economic figures and numbers achieved during P-Noy’s watch. Fine! Commendable!
But what do those impressive figures and numbers mean if they don’t translate into eliminating or, at least, reducing the scourge of poverty that has bedeviled millions of Filipinos since God knows when? The way I see it, this administration seems more interested in high-sounding economic figures and numbers than in creating real opportunities for the people so that the poor might also be given a chance to enjoy a better life.
P-Noy might be a good, conscientious gentleman but an effective leader he’s not. Just look at all those inept clowns in his Cabinet that he won’t replace despite all the anomalies in their respective departments, and whose “accomplishments” are making it harder and harder for a great number of Filipinos to cope with real day-to-day survival challenges. He’s an “awful manager,” as Sen. Sergio Osmeña III once described him. With his vindictive attitude and occasional display of stubbornness, P-Noy might even become a threat to this nation’s democracy.
I agree with Father Bernas: P-Noy should not tinker with the Constitution. The Filipinos have had enough of P-Noy’s oftentimes childish tantrums and his unmet goals to make life a little better for the long-suffering poor.
To P-Noy, I say (paraphrasing John F. Kennedy’s famous line in his inaugural address): “Ask not what Cha-cha can do for you; ask yourself, instead, to bow out gracefully after your term so that others (like Senator Santiago?) are given a chance to do something about the pressing needs of your bosses!”
—JUANITO T. FUERTE,
fuertejuanito@yahoo.com