Thursday 13- Promises of the New President

On June 30, 2010 (Wednesday), Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III became the 15th President of the Philippines after taking his oath of office before Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

I was no big fan of 50-year-old Noynoy Aquino but a majority of Filipino people voted him into office during the May 2010 elections. It is only right that he be given the chance to prove his mettle. 

Below are 13 key messages/promises that the new President made to the Filipino people in his inaugural speech -

 President Benigno C. Aquino III during his inaugural address

1.

"We are here to serve and not to lord over you. The mandate given to me was one of change. I accept your marching orders to transform our government from one that is self-serving to one that works for the welfare of the nation."

2.

"Our foremost duty is to lift the nation from poverty through honest and effective governance. 

The first step is to have leaders who are ethical, honest, and true public servants. I will set the example. I will strive to be a good model. I will not break the trust you have placed in me. I will ensure that this, too, will be the advocacy of my Cabinet and those who will join our government."

3.

"To those who have been put in positions by unlawful means, this is my warning: we will begin earning back the trust of our people by reviewing midnight appointments. Let this serve as a warning to those who intend to continue the crooked ways that have become the norm for too long."

4.

"To our impoverished countrymen, starting today, your government will be your champion."

5. 

"We will not disregard the needs of our students. We will begin by addressing the glaring shortage in classrooms and educational facilities."

6.

"Gradually, we will lessen the lack of infrastructures for transportation, tourism and trade. From now on, mediocre work will not be good enough when it comes to roads, bridges, and buildings because we will hold contractors responsible for maintaining their projects in good condition."

7.

"We will not be the cause of your suffering or hardship. We will strengthen collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and we will fight corruption in the Bureau of Customs in order to fund our objectives for the public welfare, such as:

• Quality education, including vocational education, so that those who choose not to attend college or those who cannot afford it can find dignified livelihood;

• Improved public health services such as PhilHealth for all within three years;

• A home for every family, within safe communities."

8.

"We will strengthen the armed forces and the police, not to serve the interests of those who want to wield power with impunity, but to give added protection for ordinary folk."

9.

"If there was a fertilizer scam in the past, today there will be security for farmers. We will help them with irrigation, extension services, and marketing their products at the best possible prices."

 

10. 

"Our goal is to create jobs at home so that there will be no need to look for employment abroad."

11.

"We will strengthen the process of consultation and feedback. We will strive to uphold the constitutional right of citizens to information on matters of public concern."

 12.

"To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities.

We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, “it all works.”

13.

"No more junkets, no more senseless spending. No more turning back on pledges made during the campaign, whether today or in the coming challenges that will confront us over the next six years. No more influence-peddling, no more patronage politics, no more stealing. No more sirens, no more short cuts, no more bribes. It is time for us to work together once more."

 

Not surprisingly, promise #13 earned the loudest applause and cheers from the thousands of Filipinos who attended and witnessed the oath-taking ceremonies at the Quirino Grandstand.

He ended his speech with-

"I will not be able to face my parents* and you who have brought me here if I do not fulfill the promises I made. My parents sought nothing less, died for nothing less, than democracy and peace. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward. My hope is that when I leave office, everyone can say that we have traveled far on the right path, and that we are able to bequeath a better future to the next generation. Join me in continuing this fight for change. Thank you and long live the Filipino people!"

*The only son of former Philippine president Corazon C. Aquino and Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., a former Philippine senator, governor, vice governor and mayor and a leader of the opposition to the rule of Ferdinand Marcos. He was assassinated at the Manila International Airport (later renamed in his honor) upon returning home from exile in the United States. His death catapulted his widow, Corazon Aquino, to the limelight and subsequently to the presidency, replacing the 20-year Marcos regime.

“There is no greater nation than our Motherland. No greater people than our own. Serve them with all your heart, with all your might and with all your strength.” 

– Ninoy Aquino in a letter to his only son Noynoy.

Maybe at the end of President Aquino's term, it will be worth going back to this post to see how many of these promises have been fulfilled.  For now, I am setting aside my skepticism and opening my mind to the offer of change. I hope he doesn't disappoint us and those who voted for him.

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