The Presidential Sona

The entire nation has witnessed and heard President Rodrigo Roa Duterte deliver his one (1) hour and (40) minutes State of the Nation (SONA) address delivered before the Joint Session of Congress last Monday, July 27. This SONA is supposed to be his 4th address before he finally finishes his term as Philippine President in 2022. To most impartial observers however, the speech was nothing but a rehashed of his previous speeches in different fora, and therefore, nothing is new. From the live video of the affair, it could easily be seen that most if not all, were seem bored to death, as in fact even his spokesperson seemed to have dozed off while his boss was delivering his speech. Be that as it may, we are looking forward to the next two (2) years of the Duterte administration and it is our hope that the most urgent and pressing problems and concerns of the country like unemployment; the economic condition, foreign relations, the continuity of education amidst the pandemic and the persisting problems on the scarborough shores be given priority attention.

From tv and broadcast media reports, we have noted the ABS-CBN’s offer to the Duterte administration for the use of its television transmission assets around the Philippines for e-learning during the pandemic. The gesture of the net work is magnanimous considering the unfavarable decision made on the renewal of its franchise.

Most of us are looking forward with anxiety to July 31 when the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine is supposed to end in Naga. This means that the senior citizens can now leave the confines of their residences where they have been under “house arrests” for the past months to do their usual business concerns. The protocol on the use of face masks and face shields (if necessary) are still mandated.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“THE ONLY FREEDOM THAT IS OF ENDURING IMPORTANCE IS FREEDOM OF INTELLIGENCE, THAT IS TO SAY, FREEDOM OF OBSERVATION AND OF JUDGMENT EXERCISED IN BEHALF OF PURPOSES THAT ARE INTRINSICALLY WORTHWHILE.” JOHN DEWEY

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“PRAISE THE LORD WHO IS SO GOOD; GOD’S LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.” PSALM 36:1