Random SONA observations

Contrary to some of the Senators' and militants' reactions, I didn't boycott the SONA. Yesterday, in the silence of afternoon, I momentarily stopped from my occupation to watch ABS-CBN's live coverage of GMA's SONA. I regret I did, and wished it was aired late at night, so that it wouldn't interrupt the TV programs that afternoon, including my favorite, Maria de Jesus.

***

In yesterday's SONA, GMA reported her achievements by presenting statistics after statistics before a remote-controlled audience---the remote control being GMA herself. Her statistics, however, became a double-edged sword: While it lends credence to her achievements, her presentation by statistics makes it a lot harder for cerebral deficit Filipinos---many of whom were sitting in the gallery, dressed to the nines---to understand her message.

I believe, though, GMA et al are keenly aware of that possibility. Which is why they invited Tarnati Dannawi, Jennifer Silbor, and Mylene Amerol-Macumbal---all of whom ostensibly benefited from GMA's projects---to give a human face to the cold statistics.

***

I share the impressions of my neighbors who, like me, watched the SONA eagerly: That if GMA's SONA has accomplished anything, it is that she was able to get even with her critiques.

The SONA was indeed a score-settling speech. Take her advice to would-be presidents. "To those who want to be President," said GMA, "this advice: If you want something done, do it hard, do it well. Don’t pussyfoot. Just do it. Don't pander. And don’t say bad words in public."

Ouch! Mar Roxas, who once spouted invectives at a rally in Ayala, must have felt the slight.

Take this, too: "Those who live in glass houses should cast no stones. Those who should be in jail should not threaten it, especially if they have been there…" That's doubtless for Joseph Estrada.

Or this: "The noisiest critics of constitutional reform tirelessly and shamelessly attempted Cha-Cha when they thought they could take advantage of a shift in the form of government. Now that they feel they cannot benefit from it, they oppose it."

Was JDV in her mind when she uttered that? You be judge.