"Ramdam ang Kaunlaran

It is heartwarming to hear the President of the Republic of the Philippines delivering her State of the Nation Address, her fourth after she assumed the position in 2004 and eighth since she took over former president Estrada’s administration in 2000. So heartwarming it is that I find myself wishing all of it were true.

Despite the crises that the country is facing, the president is still insistent that the country remains a strong republic. “We have the money to care for our people and pay for food when there is shortage despite the price hike…” very well said Madame President.

I would have believed the President in her claim that progress is felt in the country if I haven’t witnessed how my parents has to struggle just to send me to school. I would have believed the president’s SONA if I did not witness how some of my classmates and friends has to stop schooling because their parents could no longer afford the cost of education.

How insensitive of this government to claim that there is progress in the Philippines when the people are already drowning in poverty! How ironic that while the power-that-be is bent on campaigning for this so-called progress, the present situation of the country speaks otherwise.

“Ramdam ang Kaunlaran”, a public relations hype that is meant to make the masses believe that despite the crises that the country is facing, there is still progress in the Philippines. A progress that only those in power knows about.

Aside from her Excellency, who else would dare claim that, indeed, there is progress in this country plagued by corruption and crab mentality? The only progress that the country is experiencing is the “progressive” increase in prices of oil and basic commodities.

With the government’s massive campaign on progress, I can’t help but ask, how does the government define progress?

Is the sky rocketing prices of goods a sign of progress? Is the long line of people queuing for the lower priced NFA rice subsidy a sign of progress? What about the declining student population in almost all universities and colleges? Are these signs of progress?

There is no progress in the Philippines. If ever there is, only the President and those in power and have the means can feel it.

It is good to hear those sweet words, claims that we are already a progressing country. It is good to hear that the Filipino Nation is already “looking forward to a better brighter future.” But sweet words unsubstantiated by actions are nothing but silly empty promises meant to mislead the people. It only gives false hope to the populace whose only wish is to find a respite from all the problems they have to face.

What the Filipino nation needs are not promises or empty claims of this so-called progress but proof of its existence; a better life where hunger is just a word and not an everyday experience.

There is no progress in the lives of the Filipino people. Everybody knows that; everybody that is, except the President and her cohorts.