Mar defends P-Noy, has own definition of Noynoying of Noynoying

MANILA, Philippines - Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II defended yesterday President Aquino from criticisms that he is sleeping on the job and came up with his own definition of “Noynoying,” a term coined by critics to refer to Aquino’s alleged inaction on the country’s pressing social issues.

Speaking at the weekly media forum Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel in Manila, Roxas said the good performance of the President had resulted in the upgrading of the credit rating of the Philippines by ratings agencies like Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and Fitch.

Roxas said Aquino’s campaign slogan “matuwid na daan” (straight path) has attracted foreign and local businessmen to invest in the country.

“They (investors) notice that matuwid na daan is also ‘matipid na daan’ (thrifty path). They (credit rating agencies) gave us ratings upgrade because of sound fiscal management and good governance,” he said.

“For me Noynoying means somebody who always tells the truth. For me Noynoying means somebody who is careful about the people’s money, not the kind of person who spends the people’s money carelessly. For me Noynoying is somebody who never allows politics to trap the people’s interest or conversely people’s interest is always ahead of personal interest,” Roxas said when asked about his comment on the latest protest gimmick against Aquino.

“For me Noynoying is somebody who has so established a level playing field, he’s not meddling with the businesses of Juan, Pepe and Maria. The businessmen know that they get a fair shake, not a shake down,” he added.

“Everyday I admire the President. The President is worth the salary that the Filipino people are paying him,” he said.

Critics of Aquino have used the term Noynoying to question his work ethic, alleging his inaction on major social issues such as disaster response and of rising oil prices.

Wikipedia, a free Internet-based encyclopaedia, has picked up the term and defines it as “a play on the term planking and Aquino’s nickname, Noynoy.”

“Noynoying involves posing in a lazy manner, such as sitting idly while resting their head on one hand and doing nothing,” it said.