The State of the Nation

On Monday, our new president will take to the podium to deliver his first state of the nation address. By tradition, it is glamorous and well-attended not only by national officials but also those local. It is in this speech that he explains where the country is at the moment and what he can do as he is just starting his term.

Those in the regions clamor to have themselves mentioned positively in the speech. Once he does, an area would be assured of a project that would move them forward. It would set the outlook for the local governments in the next year to come. The goals would be realistic enough to achieve with little time.

However, the true state of the nation lies with the masses. They are the ones who are reeling from the effects of the different issues head on. It is the ordinary Filipino who has to grapple with multiple jobs so that they can survive. The costs of basic goods and utilities are now increasing by the day yet the minimum wage has remained stagnant. Businessmen cannot further implement a salary increase because they are also at a losing end. It feels like everything has a price and that is set to go higher.

The result of increased prices in almost everything is the degrading quality of life. They get one less meal a day, let go of other expenditures, and simply reallocate the budget. Another effect is for them to try their luck in every opportunity. No wonder everyone is buying lotto tickets. It is so easy to gamble on a few pesos with little to no assurance of winning. Those who are behind the lottery business and gambling facilities are the only ones who are gaining.

Personally, I am expecting a new type of wind as the president delivers his first SONA. I want it to be filled with plans and realistic solutions. The closer it hits home for the vendor down the street, the more effective his leadership would be. Our peso needs to be strengthened. The purchasing power of the individual has dwindled.

On top of his plans and solutions, I also want to hear his dreams for everyone up to the level of the street cleaner. We would want to be assured of a better country in the next six years. The goal now is to cast the doubts aside, he can do that if he gets hands-on in his job. The assurance must come from the heart and not out of requirement.

We will never really truly know the state of the nation if we are stuck in our own echo chamber. The masses will speak for themselves and they represent the majority. When their needs are addressed, then we are in a good place.