Tonight is the eve of the transfer of powers in the Philippines. After after 12 years, we would actually transfer the powers from one person to another. In this case, it would be Gloria Macapagal Arroyo transferring presidential powers to Benigno Aquino III. Nine years of Arroyo’s administration for this country. She has become the president since I became aware of the dynamics in my country. She has been my president since I was 10. I am 19 now. Nine long years.

I was grade 4 then when she was put into power through EDSA People Power 2. Though innocent of Philippine politics, I am supportive of EDSA Dos, as I can remember. I still have memories of myself waving a red flag made of handkerchief and running inside our house. This little woman who received thunderous applause, clapping and joyous shouts would be as big as our country’s leader on that fateful day of January 20,2001 when she was sworn in as the 14th president of our dear Republic. I didn’t support her bid for reelection. But she won. That made her our president for 9 years.

Nine years of unprecedented growth boasted by her government coupled with 9 years of scandal-ridden governance is how I would describe the Philippines under Gloria. We all know how Gloria took pride of her achievements in her speeches, advertisements and by her loyal henchmen and women. And we also know how her critics, maybe majority of our thinking population, belie these achievements and condemn her to be the worst president the country ever had. I don’t have defining and concluding evidences for these assumptions and allegations. All I have is my experience with these contrasting thoughts.

I consider myself lucky because I had the chance to benefit from what she always boasts on her speeches- the SCTEX, the more ‘passable’ roads going to my province and some other things. I also had my share of what others consider Gloria’s bad governance- from the tuition fee increase, the rising prices of commodities among many others. I also heard praises, lauds, and Gloriafication from her loyal supporters and those defending her from bad light. I also had my share of despair and angst whenever I hear a farmer, a student or someone marginalized retell stories of injustice and abuse they experienced under the administration. Condemnations and praises. Lauds and attacks. Yes, I praised her at times, especially on how brilliant she is but I also expressed my disgust whenever I knew I have to- especially when she failed to use her brilliance for the benefit of our dear country.

Now, for the part that some would be waiting for. Would I praise her administration or condemn it? I am not anti-Gloria though I’d been to some rallies against her. I am not pro-Gloria either though I think some people brand me that way just because I am not anti-Gloria (Oh, how I miss those black-or-white people who epitomize ‘if you’re not with us, you’re against us’) I don’t want to label myself just to please other people. I don’t want to condemn her administration because everybody expects and everybody does condemn this administration. I would also not praise her administration especially because of the scandals and injustices our country has experienced under her governance. I would like to wait for the time where we are enlightened on what really happened during the 2004 Presidential elections, the fertilizer scam fund, the Jose Pidal account, the Maguindanao massacre and more scandals that haunted this outgoing administration. Hopefully, the recently formed Truth Commission would shed light on these issues. I would also wait for the time where history and the Filipino people would recognize how Gloria did her best to lift our economy and promote peace and unity in our country. Trickling down the benefits of her administration would be hard, and hopefully, we will see if the incoming administration can actually make use of those benefits.

Every president has his/her own list of achievements and failures. Each had been condemned and praised. Each president had contributed to what and where our country is now. Every president despaired and hoped. We are like our presidents in every way with regards to our country- everyone of us has his/her own responsibility. The only difference is that we don’t get all the blame to where our country is now. Gloria’s is over. It’s Noynoy’s turn now.

I am nice to Gloria as I try to be nice to everybody else. And please, don’t judge me for being nice. As some people believe that humanity is cruel, greedy and animal-like, I also believe that, and I don’t care about the evidences, a human person is innately good. Though Gloria may have acted greedy, cruel or unjust, I know that she is innately good. And I am sure of that. But I hope that truth free us, love never cease in us and justice be served.

Roger A. Cabiles Jr.

June 29,2010

Eve of the transfer of powers in the Philippine Republic