By Prof. Edmund S. Tayao
Looking back moving forward is the message of the inaugural speech. We should look back, not to change history, but to learn from what has been done and what needs more to be done moving forward. The way forward is quite clear, to be inclusive as the President said: “Ang pangarap ninyo ay ang pangarap ko,” emphasizing that his aspirations are consistent with the aspirations of the people, and this is because he knows what the people want and need as he has been intently listening and will be listening to the people, that he shares the same dreams for the whole country. To be able to do this however, we have to reflect on our strengths as a country. And there are in fact strengths. We must have been just bogged down by forgetting what we have always had as a country and people.
This to my mind encapsulates the inaugural message of the 17th President of the Republic, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. The whole time, he was listening as he said: “I offended none of my rivals (and) instead listened to what they were saying.” The idea is to “focus on hard work” as he also listened to everyone’s call for unity. The point in all these is that there is no reason to remain divided and that the order of the day is to work together. He knows what has been causing division, the big letdown for the country for ages, but that is the past, he says, adding that he is “not here to talk about but to tell you about our future.”
That sets the tone of his vision: “A future of sufficiency”—something that is not impossible to his mind as he refers to the Philippines as a “land of bounty.” There were gains before and opportunities lost. Reference to his father’s accomplishments werementioned, more to emphasize that the objective of self-sufficiency is not impossible.
What is important is to build on the gains, continue the good initiatives already undertaken and being undertaken. He wasn’t after credit, he said, as what is important is to get things done, and that there is no excuse for failure.
There is nothing that’s impossible given all that has already been accomplished before. We just need to learn from the past and not be bogged down by partisanship, our rather archaic idea of politics. This is the reason why the President believes the way forward is for the government “to put more means and choices in your hands. I trust the Filipino people.”
The President got it right: the role of the government is to get things done without requiring more from the people. Instead of deciding for the people, the government should be able to provide what the people need to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. Empower them and the government will be able to do more. At the end of the day, we can only rely on ourselves; “Solutions from outside (only) divided us,” says the 17th Chief Executive.
The firm strategy of drawing from our strength is therefore set. This then serves as the anchor of priority issues.
Agriculture appears to be the centerpiece, but it was emphasized that there were defects in the ways it was approached, that it requires alternative strategies.
So much also depends on education. The point is to focus more on practical know-how—perhaps the emphasis should be more on math and science, and prepare the people for more rewarding endeavors, in the process addressing problems on employment. This is fundamental as it is also the key if we are to expand opportunities for Filipinos not only abroad but even here in our country, and not be limited to menial jobs.
I can only say, there is renewed hope with the message of the President. “Never forget,” the President says, “we are Filipinos, one nation, one Republic indivisible.” There is no reason to be afraid as “you will not be disappointed.”
Critics might say he did not provide details. These, he says, will be laid down in the State of the Nation Address, which is but right and expected. The point made may be repetitive as he said repeatedly “Pagkakaisa, pagkakaisa, pagkakaisa.” If critics are not swayed, then it only emphasizes the point more.
(Prof. Tayao is currently a faculty at the San Beda University Graduate School of Law and Executive Director of the pioneer NGO on Local Governance, the Local Government Development Foundation (LOGODEF). He was also a member of the Consultative Committee to Review the 1987 Constitution convened by former President Duterte that drafted the ‘Bayanihan Federal Constitution of the Philippines.’)
