For once, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. was candid enough to admit that the public was disappointed in the first three years of his administration in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).
"Disappointed," however, is a mild word, even.
The truth is that the public is not just frustrated, but angry, with the failure of his administration to address even the most basic problems of our country.
No, we will not talk about the increasingly turbulent political situation, which only masked a deeper problem that we Filipinos have to face everyday: an economy that is on the brink despite glowing statistics and high prices of basic commodities.
There’s also the worsening quality of life that was complicated with an increasingly unpredictable global climate (we’re talking here not just about the weather, but also about the continuing political and instabilities on the global stage).
These are the talking points that PBBM focused on in his fourth SONA, which was laden with the usual banal pledges of programs, projects and pledges that he promised will uplift the lives of Filipinos everywhere.
The last three years of an administration, it has been said, are the years in which we should’ve seen the effects of the programs and projects rolled out in the first three years.
And once again, to use the word “disappointment” to describe PBBM’s first three years would be an understatement.
If the President is serious in winning back the trust and confidence of a public that has become disillusioned, cynical even, about his ability to resolve the still-pervasive problem of poverty and inequality, now is the time for him and his officials to truly “walk the talk.”