This July 24th, the country will once again hear from President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. as he delivers his second State of the Nation Address, or SoNA.
It is expected that this SoNA will outline the key accomplishments of PBBM’s administration after completing his first year in office. And it would be interesting to see and hear what these would be, and if they have resonated with the public in terms of benefit or detriment.
Of course with the SoNA comes the grading report by political analysts, pundits, opinion makers, critics, as well as supporters, and all those who are invested in the government and its successes and failures.
Overall, and if we go by the polls on performance and trust ratings, PBBM managed to steer the country through with relative stability, but there were the political and socio-economic hiccups and concerns which, if not handled better, may well be his Waterloo.
For instance, his administration was rocked early on by issues with appointments and subsequent resignations. This did not bode well for the President on a personal level, as this was taken as a sign of weakness as well as of an internal power struggle.
Questions abound as to what really took place, and what might have been if PBBM had conveyed a stronger and more assertive presence.
Case in point: what happened to former Executive Secretary, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, who was very instrumental in the BBM run to the presidency, only to fall by the wayside in just four months after assuming the ES post.
With what is happening now inside Malacañang, and all the leaks springing out because of very poor communications strategy and management, would it have been better if Atty. Vic had remained ES and continued to be the effective shock absorber and at the same time fireman?
For all his faults, one thing about Atty. Vic is that he never wavered in his loyalty and respect for the President, considering that he could have been the “Chavit” to President Erap Estrada, and triggered his downfall.
Yes, it could have been worse, and for this, we have to give it to Atty. Vic for letting go of the irresistible power and fading sublimely to private life.
Now we have a SoNA to look forward to and see if it is indeed a better administration now than when it started.
Or maybe, it has become worse.
Mark my word.