The two former presidents who promised to end hunger and poverty made hype out of the poor individuals who were plucked out of the squatter colonies and chosen to act as models in front of TV cameras just to show that they are serious in solving the century old problem of HUNGER and POVERTY.
In 1992, former President Fidel Ramos used a destitute family man of eight as his model of hunger and poverty. Ultimately the man called Mang Pandoy became popular because the then illusionists administration were trumpeting their solution to finally end the sufferings and miseries of millions of people who are poor. After six years of starring role, Mr. Ramos finished his term a notch higher from his previous wealth, influence and power.
But, unfortunately his model of hunger & poverty Mang Pandoy and the millions of poor remained under the threshold of destitution and hopelessness. The hyperbole was just too good to be true and a decade and half later Mang Pandoy died in 2008 at age 71. He was born poor & died poor. Yet, the nation never expects that this political gimmick will try to imitate itself.
For the second time around, the theatrical acts of political propaganda was brought to the fore by no less than former president Gloria Arroyo. This time, new models were presented to portray the country’s hunger & poverty. The models were likewise taken from the squatter colony; three children from three different poor families. The gimmick was elaborate and full of drama. Mrs. Arroyo re-phrased Mr. Ramos of solving hunger & poverty but both of them failed.
It was not only a failure but a total failure of immense proportion in the history of the Philippines. Instead of reducing the incidence of hunger & poverty, the Arroyo administration deliberately caused to inflict more sufferings and miseries to the nation in her 9 years in office. Anomalies, corruptions, killings, social, economic and political degradations were part of the theatrical acts starred by Mrs. Arroyo herself and her allies.
Now that the new administration of President-elect Noynoy Aquino is at the helm, he promised to steer the country’s position towards progress and development; of eradicating corruption to end hunger and poverty. And these are just part of the speech of President Aquino in his first SONA. The President said that his SONA is simple, no actual presentation of individuals that would portray anything about poverty. And that is what the whole nation expects of him; to portray his starring role as the true leader of the Republic of the Philippines.
