The State of the Nation 2
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Gawad Kalinga project at Visayas Ave - giving hope to the Poorest of the Poor


Mall of Asia - a showcase to prove that Pinoys still know how to enjoy life


The Sisig - same price but hmmm, half the serving


Our Trip Back to the Philippines
December 17, 2006-Jan 6, 2007

"We've been through a lot together. We've met challenges and faced dangers, and we know that more lie ahead. Yet we can go forward with confidence -- because the State of our Union is strong, our cause in the world is right, and tonight that cause goes on. God bless. ~George W. Bush, US President


When I made my first State of the Nation report, after being away after 10 months, I was not as hopeful as I'd sound in my current sona.

I'd like to sound just like Dubya in his State of the Nation Address last Tuesday. I'd like to sound that everything is alright, that prices have gone down and that the Government is doing very well, that health care is available for everyone who needs it, that politics is not the foremost agenda of most people but public service.

But I can't, and I won't, but I'll try.

The country is continuously looking up, slowly, but rising. Resilient may be its middle name. The poor have hope in projects like Gawad Kalinga and people like Tony Meloto. Today's front page article in Inquirer says it all. And we are prouder that we can be of help, even from afar.

The regular Juan de la Cruz, is still smiling and not because its Christmas but there are things to enjoy, malls to visit, cheap thrills to be had and prices going down. Oil prices even went down, several times since Dec 20, including this week. Jeepney prices remain at 7.50, same as in 2005.

One thing though, old time favorites in restos have tried to maintain its prices from 2 years back. But the price maintenance has affected the serving size at it they seem to be cut in half. My delectable favorite sisig in Dencio's now, can't serve more than 2 people. It only comes in cups as big, rather as small, as your hot white rice.

Newspapers are the same at P18, pandesal is P2, and the Skyway only increased last New Year from its 2005 prices.

While being there, I saw the peso appreciate several times in 3 weeks (to the consternation of some). From P50.10 to 49.00 in 2 weeks. Of course this was considered temporary as dollar remmitances were coming in from all over for Christmas balikbayans and padalas.

The problem actually lies in the consistency of all these, as it may seem to be all window dressing with politicians preparing for the May elections. (We all hope not.) Overall, the Philippines is still strong inside, despite the lack of leaders to emulate and be inspired from. Our country is looking good and will continue to look good as people from the private sector inspire us, our countrymen working very hard to make it stronger every day and some patriots who may be outside have started to look in.

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