Monday, June 27, 2005

"A LAPSE IN JUDGEMENT"

thanks to jtm for this transcript. this was the much-awaited statement the president made at 7pm today. all day long, i received calls from congressmen and their staff asking for advance info on what the president would say. you judge if it was worth the loooong wait.

STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT

Mga minamahal kong kababayan

For the last several weeks, the issue of the tape recordings has spun out of control. Tonight, I want to set the record straight. You deserve an explanation from me, because you are the people I was elected to serve.

As you recall, the election canvassing process was unnecessarily slow even after the election results were already in and the votes had been counted.

I was anxious to protect my votes and during that time had conversations with many people, including a COMELEC official. My intent was not to infuence the outcome of the election, and it did not. As I mentioned, the election had already been decided and the votes counted every major public opinion poll, and adjudged free, fair and our own NAMFREL

That said, let me tell you how I personally feel, I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgement. I'm sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and to you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by these events. I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust

Nagagambala ako. Maliwanag na may kakulangan sa wastong pagpapasya ang nangyaring pagtawag sa telepono// pinagsisisihan ko ito ng lubos// pinananagutan ko nang lubusan ang aking mga ginawa, at humihingi ako ng tawad sa inyo, sa lahat ng mga butihing mamamayan na nabawasan ng tiwala dahil sa mga pangyayaring ito. Ibig kong tiyakin sa inyo na lalo pa akong magsisikap upang maglingkod sa bayan at matamo ang inyong tiwala.

I took office with a mandate to carry out a plan for the nation. Since that time, I have focused on making the tough but necessary decisions to make up for years of economic neglect. We passed a comprehensive, fiscally responsible national budget; raised new and necessary revenues to reinvest in the people; and implemented new anti corruption measures that have led to the highest collection of taxes in history.

Nothing should stand in the way of this work, or the next phase of my reform agenda, which includes new investments in education and social services with our new revenues; and an expansion of our successful anti-corruption and lifestyle checks.

That is why I want to close this chapter and move on with the Business of governing.

I ask each and every one of you to join hands with me in a show of unity, to help forge ONE philippines, where everyone is equal under the law, and where everyone has the oppurtunity to use their God Given talents to make a better life

Our nation is strong and getting stronger. The progress is steady and I ask you to walk with me on this journey to rebuild our great nation. I will remain your humble servant and promise you that I will fulfill my constitutional oath of office to serve the people to the best of my ability

God Bless the Philippines

******
all throughout the statement, the president had a look on her face that appealed for understanding, for awa. and right after she sez the last line, she breaks into a smile.

and did you notice the pictures of the apo conspicuously placed in the background, to the right of the president? when a president delivers a statement, whether it be recorded or live, nothing in the frame - in the foreground, background or beside the president - just happened to be there by accident. everything is well-planned, deliberate. di ko naman ata type yung gamitin ang mga apo para makakuha ng simpatiya. kayo? ako, nanay ako. kahit kailan, di ko gagamitin ang mga anak para sa kahit ano. kung puwede nga lang, di na sila masilayan ng ibang mata.

immediately after the president delivered her statement, text messages circulated. one of which said this: padadala ka ba sa drama ni nora aunor? hahayaan ba nating paglaruan nina ronie puno et al ang katalinuhan ng mamamayang pilipino. forgive? yes. forget? NO!!! her public apology? NOTED!!!

it cannot be determined yet who the source of this message is.

but a few minutes after the president's statement, i heard erap's phonepatch interview on tv where he said, "the president's public apology has been noted." hmmmm....

for those who have been out of touch with the goings-on in the phils, heto ang bakcgrounder. ang "noted" eh ang laging sagot ng congressional canvassing committee members who were allied with the administration sa lahat ng reklamo ng oposisyon nung bilangan ng boto. the reference to nora aunor? isn't it obvious?

the president has appealed to the public for support and unity. will you begrudge her?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Tina,

The issue has become far too politicized it has diverted everyone's attention from our bigger problems, the impact of galloping world oil prices.

Let us give her a break so she can focus on the work at hand.


From The Man in the Warm* Seat
(Not so hot anymore following positive comments on her speech by Tita Cory, Frank Drilon, business leaders and others who want our nation to move on.)

Apol said...

i would say pareho sila ni mikey arroyo pag dating sa acting. palpak.

tinapa said...

jher, a political analyst i interviewed yesterday said the worst pgma has done is to damage our institutions. many doubt the legitimacy of pgma and noli, the integrity of comelec, etc. but i think the worst she's done is rob us of hope. "wala nang iba e." "ganun talaga ang buhay." "ewan." "bahala na sila."

mr anonymous, you're a good person. a very good soldier. if i were president, i'd like you to be my spokes. :)

apol, baka naman ma-hurt ang mga artista at movie producers, lalo na ang mga kumuha kay mikey dati.

Overratedbitch said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Overratedbitch said...

sa true elsa klensch! may galit-galitan portion dito!

personally, i don't wanna think that she's robbed me of hope. unfair naman yata yun, hindi sa kanya (the hell i care, bakit ba? tinatamasa nya ang lahat ng kasarapan sa buhay na pinapangarap lang ng maraming Pilipino!), pero unfair sa akin.

as for trust in institutions, i've stopped believing a long time ago. pero has it stopped me from doing my work? no. at some point, one starts to be de-sensitized by events that continue to relentlessly unfold before us. i know this is a lame excuse. i know this is selfish to some. pero, namputcha naman! wala akong balak maging martir ngayon.

mr. anonymous, she's very lucky. i couldn't think of a better man to do this job. tsaka po pala, since i won't get any chance to tell you this, ang cute po ninyo! crush ko kayo! (walang biro, hihihi!)

anyway tinapa, i think the first family should get an acting coach. look at the marcoses, they barely got away with their crimes, to think pang-Academy Awards sila. the Filipino people still like drama e. kulang ang first family dyan.

and the only way PGMA will get away with this is if she turns the economy around. then the people couldn't care less if she cheated or has a very "plenty" sex life. as long as there's food on the table, kesehodang si Dagul o si Mahal ang nakaupo dyan, everyone happy!

john marzan said...

"di ko naman ata type yung gamitin ang mga apo para makakuha ng simpatiya. kayo? ako, nanay ako. kahit kailan, di ko gagamitin ang mga anak para sa kahit ano."

So what does that tell us about Miriam using her son's death in a political advertisement to gain our sympathy?

When I saw her ad last hear, I felt icky and wanted to take a cold shower afterwards (ala Crying Game)

She may be an "intellectual", but she's got a tin ear for what is appropriate or not.

Anonymous said...

Im am sorry!patatawarin ka lang ng sambayanang pilipino,kung lilisanin mo ang malacanang.Harapin mo ang batas wala ka nang karapatan mamuno ng bansa!Yan ba gusto mo gma ituro ang mali sa aming mga anak?shame on you...