‘wang-wang’ lifestyle

MANILA
He came, he saw, he spoke about wang-wangs.
That was President Benigno Aquino III at the Philippine Congress delivering his State of the Nation (SONA) address last Monday, July 25.
At 4:04 PM he strode to the congressional rostrum and expanded on the wang-wang theme of his first SONA speech last year where he declared: “Wala ng wang-wang!”
Wang-wang is Tagalog slang for the sirens on the roof of government cars used by top officials of the land. “Wang-wang” because the thing makes that sound, at least to the Filipino ear.
Abusive officials barrel their way through suffocating Manila traffic, with their vehicles’ sirens serving to part the clogged roads in this anarchic and chaotic metropolis.
The wang-wang had come to symbolize abuse of privilege by government big shots as well as wealthy private citizens who illegally attach sirens to their expensive cars. Meanwhile, the masses slog it out in the crowded and choking traffic as they eat the siren-owners’ dust.
Against this backdrop, Mr. Aquino last year effectively banned the use of car sirens. Only the President, Vice President, the heads of the two Houses of Congress and the Chief Justice are authorized to use sirens.
In last Monday’s SONA, Aquino used the wang-wang as a metaphor for abuse of power and the all-pervasive rent-seeking practices of those in positions of power. He railed against those who had stolen from government coffers, made dirty money from government projects through kickbacks, and all manner of corrupt practices at which Filipino officials have become masterful and innovative.
The SONA is a much-anticipated speech by the President, and everybody takes it as a cue for what the President wants to do and what he wants others to do.
Aquino (called PNoy in media shorthand — pronounced pee-noi) listed the good news in his first year in office.
Hunger among the people has eased, the Philippines’ credit rating has been upgraded by international rating agencies, the stock exchange is more robust, the excessive perks of government-controlled corporations have been drastically cut, less rice will be imported next year, 4,000 new low-rent houses have been built for soldiers (with more coming), and military equipment and arms will be upgraded.
The military upgrade is timely as the issue of multi-country claims on the Spratly Islands west of the country is heating up. The Philippines and five other nations (including powerhouse China) have been claiming the resource-rich islands. “What is ours is ours!” Aquino declared, adding that we will defend our rights.
He also announced a drop in vehicle theft (called “carnappings” here — a fusion of “car” and “kidnapping”), the de-listing of the Philippines by the United States from countries notorious for human trafficking, fewer unemployed workers, and an expanded emergency social program called Conditional Cash Transfers, a program that gives cash incentives to poor families that keep their children in school and who go for medical check-ups regularly.
Mr. Aquino also pointed to his government’s use of zero-based budgeting in which government managers have to justify their projects and budgets every time they’re up for approval. His government will continue to go after tax evaders, smugglers and perpetrators of extra-judicial killings (for which the Philippines has gained unwanted notoriety). He said the government has saved P2.5 billion from reviewed infrastructure projects.
A much-applauded announcement was the appointment of a new Ombudsman (in this case another woman), retired Supreme Court Justice Conchita-Carpio Morales, and a respected magistrate. Post-SONA interviews showed the new ombudsman assuring the public of her fairness and independence. Prosecution of erring officials from past administrations is now expected to go full blast.
The President announced that he will send to Congress bills that seek to compensate martial-law victims (during the rule of Ferdinand Marcos), better wages and conditions for domestic staff and higher pensions for soldiers and police.
Mr. Aquino spoke Pilipino the whole length of his address, something in which he excels. It is said that he takes an active hand in crafting his speeches, which are easy to understand and much appreciated by the masses.
A well-known columnist had once called the President’s use of the national language as an empty “gimmick,” which is absurd because a leader indeed should speak in the people’s tongue. Some critics criticize just to be able to criticize.
Other observers, particularly in the political opposition, found the President’s speech wanting in details and initiatives. Others wanted to hear a roadmap for the next five years (the remainder of the President’s term).
Mr. Aquino spoke for 53 minutes. How many details can you cram into an hour-long address? And, after all, it’s about the state of the nation, meaning the current condition of the country, not its future.
Militants in the streets blasted the President for doing very little in his first year in office. Filipino militants have always been extreme in their criticism of Presidents, and this SONA was no exception. When criticism is extreme, it usually results in the loss of the credibility of those who criticize because they are being unreasonable and griping in bad faith. Still, militants serve a purpose in keeping our leaders on their toes.
The President called on Filipinos to stop the culture of jostling and shoving for advantage and for taking undue advantage of each other. No more crab mentality, he exhorted them.
He addressed those who have taken him to task for being too “personal” in his efforts to take wrongdoers, including his predecessor, former President Gloria Arroyo, to court, Yes, he admitted, he was being personal in doing what is right and invited the citizenry to be personal about wrongdoing too.
I thought it was an effective speech, especially because it was spoken in the national language, instead of English, which his predecessors had preferred and which is foreign to us all.
I’ve written before that people, particularly the critics, shouldn’t underestimate Aquino. The political opposition, especially those closely allied with Mrs. Arroyo, have been working hard to portray Mr. Aquino as a lazy, incompetent and indecisive leader. They are out to destroy Aquino’s good image among the people and undermine him as a trusted and admired leader. And, therefore, project him as one who pales in comparison to their leader and ally, the micro-managing, shrewd and imperious Gloria Arroyo.
Aquino told his audience inside and outside the Congress to get rid of their “utak-wangwang” (wangwang-brain) meaning, stop the stealing, the greed, and the abuse of privilege and power. He promised to go after past and present wrongdoers, and that he had the resolve to do it, because the people were behind him.
So there, no more living in the world of wang-wangs.****