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October 3, 2010


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■ How has the President fared in terms of key national issues such as the Reproductive Health Bill?


T is Day 95. The Philippines wakes up to yet another hot issue in the news, more debates on the controversial Reproductive Health bill, more witnesses to the jueteng scandal.


Over in Malacañang, the political atmosphere barely gives anyone room to breathe. A little over three months into the presidency, Benigno Aquino 3rd, known by his presidential moniker PNoy, has already encountered more than a few bumps in the road. “You can’t please everybody,” they say. Indeed, truer words were never spoken, if the President’s situation was to be analyzed carefully. The goal of a president is, however, not to give everybody what they want, but to provide everyone what they need. Ninety-five days into the presidency, has President Aquino begun this massive objective well?


Assessing the President In their campaign for good governance


marked by the youth’s participation, X young leaders from the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership’s youth core group try to evaluate Mr. Aquino’s performance thus far. Cristyl Senajon, Bem Olaguera,


Wendell Balderas and Kirstin Lopez give their thoughts on several issues surround- ing President Aquino, his leadership, and what it may mean for the future of these young Filipinos.


After all that has happened, do you think the President stayed true to his word during the campaign and his inaugural statement, “Kayo ang boss ko”? Senajon: When it comes to following due process, (President) Noynoy observes that. He does not easily come up with a decision that he hasn’t thought of. And it seems that he is serious about stamping out corruption. It’s just that I think it can be . . . I like to say that in the “leader- ship” department, he’s lacking, he can still improve. In terms of the “doing” department, though, he seems to be doing OK. Olaguera: I agree with Tyl, he needs more political will. Senajon: He has a hard time handling


his people, like the people in his Cabinet. Olaguera: He is kind of indecisive, as shown in his first few executive orders. That’s why I somewhat agree with (Senator) Joker Arroyo’s statement about this government being run like a student council, that is, still learning. Senajon: You know that he means well, but his tendency is, “Once I’ve given you the directive, you do your job, it’s your call.” He needs to be more decisive about how he wants things to be implemented. I think he has a vision, a plan, but he needs more directives. Olaguera: But the good thing is, he empowers his heads to do their jobs. What’s unfortunate is that people want to see Noynoy in action. Like with the hostage crisis, they expected him to be on the scene. But that’s micromanagement, and it’s not produc- tive. There were people during the hostage taking that had the responsibility of taking charge on the ground.


How would you rate the overall perform- ance of President Aquino up to this point? What grade would you give him? A for excellent, B+ for very good, B for good, C+ for fair, C for satisfactory. Olaguera: I feel positive towards his plans, his principles, the way he empow- ers his people. I give him [a grade of] B. Lopez: I also give him a B. His princi- ples are good. He’s effective as a leader because he can influence his Cabinet members with his principles. Senajon: B for me, too. I think the problem now is that people are expecting too much from him. Every move he makes, people say something whether positive or negative. Plus, media and people have the tendency to compound and sensationalize his every move. We should all just give him a chance to do his job. Balderas: So far so good, but he needs a lot of improvement, especially since he’s coming from an Arroyo administra- tion, which needed improvement as it was. He has a good vision, his challenge is how to implement that vision well. I also think he did a good job on hiring good people in his Cabinet.


What are the President’s strengths and weaknesses?


The Youth’s Presidential Report Card


Five days before Day 100, four young Filipinos assess the performance of the President


By Karla Angelica G. Pastores


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