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‘Filipinos worth fighting for’
PNOY SAYS, LAUDS
MARAÑON IN SONA
BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

“The Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.”

That was the battle cry of President Benigno Aquino III in his State of the Nation Address yesterday, as he vowed to continue the fight to uplift the lives of the Filipino people.
The President, who thanked the people for giving him the chance to lead them, said he will continue to prove that “the Filipino is worth dying for, the Filipino is worth living for... and the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.”

Aquino, in his SONA that lasted one hour and 31 minutes, and was applauded 86 times, also lauded Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and the success of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority scholarship program, citing the transformation of Negrense Mark Joseph Escora from jeepney “barker” to call center supervisor...

Negrense polio victim Mark Joseph Escora turned celebrity for the second time, as he was cited for his success by President Benigno Aquino III during his State of the Nation Address yesterday.

Aquino, in his SONA, said 220,000 graduates of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, including Escora, have been benefitted by the Disbursement Acceleration Program
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The President then showed a video of Escora, who said: “I was based in the Libertad public market for seven years. I worked as a barker for public transportation vehicles. My family couldn’t afford to put all of us through school, so I needed to find a way to support myself, so I could graduate.”..

Report Card Time

Amidst impeachment complaints brought about by the Supreme Court’s declaring parts of his administration’s controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program unconstitutional and his popularity and approval ratings reaching an all time low, President Benigno Aquino III delivered his 5th State of the Nation Address.

Many expected the President to be in the same combative mood he had been in his vigorous defense of DAP but many others were hoping him to be more statesman-like in his annual report to the nation.

The President took on a less confrontational tone this time, choosing to outline the gains the Philippines has made under his leadership and imploring for his bosses’ support in the closing stages of his unexpected but transformational presidency instead of dwelling on the past and picking a fight with the Supreme Court. .

Dumagueteños react
to 5th SONA of PNoy
BY JUDY PARTLOW

Dumagueteños yesterday shared thoughts and inputs on the 5th State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III that he delivered yesterday  at the Batasang Pambansa during a joint session of Congress.
         
A random unofficial survey showed a perceived higher number of people aloof and indifferent to the SONA, and who  preferred to concentrate on their “more important” tasks in the office or earning some livelihood out in the streets.
         
But for those who took the time to listen to the SONA that lasted for over 90 minutes, they expressed varied reactions with one thing in common: improving the lives of the Filipinos..