June 30, 2010
It’s a beautiful day. This is the song in my head as I wake up early in the realization of a new regime.
Goodbye little woman. It’s showtime for President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III. PNoy, as he wants to be called, started his day early, too, and had a heavy breakfast in preparation for the long day and tight schedule ahead of him. He left Times Street 15 minutes ahead of schedule. His Land Cruiser went at moderate speed and even stopped at a red light. Is this the sign of better days? The President obeying traffic rules? His hagad not blaring the sirens to let people know that a VIP is passing by.
But there was no need to let people know. The people knew. Gloring might have plotted in making today a holiday so that schools won’t require students to go out in the streets and wave yellow flags. But the crowd came. From Times Street to Malacanan up to Quirino. They lined the streets in support of PNoy. They lined the streets with hope in their eyes and “L” on their hands.
Naturally, since he was early and I’m wishing this will be the new Filipino time, he arrived in Malacanan early. I saw VP Kabayan, calmly saying hi to the staff and soon-to-be-ex cabinet members present in the palace. I could almost feel the sense of relief evident on his face.
On to Gloring. When she took the steps down the stairs, I believe I am one of the many who silently wished she tripped. But she didn’t. Lucky her. PNoy extended his hand and she shook it. I’m guessing they were asked to hold that pose for more photo ops. Yikes! They let go. And held hands again. They let go and then again, held hands. Ewww-ness.
They then proceeded to the Mercedes Benz presidential car for the ‘traditional’ trip to Quirino. PNoy was seen talking to Gloring while he went in the car. Hmmmm…what did they say to each other? Awkward city for 15 minutes.
When they got to Quirino, the sea of humanity began chanting “Noynoy! Noynoy!” And when Gloring took her last walk, “Booooooo!” Serves your right! PNoy extended his hand to assist her up and down the platform they were standing on and she ignored the hand! Twice! What a blatant display of callousness! And when she finally rode her private car (which I’m sure was paid for by our taxes), the crowd went wild! She was like that elusive goal in the FIFA World Cup in South Africa!
To quote Oscar Wilde, “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”
And because of the new PNoy time, everyone waited for time. And because being early is apparently a new concept to Filipinos, the program organizers were forced to salang singers who could do impromptu stuff. Including Christian Bautista who did Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up” exceptionally well in acapella. The recently disbanded trio, Apo Hiking Society, also tried to pitch in but managed to sing an amateur, miting-de-avance-type number. Really tacky with all the shouting adlibs in between. Not impressive at all. Regine and Ogie also did the campaign jingles without the ‘shouting adlibs’ in between. They also did the Bagong Pilipinas song while holding hands. HHWS. Holding hands while singing. All of them were celebrating PNoy. How was the vice president elect feeling? Because of “PNoy”, I have begun calling the Veep “BNay”. Did BNay have his own awkward city moment that time-- during that really long wait for the “traditional high noon” proclamation?
However, BNay and PNoy were also seen talking to each other. I do not sense any tension between them not as how they were being portrayed to be in the news.
Noticeable also was the controversial presidential sister and her sons. The controversial MVP presidential bayaw however was nowhere in sight. Presidential nephew and MJ fanatic was also a crowd-pleaser with his yellow barong and yellow wayfarers! Kyoooot! Presidential yaya was seen carrying the yellow Hermes bag of the controversial presidential sis.
As PNoy stood to give his inaugural address, presidential special nephew stood up to kiss his fave uncle and managed to cover PNoy from the entire crowd due to his hugeness.
The inaugural address was simple and precise. It was said in English and Filipino. It went for 21 minutes and 50 seconds. It was interrupted once by a brief smoker’s cough which I could understand since he might not have had his share of nicotine rush since he left Times.
Overall, I could feel the sincerity of his speech. I am happy he singled out Leila de Lima because I am still hoping for justice for the 2002 incident. The task PNoy is facing is ginormous but we should all be doing our parts if we want change to happen. God bless the Philippines.
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