It is sad to note that it is fashionable for mainstream media to criticize government. Such fashion whether baseless or wise may be meant to cover tolerance of corruption. Basically, the practice is anathema to good governance, especially since most practitioners do not offer alternative positive solutions. If one must criticize, do it constructively.
The call of Kris Aquino is therefore a welcome change. Let us not allow our country to be thrown back into the sea after it has already made an economic beach head.
"President Aquino led his family and close friends in commemorating the fifth death anniversary of his mother Corazon yesterday, his show biz sister Kris called on the people to “stand by him and give him strength” in the face of controversies hounding his administration.
Kris appealed to supporters to make her brother feel that “he is not alone” in the fight for good governance and against poverty. The President was silent during the ceremonies.
“He can’t do it on his own. We need to stand by him and give him strength. And please pray with us also that he stays alive,” Kris said after Mass at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
Kris said they were praying for “good health, wisdom, strength, courage” for their brother, who is reeling from the controversy over pork barrel funds and the Disbursement Acceleration Program.
“And I hope those who believe in him will make him feel everyday that he is not alone… Mom, I know you are so proud of your son and in the same way, all of us here right now, we are so proud... really everything he is and you know… we know... we are what we are because of our parents,” Kris said.
The death of his mother was widely perceived to have boosted Aquino’s presidential bid in 2010.
In his emotional State of the Nation Address on Monday, Aquino sounded like he was bidding goodbye, observers said.
The presidential sister said the people should not only make their support felt when Aquino was being criticized “but more importantly in the moments that he is doing good.”
Kris expressed confidence that a great majority of the people “still really believe” in the President and in his sincerity and achievements.
The only problem, she said, was that those who were supportive of Aquino were not speaking loud enough.
Kris said even some people in the media had shown their bias and so she vowed to wear yellow in her television shows to counter them.
She thanked their spiritual adviser who celebrated the Mass, Fr. Catalino Arevalo SJ, for his guidance and for making them feel “heaven is our ally.”
“For all of those wearing yellow and those who continue to wear yellow… thank you very, very much and I know that mom is really happy in heaven right now,” Kris said.
Cory Aquino rose to prominence after the assassination of her husband, former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., on Aug. 21, 1983.
“Five years after Cory’s death, we still see clearly how her life proves that the Filipino is worth living for.”
- Excerpts from Aurea Calica
