A cock-eyed commentary
By Raïssa Robles
There was President Benigno Aquino gazing from a bridge and pointing straight at his latest enemy – water hyacinths as far as the eye can see, choking the once mighty Rio Grande, causing it to overflow its banks, flood Cotabato City and make a million lives miserable.
And then it gets worse – on national TV. The camera catches the Chief Executive rambling on the possible long-term solutions to eradicate these advancing monocots. And then the camera cuts to brief segments with Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani and Maguindanao Governor Esmail Mangudadatu. Both make disparaging remarks about how PNoy’s visit accomplished nothing. That he offered no solution to their immediate problem.
Guiani even claimed that the relief goods given away during the President’s visit were not brought by him.
I stared open-mouthed at the TV set upon hearing all these.
PNoy’s bright boys or PNoy himself had probably thought a flying visit to the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao would not hurt. In fact it could boost his numbers. The Social Weather Station had just released its latest survey results showing his popularity had again dipped somewhat.
This incident set me to thinking. The little that I heard the President say on TV was reasonable. Water hyacinths could be used for composting and for biofuel. And he wanted a long term solution to the perennial problem.
But why did the local government executives behave so boorishly toward him? And why did he come out looking inept and helpless?
I’d like to share with you some of my thoughts on the matter.
Mindanao was expecting a “hero” President
Instead, President Aquino expected them to be part of the problem-solving.
Why do I say this?
Pulse Asia recently came out with a poll on “Dr. Jose Rizal” involving 1,200 respondents who were asked to name their “hero”. The poll was conducted May 21 to June 4, 2011.
What is interesting is that to the question “to your knowledge who is the national hero of the Philippines?” – President Aquino came out third in Mindanao after Rizal and boxing Congressman Manny Pacquiao.
Pulse Asia "Jose Rizal" June 2011 survey results
Even more revealing are the results to the second question: “Whom do you consider a national hero comparable to Rizal, living or deceased?” In Mindanao, President Aquino came out fourth after his father the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, his mother Corazon Aquino and Pacquiao.
Pulse Asia survey on who is your national hero
This survey was done from May 21 to June 4 this year. And if I go by this survey I would say that the people of Mindanao expected PNoy to behave like a “hero”. You know, along the lines of Green Lantern or Spiderman.
Instead he behaved like a nerdy technocrat in front of them.
What do I mean by that?
Let me explain through an anecdote. When I was doing a profile of President Fidel Ramos among those I interviewed was his perennial sidekick Jose Almonte. Almonte was Ramos’ Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (EIIB) and national security adviser. But Almonte’s REAL job was to take care of the image of the president and the presidency.
He explained to me that it was important to ensure that both the president and the presidency conveyed a certain image to the public.
Ramos made mistakes, too, but he never looked inept. Wily and slippery, maybe, but never a do-nothing.
PNoy’s predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also had a problem with image. When she ran for vice-president, she was Nora aunor’s look-alike. Remember that famous photo of her that her husband Mike took of her holding a bundle of rice stalks? Then she became Inang Bayan, then Gloria Labandera. Finally, in the end, she could not shake off the image of being plain corrupt.
Joseph Estrada only had one image all throughout – “Pare” or friend of everyone.
What does PNoy want to be to the people who consider him as bigger than life?
Ramos could rely on and expected CSW
Another thing that Ramos was lucky to have were people who could deliver to him correct facts and figures. And suggested solutions. The Ramos presidency was notable for having CSW – Complete Staff Work.
I’ve heard it whispered about that PNoy even has to have facts and figures rechecked. By the time it gets to him, others should have completely vetted those for him. In Reader’s Digest magazine and other major international magazines, they have “fact-checkers” whose only job is to verify the veracity of every line in a story. That’s what PNoy seems to need badly.
People always watch the President like a hawk
I have a feeling it goes against the very grain of PNoy’s being to have all eyes fixed on him everytime he goes outside the Palace. He had long been used to being in the shadow of his parents.
He has not yet mastered the art of managing his public persona. Perhaps he needs a coach here. His predecessor and former teacher Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had a very good coach in PNoy’s aunt, Lupita Concio-Kashiwahara. Mrs. K even managed to get Mrs. Arroyo to flash a smile in public. Perhaps his own sister Kris could help.
PNoy likes to think aloud a lot. I noticed that in the ambush interview that Dana Batnag and I had with him. And you’ll notice that in his press conferences. The problem is, that was ok when he was a senator and his words did not constitute government policy. But now as president, rambling makes him sound indecisive.
I’m not saying PNoy should become manipulative and “plastic” in his public appearances. All I’m saying is, every public appearance of his is a chance for him to drive home a point; to inspire; and to get things going. Should he not at least learn how to do that more effectively?
In Cotabato, whatever message he had for the residents there and the people of the Philippines sunk under the weight of the water hyacinths.
At times, his message gets lost in the telling
I always grit my teeth whenever I hear him read out a speech in Filipino because his phrasing is awkward and wanting. But I do appreciate the fact that all his major speeches are in Filipino. The deposed president Estrada had excellent phrasing in Filipino and could perhaps teach him a thing or two.
PNoy will have to teach the people step by step about his new ideas on governance
PNoy has definite ideas about governance. He wants institutions to work rather than have the President as the focal point for resolving most problems. He said that in the aftermath of the August 23 bus hostage taking to explain why he did not step into the problem.
The problem is, the institutions don’t work. And local chief executives like Guiani and Mangudadatu have long been used to expecting the national government to solve even such problems as rapidly growing water hyacinths.
Earlier today, I happened to be talking to one of my favorite securities analysts Jonathan Ravelas. We got to talking about PNoy and the water hyacinths. He told me he understood what the President was trying to do and it was understandable, under the circumstances, that PNoy had no ready solution.
Jonathan then said he happened to be reading a book along those lines. It was entitled – Change the Culture, Change the Game: The Breakthrough Strategy for Energizing Your Organization and Creating Accountability for Results. Maybe someone could give this to him as a present if he doesn’t have it yet?
manny says
Just come to click the Science and Climate segment of your blog. Even its way back middle of last year when I was abroad. As always yours , others comments very informative, but hoping that everyone act in their own way to improve / prevent disaster in our country and
stop complaining or depend on Pnoy.
Now that I ‘m back home ..I and my wife continue to be inspired , to be happy helping others.
We hope you get enough resources / financial support / reward for all the things you have been doing. And that you, Allan and immediate family get all God’s blessings.
gil ligad says
I have to agree with the observation made that PNoy’s style of management would work in an environment where the institutions are working. At the same time, he has this ‘laid back’ personality which – again – would work if the institutions or the people (all the way down to the ordinary citizen) know what they’re doing or what they should be doing.
Tama nga naman – anong ginagawa ng mga local officials doon? They’re used to the barako-barbero-unahan sa sisihan style of management … look at how quickly they’ve passed the buck to the President when he paid them a visit! What did they expect – that PNoy arrives with a backhoe and starts digging out the hyacints himselves? (Sabagay – nasa Maguindanao pa ba yung backhoe na ipinanglibing sa mga massacred journalists?)
It may have been better if PNoy simply laid into them – ayun ang problema (the hyacinths), anong ginagawa ninyo? Ba’t ba kumalat ng ganyan iyan? Ba’t hindi ninyo (local government) inayos? Kailangan ba lahat ng bagay iaasa ninyo sa Presidente?
Lay blame where blame should be laid – who knows, that may be the kind of ‘hero’ the people of Mindanao and the Philippines are looking for – someone who can call a spade a fuckin’ shovel and shove the damned thing up the right people’s asses!
raissa says
I agree with your observations regarding the local government executives.
Just a question, why do you think PNoy has a “laid back” personality? Pls. give examples. I would like to know.
The Philippine Guild says
Very remarkable thoughts on the subject of image. I enjoyed being brought back to image blunders and breakthroughs of past presidents. It’s rare to read about takes on former president Ramos’ leadership style and image-building efforts with objectivity as yours. I must agree when you implied that the speeches of Erap were tremendously effective. As for Gloria, she chose to be stuck in a rut — the working at all cost kind of rut — at the expense of her image and she chose well for the long-term because she knew that if she did not establish a strong fortress in regard to output, her noisy enemies would have the evidences of poor governance after her regime.
Rallie F. Cruz says
Let me remind you that P’noy in his Presidential speech telling the people ‘Kayo ang boss ko”. Is it not an admission that he prefers to be told than to tell what to do? Is it not that the boss therefore must always tell his employee what to do?
Filipinos, try this method and it might help us on time of disasters like this..”Never ask what what your president can do for the country but bombard him with all the solutions that we know and let us see if we really are his boss.” That probably was he understood from the Late great John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what a nation can do for you but ask what you can do for the nation.”
Lastly, whatever Mindanao leaders thought of P’noy’s coming as useless due to his absence of ideas, Mindanao leaders have been sitting on their asses without paying attention to the growing water hyacinths, ignoring the outcome of their irresponsibility and as usual very fast on pointing fingers to others their own negligence.
Menie says
Issa, I think your analysis is spot on.
Pnoy’s idea of leadership will work well in an environment where everyone does his share and believes in his own capabilities. In other words, where the followers are mature and the leader just has to be able to orchestrate everyone into doing the appropriate thing towards a common goal. More of a manager, really.
Unfortunately, we do not have that level of maturity in our society. Our society is still basically feudalistic in our thinking – the leader has to do it all, and in turn we will give him our unconditional loyalty. Parang superhero nga. It will take generations to change this. Education is key.
One other thing that struck me is the result of the second survey, where Marcos ranked number 2 as a hero comparable to Rizal. Again, here I think the key is education. We should once and for all definitely settle Marcos’ role in the Philippines and make it clear to posterity that he is not a hero, but rather the tyrant who derailed our country’s progress because of his greed and ambition. And of course this means NOT burying him at Libingan ng mga Bayani and NOT giving him full military honors.
In fact, I think the National Historical Commission should put a marker wherever it is that he will finally be buried at saying that he was a dictator who kept himself in power at the expense of the country and its people.
raissa says
Menie,
I think your suggestion about the Marcos marker is superb.
Thank you for reading,
Raissa
unggie says
kalokohang survey o mga tangang taga mindanao kung tingin nila sa pamilyang ito ay pamilya ng hero.kakatawa!
raissa says
Kung matapang ka, unggie, sabihin mo yan ng harap-harapan sa tiga-Mindanao.
Na tanga sila.
Leo says
Its not about the survey but to those Cotabato officials who want Pnoy to solve their problem of flooding. Why in the hell they want the national government to solve the perenial flooding in their city, can’t they not remove the water hyacinth themselves?
Those Cotabato officials are worse than kids, thoughtless and clueless what to do in their lives in time like this. Shame on them.
Mindanaoan says
Sad. He has seasoned journalists in his team and he has a celebrity sister but he still has a problem managing his public persona. Can’t anybody teach him how to answer questions, too? He has this way of answering that irks a lotta people.
raissa says
A journalist does not necessarily make the best PR.
trisha says
Do you still believe with these fabricated surveys done by Pulse Asia which owned by his own cousin Buddy Lopa?
raissa says
That I have to check again. But I recall I did an article on surveys for Vera Files during the 2010 elections and I asked Pulse Asia whether Buddy Lopa was still with them and I was told not anymore because of the PNoy connection.
For Pulse Asia, I look at their track record. They have been quite on the money when it came to predicting election winners.
As for skewing surveys in behalf of PNoy, I don’t know. One thing I do know is that private companies use them still and depend on them for market surveys.