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An Open Letter to GMA
(A response to her SONA)

By Gloria Stepdown Movement-Baguio-Benguet

July 29, 2005

Dear President Arroyo,

We listened to your State of the Nation Address (SONA) intently, hoping that you will answer the many questions that have hounded us these past months. Unfortunately, your SONA raised more questions than answers.

It is true that “ours is a country divided”. Equally true is that “ours is a political system which after years of degeneration has become a hindrance to progress”.

But we dare ask –
Aren’t you central to our country’s present division?

Haven’t you contributed immensely to the degeneration of the political system when, after losing your moral ascendancy and political legitimacy in admitting your lapse in judgment as evidenced by the now infamous “Garci Tapes”, you had the temerity to dig in your heels in Malacañang in the midst of 8 out of 10 Filipinos asking for your resignation?

Aren’t you, Madam President, the biggest hindrance to national progress at this point?

You say that the Philippine economy is now poised for take off. Is it really, Madam President? A big number of Filipinos are of the impression that the Philippine economy is on a nosedive, not take off.

You point to the stock market and the peso-dollar exchange rate as indicators of the strong anticipation of significant economic improvements. But, do these indicators even begin to paint the picture of how deep the economic rut the vast majority of Filipinos find themselves in?

“If only we would overcome the tendency to be our own worst enemy”, you say.

We ask instead, “How can we convince you to overcome your tendency to be our worst enemy, obstinately clinging to power despite our pleas for your resignation?”.

You invite us to join you in sending investors both here and abroad the strong message that “we will not waver in our commitment to economic reform and fiscal discipline, whatever the political cost.”

If you resign, Madam President, wouldn’t your resignation send the strongest message ever here and abroad that indeed we have not wavered in our commitment to economic reform and fiscal discipline, whatever the political cost?

You say, “by and large, our political system has betrayed its promise to each new generation of Filipinos”.

Madam President, weren’t you the first to betray your promise to our generation when you ran as President after declaring in December of 2002 that you wouldn’t? And didn’t you again betray your promise to our generation when you committed your lapse in judgment?

As a solution to our present problems, you propose charter change. You promise that you shall work with Congress, civil society groups and local government executives who are convinced that Charter change is needed to enable the country to surmount the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century.

Madam President, hasn’t it occurred to you that if you resign, Congress, civil society groups and local government executives will be in a better position to work together for charter change?

Hasn’t it crossed your mind that your continued stay in office is the very impediment to the unity of Congress, civil society groups and local government executives and the very distraction to the supposed focus of these groups on changes that will enable the country to surmount the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century?

We agree that “it’s time to take the power from the center to the countryside that feeds it.”

And we add, isn’t it time too to take the power from you and pass it to your legal successor, so we can start our healing as a people and continue the business of building a better nation for our children and our children’s children?

Yes, Madam President, there is much work to be done. And yes, now is not the time for divisiveness. And yes too, there can be a determined effort by all sides to limit the collateral damage.

These are precisely the reasons why we are appealing for you to step down as President.

Tunay po na naghahangad kami ng isang makabuluhang pagbabago para sa ating bayan. Tunay rin po na kami ay nagsisikap para matamo ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran. Kung kaya’t kami po’y nakikiusap na tulungan ninyo kami, para sa kapakanan ng taong bayan.

At ang pinakamalaking ambag ninyo, Madam President, upang makamit ang lahat ng ito sa pinakamadaling panahon ay ang inyong pagbitiw sa inyong pagka-Pangulo, isang posisyong pinahiram lamang sa inyo ng taongbayan.

Ano po ba, Madam President, ang mahirap sa pagsoli sa taongbayan ng inyong hiram na posisyon bilang Pangulo?
Maraming salamat po.

Nakikiusap,
Sgd. ATTY. MA. GEORGINA A. ALVAREZ Sgd. MR. MANUEL LOSTE
Sgd. RAYMUNDO ROVILLOS, Ph.D Sgd. PROF. WILFREDO V. ALANGUI
Sgd. ATTY. MIA JOY C. OALLARES-CAWED
Sgd. MR. RODOLFO OCON
Sgd. DR. ERLINDA PALAGANAS
Sgd. MS. JEANNETTE RIBAYA #

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