Vidal on PNoy: He has to work hard for us

ARCHBISHOP Emeritus of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is hoping President Aquino will present the problems his administration is facing and discuss the possible ways to address them.

“I hope it will not just be like those political promises. Of course, he has to do that (promises) in order to give us hope. Of course, his accomplishments will be there. But I really hope that after having said the achievements in the past year, he will be able to say something about our problems and present some solutions,” Vidal said in an interview last week.

“So far, he (President Aquino) is trying to do as much as he could. Hopefully, they will continue to fight corruption because corruption has spread out so much. (But then), we know human habits are very difficult to correct,” Vidal said.

When asked to grade Pnoy’s performance as president from 1-10, with 10 as the highest, Vidal didn’t give any score but instead said “we have to encourage him and he has to work hard for us.

Vidal said the Catholic Church also needs to contribute more to the growth of the country and its people.

“On our part, the Church, perhaps there’s also lacking and that’s catechizing people. It means, we should educate our young people (on the good virtues) right from the start. For me, my work now is to pray more,” said Vidal who retired as archbishop of Cebu last 2011.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said it will be positive if President Aquino will mention Cebu in his Sona.

“I don’t really have an idea what his speech contains but I’m hoping that he (Aquino) will mention Cebu because we have major projects in line,” she told Cebu Daily News.

Ordinary folk

Ordinary citizens polled by CDN said they are satisfied with the Aquino administration.

Entrepreneur, Jo-anne Ebo said she has seen the economy improve in a span of two years since Aquino took power in 2010.

“Business owners can feel the changes in the economy because there are many businessmen investing in our country due to our high economic growth giving business opportunities to ordinary citizens,” she said.

Joseph Basilisco, a public school teacher in Alcantara town, is glad with Aquino’s administration because he has brought the K to 12 educational system in the country.

Basilisco said the President has helped the teachers improve their proficiency level by equipping them through seminars and trainings so they can be more effective in teaching their students.

Armando Capute, a jeepney driver, said he is satisfied with the President’s performance.

“Nakita nako nga nindot ang pamalakad ni PNoy sa Pilipinas (I can see that the President is running the country well),” Capute said in Cebuano.

Gabrielle Roy Layos, a call center agent, said the country already has a sense of direction under President Aquino.

“We are moving forward under his administration,” Layos said.

But Rhea Mae Rubia, a technical and public relations writer, said: “Wala ra kayo nako na feel ang nabuhat ni PNoy (I can’t really feel the accomplishments of Pnoy)”. /Ador Vincent Mayol, Peter Romanillos and Christine Emily L. Pantaleon