The President’s ominous Sona

There are portions in President Noynoy’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) Monday which sounded ominous—for him and the country.

Towards the end of his Sona, the President diverted from his prepared speech and did some ad lib.

Below are notable excerpts in the Sona which the President delivered extemporaneously:

“Hindi natin maiiwasang mag-isip sa mga binubunggo natin, may araw kayang ’pag sasampa ka sa entablado, may trabaho ring araw—may magtatagumpay bang maglagay ng bomba?

“Magtatagumpay ba yung maiitim na balak ng atin pong mga katunggaling gusto tayong ibalik sa maling kalakaran? At kung dumating nga ang panahon pong ’yun, at natapos na ang ating pangalawang buhay, masasabi ko ho bang okay na rin? At sasabihin ko sa inyo, mata sa mata, sa lahat po ng inabot natin, ako po’y masasabing kontento na ako.

“Kontento na po ako dahil panatag ang kalooban ko, na kung ako po’y mawala na dito, marami pong magpapatuloy ng ating tinahak na. Baka iyon lang po ang papel —-umpisahan ito.)

(It’s hard not to think about these things considering that the people we’ve been going up against. Will there come a day when I go onstage, for work, and—will someone manage to plant a bomb? Will the dark schemes of those who want to bring us back to the wrong way of doing things finally succeed?

(When that day comes to an end, will I be able to say things will be okay? I will tell you this, straight in the eye: After everything we’ve achieved, I can say that I am content.

(I am content because I am sure that when I’m gone, many will take my place and continue what we have started. Maybe this is what I’m meant to do: Start this.”)

“Gabi-gabi po, bago ako matulog, thank you at nakalampas pa ako ng isang araw. Kung sabi nga noong bata kami, ‘finished or not finished, pass your paper’ eh dumating na sa akin, palagay ko naman, naramdaman na ninyo kung anong pagbabagong karapatan ng bawa’t Pilipinong mangyari, at bahala kayong ituloy ito.”

(Every night, before I go to sleep, I am thankful that I was able to get through another day. Just as it was said when we were kids, ‘finished or not finished, pass your paper.’ It seems to me, you have felt the true extent of the change that is every Filipino’s right to aspire for. It will be up to you to carry this forward.)

***

The words above sounded like the President’s valedictory; as if it was his last speech even if his term ends in 2016.

Was there something P-Noynoy wanted to tell the Filipino people but could not say it straight?

Is he ill?

His speech was interrupted many times by intense coughing.

Is his life in danger?

Why did he say, “Will the dark schemes of those who want to bring us back to the wrong way of doing things finally succeed”?

***

The President probably didn’t mean to imply his life was in danger or he was suffering from a serious ailment.

But during his speech, he probably had a premonition, presentiment or precognition, all of which have the same meaning: a feeling or belief that something is going to happen when there is no definite reason to believe it will (Merriam-Webster).

Many persons predicted their end days before it happened with words they didn’t put meaning into.

The President’s father, Sen. Ninoy Aquino, predicted his fate when he said “The Filipino is worth dying for.”