President Benigno Aquino III has a terse message to his critics delivered in the local dialect: “Ay ambot! (It’s up to them!)”
In his speech during the inauguration of the newly restored Iloilo Provincial Capitol on Thursday, Aquino said that while the Philippines was espousing democratic ideals, there were people who chose to overlook his achievements and focused on fault-finding.
“Naiintindihan kong nasa isang demokrasya tayo at malaya ang sinumang maghayag sa kanilang saloobin. Ang hindi ko po maunawaan ay ang mga taong wala nang ibang ginawa kundi maghanap nang maghanap ng negatibo sa anumang nagagawa nating positibo (I understand that we are in a democracy and everyone is free to express what they want. What I don’t understand is that there are people who only find our faults despite all the positive things we have done),” Aquino said.
The President referred to his critics as “contrarians” who took pleasure in the missteps of his administration.
“Anumang sabihin natin, kailangan kontra. Doon po sila lumiligaya. Wala na po siguro tayong masasabi sa kanila kundi, sabi nga ninyo dito: ‘Ay, ambot!’ (Whatever we say, they always challenge it. They take pleasure from it. Our message to them is, just like you say here, ‘Ay ambot!’)” the President added.
He said that while the administration was open to criticisms, those who were opposing him had not given any suggestions to improve the system.
Aquino then urged his critics to offer solutions and help the administration in serving the Filipino “bosses.”
“Imbes na puro reklamo ay tulungan na lang nila tayong maghanap ng dagdag pang mga solusyon. Handa naman tayong makinig; pero sila itong wala namang ibinibigay na kahit anong suhestiyon. Ang sabi ko na nga lang ho, Independence Day naman bukas, sana, magpalaya na rin sila sa kaisipan nilang de-kahon (Instead of complaining, they should help us in finding solutions. We are willing to listen but they are the ones who are not giving any suggestions. Since it is Independence Day tomorrow, I ask them to free their closed minds),” he added.
Apart from hitting his critics, Aquino says the country is now in a better position through the various initiatives he has implemented such as the construction of Dungon Bridge IV and the Jalaur River multipurpose project. RC
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