Senators Grace Poe, Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Nancy Binay and Cynthia Villar pose for a photograph during the opening the 2nd Regular Session of the 6th Congress at the Senate Building, Pasay City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) hit lawmakers for allegedly being insensitive to their constituents by flaunting expensive clothes and jewelry during the annual State of the Nations Address (Sona).
CBCP – National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal chair and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz said that while lawmakers and government officials wear expensive attires, their constituents were living a hand-to-mouth existence.
“‘Yung parang mga fashion show minsan nahihiya ako,” (I’m embarrassed with the seeming fashion show) Cruz recently told Radio Veritas. “Magaganda ang suot nila, maraming perlas sa leeg, mga porselas na ginto. Pagkatapos, yung mga taong umaasa sa kanila ay hand-to-mouth existence lang.” (They dress up well with pearls on their necks, gold bracelets, while the people who look up to them for help live a hand-to-mouth existence.”
But the retired bishop noted: “Dun sa gagastusin, ni isang singko, walang galing sa kanila, galing lahat ‘yan sa mga tao.” (The money they spend, not one centavo came from them. All of it came from the people.)
“Ang tawag diyan ay manhid,” (That’s insensitivity) added Cruz, who criticized the lawmakers for their “self-aggrandizement).”
The prelate asked lawmakers to listen to Filipinos who will mount protests outside the Batasan complex, adding that they are the ones who know the true state of the nation.
The poor will have their own Sona, Cruz said: “‘Yun dapat ang pakinggan dahil yun ang katotohanan.” (That’s what they should listen to because that is the truth.)
President Benigno Aquino III is set to deliver his sixth and last Sona on Monday at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. About 2,700 government officials and guests will attend with the government spending P2.75 million for the catering and reception.
It has become a tradition during the Sona for lawmakers and people close to them to parade in expensive clothes.