Apathy greets Arroyo's speech

Feelings of apathy and cynicism among Filipinos in the UAE greeted Filipino President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's State of the Nation address.

Several Filipinos Gulf News talked to in the Tagpuan Restaurant in Karama said Arroyo's speech, broadcast live on TFC (The Filipino Channel), failed to change people's opinion regarding the allegations of vote-rigging.

Arnold Cabrera, originally from Quezon City, said he did not trust Arroyo because "she is a politician".

"Nowadays, we Filipinos don't trust politicians, because if we did, we wouldn't have left the country," he said.

As for Aileen Cabrera, she said Arroyo's speech did not help improve her standing with the people.

"What she did was very bad for the country. If she continues, it will be a shame for us," she said.

Jed Garrovillo, who hails from Iloilo, said it was very hard for the president to convince anybody of anything as she had lost her credibility.

"Whatever she says, I'm not going to believe her," he said.

However, he said he was still willing to give her another chance, saying she was a good president before the troubles began to surface.

J.P. Fernandez, from Subic, echoed Garrovillio's statement, saying he was willing to give Arroyo another chance as "she is a smart lady".

However, he said he did not care about Arroyo's speech or the plans she outlined in the 20-minute speech, adding he was disillusioned by the self-interest shown by the politicians.

"Three years back, I always used give comments but now no more," he said. "I can't do anything to change the way things are run."

His girlfriend, Ivy Chriss, from Cebu, said she was not even interested in watching the speech.

"They are all the same. Our last president stole from us. We used to care, but it's the same old story," she said, in between bites of her lunch.

She said she was in favour of removing Arroyo from the office, stating her support for Vice President Noli de Castro.

Arroyo's speech, seen as crucial by analysts to end her political problems, outlined her economic, social and political plans for the South East Asian nation.

She reminded people of her successes in making healthcare more accessible to the country's 84 million people, cutting the crime rate and tackling the insurgency in Southern Philippines, and called for unity to ensure continued success.