SAUNA

The House of Representatives was in heat as the president delivered her 8th State of the Nation Address in the 200 million-peso newly renovated Batasan Pambansa. It was as if steam was coming out from everywhere- either from allies whose 104 applauses raised the room's temperature to a hundred degrees or from critics whose every word uttered by the president made them even more in heat of disbelief. It was indeed a sauna out there.

To be fair, the president did admit the country is in crisis in a way... due to global economic woes. But the disturbing part is that, she speaks as if we can't do anything else. It's as if this is the fate of the Philippines and that she as leader cannot do anything to mitigate the said global problems. She also mentioned the Philippines is quite unlucky since we do not have the topography of Thailand and Vietnam, two huge rice-exporting countries.

Again in all fairness, she did have good works credited to her name. Like the creation of some bridges and roads and... Ok, so maybe just a few achievements.

After 8 years, what has changed in the country? And what can she still do in the 2 years that she has left?