As expected Malacanang defended President Noynoy Aquino’s purchase of a luxury vehicle reportedly at a cost of P4.5 million pesos. According to the palace, the president bought the “third-hand, entry-level” Porsche using personal funds.
I’m willing to give Malacanang and the President the benefit of the doubt. After all it’s not that difficult to imagine Mr. Aquino having the means to buy whatever he wants. What’s P4.5 million anyway to a Cojuangco?
I’m wondering though if the President thought twice before he decided to make that purchase. I mean he should know that anything he does will be scrutinized. And what about the bright boys and girls handling his image-building machinery? Did they even try to discourage him?
Perhaps they didn’t realize that the timing is really bad. Just this week the Department of Transportation and Communications announced the new rates of the MRT and LRT. Also very recently, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board announced an increase in taxi fare. We know how these were received by the general public.
Incidentally, Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma practically dismissed all concerns raised about these increases. Coloma said it’s all part of progress. I wonder what progress Coloma was talking about?
For now, let’s ask the question many of us are itching to blurt out: Whatever happened to being a simple president?
Remember that hotdog lunch in New York, which Malacanang used to try to establish that President Aquino is so much simpler than former President Gloria Arroyo? I hate to point out the obvious, but this thing with the Porsche makes it clear that President Aquino is not simple, well, at least, not in the way they say he is.
But what do I care that our President has a taste for expensive vehicles? As far as I’m concerned, he can buy whatever he wants as long as he uses his own money. Yun ang trip niya eh.
I do wonder though how the rabid yellow horde are taking this. Remember, Aquino’s supposed simplicity was one of the reasons why they supported him. If I were one of them, I’d really feel embarrassed now.
(This is me pretending to have been brainwashed by the Yellow Horde.)
Simple naman talaga ang Porsche ah… It’s just like a Volkswagen, if you think about it.
(This is me after shaking it off.)
You know, such a beautiful and fast car is a waste to drive over potholes and into an interminable bout with slow traffic.
Unless of course, he’ll just use it to drive in Fort Boni or SLEX/SCTEX.
I just hope he doesn’t go speeding.
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bp Reply:
January 14th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
paul,
may rumor nga na nabangga na niya yung porsche.
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I heard that one too.
Pnoy really should take a cue from Forrest Gump who just runs, drives a boat, and rides buses.
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“Whatever happened to being a simple president?”
A simple president will never be elected in present Flip country: it is that simple.
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Hyden Toro Reply:
January 18th, 2011 at 2:58 am
He is simple on your mind. In truth, he is a Spoiled Rich Kid. Are you too naive to know it?
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Fares are all going up. Noynoy Aquino wants transportation; so, he bought a Porche…Why do you believe a man born with a silver spoon on his mouth does simple living? You are just not using your brain. His family lived on the sweat and tears of his Hacienda Luisita slaves…Hot Dog eating on the streets of New York. What an stupid way for photo opportunity….
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I like my Porche…spoiled rich kid…fron the Hacienda Luisita…
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ang leksyon lang na natutunan ko dito, kailangan rin na suriin natin mga sarili natin.
Maaaring hindi nga tayo kasin-yaman ng mga Aquino’t Cojuangco, but in proportion to what we have, are we living simple lives?
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bp Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 4:05 pm
manny,
nice point. indeed, filipinos should start considering living simpler lives. before buying that latest gadget ask yourself “do i really need this?”
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That was indeed a stupid move. Stupid, stupid.
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i totally and without a question in mind agree with this as we all are guilty of this pleasures in one way or another… maybe not with gadgets but with other things….
alam mo when i look at government officials… and knowing most of them came from well off families… parang ang sarap tanungin na, “paano nyo nasisikmura humarap sa tao na ang mamahal ng mga gamit niyo when what you earn sa payroll nde nagta-tally sa mga mahal na gamit na suot2x niyo?” although sabihin man natin na karapatan nilang bumili nun kasi bago pa man sila pumasok sa gobyerno mayayaman na sila, but still me tanong na pumapasok sa utak ko…”kung ako ba mayaman, papayag ba ako na mabawasan yung kayamanan ko kung pwede ko naman ipaako sa ibang pang-gobyernong budget na pwede?” ok… kahit i clear na lang natin na personal nilang pera yun… hindi ba pwede magkaroon ng konting delikadesa bago humarap sa tao kasi nde naman 1st world country ang pinamumunuan para humarap sa tao na naka-kontodo alahas at designer clothing or a porsche for that matter…
nde naman sa pinangunguhanan ko rin ang desisyon niya but if he really wants to help, i think it would be best kung sa kanya magsisimula… pera naman niya yun… kung praktikalan, pwede naman siyang mag KIA lang (seriously! anong nakakahiya dun? mahirap tayo na bansa) and the rest of the money, he could have invested it into small livelihood businesses, that way nakatulong na siya sa mga walang trabaho and on the other hand kikita din siya kasi babalik din yung naipundar niya….
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