COCKTALES: PNoy's vs Obama's work ethic

By: Victor C. Agustin
July 25, 2012 5:58 AM

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

PNoy's superb communication skills were in full oratorical display Monday as he delivered a lengthy hour-and-a-half State-of-the-Nation Address before Congress and the entire nation.

Not only did he sound more and more like his late father in public speaking, but PNoy could be likened to be the Filipino version of the youthful, charismatic President Obama in the mastery of rhetorical devices but, more important, in his similar resort to the uplifting rhetoric of hope.

But does PNoy's oratorical skills and honest demeanor translate to something approximating the US president's work habits?

Let's focus on Obama' work schedules on the day before and right after delivering this year's State-of-the-Union address and compare them with PNoy's.

First, the similarities.

As to be expected, both PNoy and Obama cleared their respective calendars on their SONA-SOTU days to work on the final versions of their speeches. And just like TV news anchors, both also read from teleprompters, only with much feeling before a more captive audience.

But unlike the Philippine president whose SONA speech begins at 4 p.m. at the height of the rainy season, the US president addresses Capitol Hill in the middle of winter at 9 p.m., past dinner time for majority of the Filipinos.

It is in the before-and-after the annual rituals that PNoy and Obama have clear, marked differences as to their work ethic.

For example, the day after his January 24 SOTU address this year, Obama rose early, according to available White House records, to fly to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to visit an engineering and manufacturing facility.

He then flew onwards to Phoenix, Arizona to stop by the Intel campus before finally continuing to Las Vegas for the evening for another speaking engagement the following day.

PNoy, on the other hand, had zero public schedule this Tuesday, the day after SONA. He likewise retreated from public view last Thursday and Friday, the last two working days before his Monday's SONA.

Bam, as the New York tabs call the US president, did not disappear completely, but had a light schedule the day before the SOTU address, welcoming the six-time Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins into the White House for his lone public appearance of the day.

You might protest that Obama is on the re-election trail this year and that may account for his three-state swing, post-SOTU. So, to be fair, let's take Obama's schedule last year.

As it turned out, it was more of the same event-packed days.

The day after his 2011 SOTU address, Obama left Washington right after breakfast and flew to Wisconsin to visit not just one but three factory sites. And he was back in the White House in time for dinner.

The night before his 2011 SOTU address, Obama even held a reception at the White House for the new members of the US Congress.

PNoy, on the other hand, had one public event on the day after his 2011 SONA, and that was the courtesy call of Admiral Robert Willard, chief of the US Pacific Command.

And, in keeping with what appears the President's annual rhythm, PNoy likewise shied away from any public schedules two days in a row the week before the 2011 SONA, except to briefly re-emerge Friday to open Malacanang's doors to receive new Papal Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto.

Heard through the grapevine

PCGG Chairman Andres Bautista, during the televised interview of the Judicial and Bar Council Tuesday, complained that although he had already been elected chairman of the Philippine Overseas Telecommunications Corp. for half a year now, the POTC board for some unknown reason has refused to call a meeting.

What Bautista did not say is that the president of POTC, who has the power to call board meetings, is none other than Katrina Ponce Enrile, the daughter of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Email: cocktales_tv5@yahoo.com