On June 30, 2010, a new President will take over the Philippines. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term has come to an end. She’s been our president from 2001 to 2010. That’s around 9 years of being the Chief Executive of the country. I was in Grade 5 when she took over the presidency from Estrada. I graduated college when her term ends. That covers my high school and college years. I literally grew up with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the president.
This is no joke. I admire how Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stood strong amidst all the issues and problems thrown at her. I know that she is wrapped in controversies and scandals but we can’t deny how strong a president she is. She never stepped down. She’s one strong woman.
Along with her leaving the highest seat in the government, is a book by Renato Velasco and Ricardo Saludo entitled Beating The Odds. No, this is not about how she broke the tradition by having her oath taking here in Cebu; this is about the most major issues during the Arroyo term and how she managed to swerve the country through each and every problem.
From the synopsis of the book:
…the authors have been able to consolidate a portrait of leadership around six issues that stalked the Philippines at the turn of the century—terrorism, the Mindanao peace process, the drug threat, the global emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), an attempted coup d’etat against the government and a hounding budget deficit.
One of the most challenging issue met by the Arroyo term is on the Mindanao war. The Mindanao war started by Estrada has become a burden on the Arroyo administration. President Arroyo ended the all-out war with the Moro rebels as she enforced a no-ransom, no-negotiation stand with terrorists. Though it isn’t a 100% war-free situation yet, Arroyo has done much to undo the damage the previous administration has left her. The Mindanao Peace Process wasn’t an easy one, but Arroyo went full force to go through each and every corner of it.
The Philippine budget has been the center of controversy in the Arroyo term. Estrada left a crumbling economy. Did Arroyo make it better? Many said that the Arroyo administration handled the budget poorly and that the economy was in a drastic state during the Arroyo term, but some statistics show otherwise. I don’t know the truth to this matter, but the book says that the budget deficit issue has been strongly faced and solved by the Arroyo administration.
The six issues mentioned above are tackled in the book Beating the Odds in a more specific and detailed manner. The book is available in major bookstores nationwide. I want to get one myself.
PS. I just hope the next president is as strong-willed as Arroyo.
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I don’t know what to say about the book. I don’t know if I’m going to buy it either being a bookworm myself. But I want one thing that should be written on that, I hope she was able to clear all the allegations thrown to her and her family. Hello Garci, NBN ZTE deal etc, all of these were not answered clearly. So, I guess, leaving her administration with this book could be the best chance for her to answer these scandals, that’s if she’s not really part of it.
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Posted June 19th, 2010 at 10:34 AM
Oh yeah, that. If they (the authors) left that out, then it is their prerogative. But the Table of Contents shows a lot: http://www.beatingtheodds.ph/toc.html. Not the scandals though.
Hi.
I am very very interested in this title. How can i order??? Pleaseeee…
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Hi Miick, you can try Powerbooks.
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Considering that the authors are writing the (late) ex-President of the Philippines, I would assume they’ll focus on achievements and probably give a 360 (blindly) discussion protecting her image.
Forgive me for being blunt, but I’m no fan of hers as of this time or would ever be.
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