INAUGURAL SPEECHES

Inaugural speeches are passionate speeches. They stir, rouse and rekindle many feelings and emotions, most especially those of hope. Such speeches are cries for positive change, social justice and economic progress. But speeches are speeches. The mouth can only do so much.

Inaugural speeches are declarations of intent. They are avowals to do this and to do that. They are pronouncements of the beginning of this and the end of that. Speeches can only do so much.

Inaugural speeches are mostly promises. Once words are said, they are heard, understood and hopefully remembered by those to whom the speeches are delivered. And promises should be held sacred.

The new president of the Republic of the Philippines is Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. He delivered his inaugural speech on June 30, 2010. What he said should be taken seriously. The nation must pray for him, work with him and hope with him.

After the inauguration and the celebration comes the real work. Work is sweat, tears and blood, even. Speeches are soundbytes or mere spit, even.

To tell or not to tell

There are people who don't have the need to know certain things about us. We have private stuff in our lives' classified drawers. If people ask us personal questions, we are not obliged to give full answers. Certain disclosures are for a few who can respectfully handle things about who we are and who we once were, what we do and what we did in the past.

We must know when to be quiet. We know which things deserve to be hushed. What spills out of our mouths may eventually be used as daggers for the stabbing of our backs. So-called friends, acquaintances or just plain curious strangers may just turn evil and malicious. It takes wise discernment to know who deserves an honest answer or a 'No comment.' Zipped lips can be at times the best lips.

WORDS (original poem)

When words are spoken,
they fly,
float,
fall,
are suspended
and caught,
complete
or misshapen.

Words can explode
into countless versions.

Then, there's calm
or tension.
Peace
or mayhem.

Or at once
all of them.

My Advice to Kris Aquino

Who am I to advise Kris Aquino, who yet again cried on The Buzz on March 14, 2010? She does not know me. I am sure she has already received a lot of advice from her own family and loved ones. What she does with all that counsel and advice I really don’t know.

If she would allow me to tell her what I want her to hear without her interrupting me, I would say the following: “It’s not wrong to defend yourself and your loved ones especially if there’s much criticism hurled at you. But your tearful confession on TV still revealed pride. Never broadcast your goodness and virtues in the name of defense. You confess that you’re not a liar. That’s good. But only God sees completely your heart. You may have revealed many truths but what about those things you have not revealed? You are a big star in show business and showbiz is ‘show’. You admitted in one TV interview that you are a tattler. And a ‘tattler’ is one given to tattling or idle talking. Your tongue has cost you and even other people so much pain. It’s about time you need to offer your tongue to the Lord. Praise Him instead with your lips. But that would be hard. You cannot serve both God and the showbiz mammon.”

KRIS AQUINO

Kris Aquino is called local TV's Queen of Talk. I am one of those who believe that Kris is articulate and outspoken, which are her winning attributes as a TV host. But she has shown many a time that she lacks the ability to be gracious and tactful. Much criticized by those with higher sensibilities, Kris remains very popular. But the Queen of Talk badly needs to be reminded of delicacy and discretion. A punch on the mouth may help her wake up, I suppose.