Filmmaker-MTRCB board member Milo Sogueco remains hopeful for PNoy

MANILA, Philippines – While some are alarmed with the fluctuating approval rating of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, there are those who look beyond the numbers and hold on to the trust they have given him. 

Acclaimed indie director and current board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Milo Sogueco, is among those who believe in the president and hope that his personal values would anchor his leadership in the next few years. In this exclusive interview with Bulletin Entertainment, the director of films “Sanglaan” and “Eroplano” shares his insights about PNoy and what he thinks makes the chief executive click.

How would you rate PNoy’s performance from a scale of one to 10 and why?
I’ll probably rate him a seven for now. I feel there are still a lot of things to be done. ‘Yung mga gusto kasing gawin ng Presidente, at nung current administration, kahit saan mang departamento, masyadong ambitious. 'Pag sinabing masyadong ambitious, maraming gustong gawin, na maganda. At siyempre kung maganda ang gustong mangyari ng current administration, hindi naman basta-bastang magagawa yoon. 

So as of now when it comes to that, I’m also a normal person; sometimes I get impatient. Being a part of MTRCB, sometimes kahit gusto mong umandar kaagad the following day, hindi kasi ganun kabilis eh. May history talaga tayo ng kabagalan, na ‘yun na talaga ‘yung sistema natin, through the years. Kailangan talaga baguhin. But I believe given due time and given more people helping out the administration and the President, we will all really get what we want.

What can you say about PNoy as a public servant?
PNoy is a very honest and a humble individual and President. ‘Yun ang pinakagusto ko sa kanya. Marangal siya, he runs with honor, he has a very quiet pride [in doing] things. Hindi siya showy lang... Perhaps he got that from President Cory. And for me it’s a nice thing. 

What do you think is his highest achievement so far? 
He was able to garner the respect again of the youth. And that, for me, is very important. Because who will lead us anyway in the future but the youth? Aside from that, the introduction of the RH (Reproductive Health) Bill is one of the most important proposals he has done. Obviously, I support this bill 100 percent! 

What are PNoy’s strengths? 
Aside from gaining the respect of the youth, I really feel that the President is a very honest guy. He rules with righteousness and a very good conscience. Importante kasi na marangal ang tao, at may dignidad ang liderato. 

What is your hope for the President? 
Well, my hope for the President is that he’ll always implement laws and he’ll always rule with a power that comes with his very good conscience. At sana hindi siya mawalan ng pag-asa. He’s very humble when it comes to dealing with his leadership. But I’ve always felt that the Filipino people need a whip sometimes, eh, kasi ang tigas na ng ulo natin. 

I trust that he will rule anyway with a good heart and with a very good conscience… Unlike the past leaders and the past dictators that we had, I trust him enough that he could sometimes boss us around because I know that he’ll boss us the good way, not in a greedy way. Kumbaga konting palo sa Pilipino at sa Pilipinas kasi kailangan na natin talaga n’on eh. Para ma-disiplina tayo… that’s what I really hope for the President to become, and I hope it’s gonna come soon. I know he’s being fair to everyone, he’s practicing democracy... That’s why I voted for him... that he'll decide the right things for us, and that he'll be up there and just lead us. 200 percent.

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