When to speak, when to shut up FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 09/12/2010

When to speak, when to shut up

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

09/12/2010
Noynoy Aquino should really learn diplomatese and soon, because if he continues to be a slow learner, he may just succeed in isolating the country from the rest of the world.

During his obviously rehearsed panel interview with his friendly television media where he bared his explanation on his whereabouts and “whichabouts” during the hostage crisis, none of which was new, as the same explanations had already been made earlier, save for the many contradictions made during that panel interview and save for his slip of the tongue he made on the “insulting” letter he received — evidently from Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang.

There are some things that a president should not bare publicly. Even more important, Noynoy shouldn’t have mentioned it at all mainly because sentiments among the Chinese are still raw over the botched hostage rescue operations.

What did mention of that “insulting” letter do, to the already strained relations (and they are still strained, despite propaganda that the Philippines and China are on friendlier terms again) between China and the Philippines, and Hong Kong and the Philippines? One must remember that Hong Kong is still a Special Autonomous Region..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100912com2.html