PINOY NETIZENS DIVIDED ON NOY'S YouTubbe WORLD VIEW INTERVIEW
[PHOTO - President Aquino answers questions during his You Tube Worldview Interview from Malacañan Palace Friday. The on-line interview is moderated by Google Asia-Pacific Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs Ross LaJeunesse.]
MANILA, NOVEMBER 7, 2011 (GMANEWSTV) President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Friday afternoon took time to answer questions from online citizens for Youtube's World View, a monthly series of live interviews with world leaders.
Moreover, Pinoy netizens were divided in their opinions of how Aquino fielded and answered questions on a variety of topics, ranging from the serious to the whimsical.
Aquino is the first Asian leader to participate in the WorldView program, whose previous subjects include US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Spain Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
Questions and answers
"Mr. President, naniniwala po ba kayo kay Santa Claus? Kung oo, ano po ang wish n'yo ngayong Pasko?" asked 7-year-old Joshua via YouTube.
Aquino responded in stride: "Santa Claus perhaps is a personification of how people see the idea of generosity and idea of caring. It does come out at least for Christians during this period — most particularly and most, shall we say, strongly."
But on a serious note, Aquino was asked, "What are plans to improve the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal?" The question, posted by Jesse from Cavite, was the top rated Tweet as voted by people on WorldView.
Aquino's answer was quick and to the point: "A plan for it, improving both structurally and aesthetically, would be presented to me by Tuesday next week."
The interview took place at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, in Malacańang and was conducted by Ross LeJounesse, director of public policy and government affairs for Google Asia Pacific.
The President addressed the top-rated questions submitted by online users prior to the 45-minute-long broadcast.
Pinoy netizens divided
A number of netizens who caught the livestream offered their two cents on Twitter. Feedback is generally evenly split between supporters and critics.
"There goes Pnoy again with his THEORETICAL and Philosophical answers.wl akong narinig na CONCRETE answers. yung solusyun talaga," said Antonio Carranza.
"Watched pnoy at youtube.com/worldview. Hes better at interviews than at giving speeches," quipped Gabriel Mercado.
View the story "Twitter reactions to Pnoy's interview on Youtube's World View series" on Storify — TJD, GMA News
PNoy's Christmas wish is for Santa to transform critics into caring people
If President Benigno Aquino III gets the chance to make a wish, he will ask Santa Claus to transform critics into people who care.
YouTube user Joshua, 7, asked the President during the World View live interview Friday on YouTube if he believes in Santa Claus and if so what would he wish for from the Christmas icon.
"Mr. President, naniniwala po ba kayo kay Santa Claus? Kung oo, ano po ang wish n'yo ngayong Pasko?" said Joshua in a video posted on YouTube.
Aquino likened Santa Claus to people who espouse goodwill toward their fellow men.
"Santa Claus perhaps is a personification of how people see the idea of generosity and idea of caring. It does come out at least for Christians during this period — most particularly and most, shall we say, strongly," he said.
People, especially those still in the criticize-anything-and-everything phase, should transform themselves into how they can assist their neighbor, sister, brother or anybody, the President noted.
"What can we contribute towards the improvement of the whole rather than how do we concentrate on envy or concentrate on our ability to criticize daily to ad infinitum that leads to nowhere," he said.
"Perhaps that idea of caring for everybody does not exist only during the Christmas period but more so is a facet of everyday life that has to be that looking out rather than looking purely at ones own self interest. That the wish," he added.
Aquino is the subject of criticisms, from his looks to his working attitude and the cars he bought to the policies his administration is implementing.
The first Asian head of state to participate in YouTube's World View, Aquino was interviewed by Ross LeJounesse, Google head of public policy and government affairs-Asia Pacific.
Other world leaders interviewed on YouTube's World View were US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Spain Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
World View is a series of monthly interviews with world leaders where YouTube users ask and rate the questions. The top-rated questions are asked during live interviews. — VS, GMA News
Aquino reveals Christmas wish
If there's one thing President Benigno Aquino III wishes for this Christmas, it's for Filipinos to be more positive and caring.
With nearly a month to go before Christmas, Aquino shared his wish through a live chat session via YouTube Worldview Friday.
"People should shift from criticize-anything-and-everything ways. We should transform to how we can assist our neighbor, sister, brother or those we don't even know," the president said. "We should think of what can we contribute towards the improvement of all."
Aquino is the first Asian leader to be interviewed in the Worldview series where ordinary citizens are given the opportunity to ask world leaders questions on various topics.
More issues, including Santa
A 7-year-old boy named Joshua asked the president's Christmas wish and if he believed in Santa Claus through a video question.
Although Aquino did not directly respond to the boy's question about Santa, the president explained that Santa Claus is a personification of generosity and caring.
"Caring for everybody does not only exist during the Christmas spirit but more so for everyday life," he added.
Aside from his wish, Aquino also responded to employment, peace, tourism and other local issues.
The president said there are enough jobs in the country but the Philippines suffers from a jobs mismatch. He said that one-third of the national budget is allotted for social concerns and poverty alleviation.
Asked what he would address first, the Mindanao and the Spratlys issue, Aquino stressed that internal peace and order should be prioritized. He added that eliminating terrorists is the goal but the way this is done becomes the question.
Making over the 'world's worst airport'
The president was also asked which tourist destination in the Philippines he would like to promote in particular. "You can go to practically any region and there will be sites that made your trip worthwhile," he replied.
He said the government is preparing a plan to make over the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, recently named the "worst airport in the world."
Aquino also reiterated his support of the passage of the reproductive health bill and said that the government has not hidden any information from the public insofar as the freedom of information bill is concerned.
To date, the Worldview series has featured nearly a dozen world leaders from U.S. President Barack Obama, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and Spain Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero.
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