GMA's SONA and Kuwaiti's Paycheck

Just when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was making promises to improve our lives during her SONA, Kuwaiti citizens were busy cashing out their 200 Dinars (USD 690).

All of them. One million of them receive the grant from their government. Kuwait just gave out $690 million. Whoa! Talk about surplus. As Kuwait’s assets climbing to 166 billion dollars, definitely, $690 million is a loose change.

How life can be so good for Kuwaitis? No more Saddam Hussein in the region. Last 2004, a similar govertment financed grant was also done. Last year alone, salary was increased by 170 dollars per month. Almost all of Kuwait's workers are employed by government controlled companies with high paying jobs and minimal work pressure. And now, the Emir just doled out 200 dinars for each one of them.

Tough luck for the foreign workers, including fellow Filipinos, they were not included.

But our OFWs and us here in the Philippines need not worry, just remember GMA promises during her SONA yesterday. After all, she delivered these statements:

“Finally, we have the funds not only to pay interest but to spend for education, better roads and bridges, provide good health services, and create more jobs in the country.”

“Our economy is growing over the longest period in the last quarter century -- 22 quarters of economic growth; the earnings of the poorest families grew by over 30 percent in the first three years of my administration; and the number of poor families dropped from 28 percent to 25 percent or equivalent to two million people freed from poverty.”

“According to Thornton and Punongbayan, 70 percent of medium-size business owners are optimistic, the fifth most optimistic among 30 countries, just behind India, Ireland, South Africa and China.”