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Celebrities divided over Arroyo performance

Author: Reyma Buan-Deveza
Column: Entertainment

MANILA - Like the rest of the Philippines, some celebrities are divided over whether or not President Arroyo did a good job as the country's leader in the past 8 years.

Ahead of President Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (SONA) Monday afternoon, they gave their personal thoughts, expectations and comments on the President's performance.

"I think she's doing her best. Kung pag--uusapan natin ang kasipagan, wala talagang maakakatalo doon. Talagang napakasipag. It's just that there are things na hindi niya nakakukuha ang suporta ng mga tao pero there are things na mayroon siyang ginawa for the country. So lets just hope for the best. Siguro ang kailangan lang for a leader to really succeed is talagang suporta ng mamamayan. Once hindi mo makuha 'yan ay hindi mo talaga masasabi na 100% ay fulfilled ka o successful ka." -Vilma Santos, Star for All Seasons and incumbent Batangas governor

"Ako gusto ko si GMA. Mukhang umu-okay naman ang economy natin ngayon. At the same time, I think she's one of the bravest women in the world. Okay naman ang bansa natin. Hindi naman tayo naapektuhan ng recession or everything, so, I guess okay sa akin ang Pilipinas. Ang government okay. I have to be honest, why not? Sa babae, ang maging leader ka ng nine years ay hindi biro. Sa dami ng problema pero she is still there will full smile." -Rufa Mae Quinto, comedienne and television host

"Thank you very much. Thank you very much for all the good things you did for the country. I know that you tried your best. I hope that the next leader ay isang mabuti at maayos din na presidente, mapagmahal sa tao at may takot sa Diyos. So, I wish you all the best in everything that you do." -Jericho Rosales, actor, singer and endorser

"I can say na kung ano ang objective niya at kung ano ang gusto niyang mangyari, I'm sure na ginawa niya lahat para makamit 'yon." -Dingdong Dantes, actor and endorser

"Nine years is a along time and she's still there and kahit paano ay binabangon pa din niya ang bansa natin. So, I could still say na she did a good job. Pero kung it's about time na talagang iahon tayo and siya lang ang nandiyan for the longest time siguro I'm also open for changes. Basta kung sino ang nandiyan doon tayo dapat 'yon ang (isipan) ng lahat ng mamayan. We should help each other." -Gabby Eigenmann, actor and singer

"I think she has done what she can for this country. She's a very good economist, unfortunately she's not very popular. What I don't like about her is that she lied. Hindi ba in the beginning she said that she's not going to run but in the end she ran? So, parang it questions her credibility.... Medyo questionable ang credibility niya in terms of how she's running the country. But I'd like to think that, in spite of the recession, the fact that the Philippine is still afloat and that the Philippine peso is the strongest currency now in the whole of Asia, I think she's done what she can." -Miriam Quiambao, Miss Philippines-Universe First Runner-Up 1999, actress and television host

Source: ABS-CBN News