Pinoys worry after Obama’s State of the Union Address
Pinoys worry after Obama’s State of the Union Address
By Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
SAN FRANCISCO – With America facing a deficit of $1.48 trillion, some Filipinos in San Francisco know President Obama faces a tough year ahead.
A mother of three, Evelyn Gonzales admitted that she stopped watching in the middle of Obama’s State of the Union Address because she was disheartened.
She said, “Since last year, nothing has changed.”
Education was a major part of Obama’s State of the Union Address, saying America should once again become an international leader in higher education.
But Gonzales said America cannot produce more college graduates because the government continues to cut millions of dollars in education funding.
At the Canon Kip Senior Center, 80-year-old Felicitas Juridico is worried that healthcare and deficit reductions would affect seniors like her who depend on Medicare and Social Security benefits.
She said, “We’re old. We’re sickly. What they’re giving us right now is not enough as it is. They can’t cut us anymore funding.”
Medicare and Social Security Specialist MC Canlas said he expects the government to make cuts on services benefiting seniors and low-income families, because Obama and lawmakers want to cut the deficit.
“The thing is, the government ends up spending more money if they don’t invest on the people. They need to give people basic healthcare and services,” he said.
Filipinos also said the president focused too much on reviving the economy and failed to address key issues such as immigration reform. But even with their disappointment and worries, some Filipinos are still hopeful that Obama can still turn things around.
Juridico said, “We all need to unite and do our part to help America.” Balitang America
By Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
SAN FRANCISCO – With America facing a deficit of $1.48 trillion, some Filipinos in San Francisco know President Obama faces a tough year ahead.
A mother of three, Evelyn Gonzales admitted that she stopped watching in the middle of Obama’s State of the Union Address because she was disheartened.
She said, “Since last year, nothing has changed.”
Education was a major part of Obama’s State of the Union Address, saying America should once again become an international leader in higher education.
But Gonzales said America cannot produce more college graduates because the government continues to cut millions of dollars in education funding.
At the Canon Kip Senior Center, 80-year-old Felicitas Juridico is worried that healthcare and deficit reductions would affect seniors like her who depend on Medicare and Social Security benefits.
She said, “We’re old. We’re sickly. What they’re giving us right now is not enough as it is. They can’t cut us anymore funding.”
Medicare and Social Security Specialist MC Canlas said he expects the government to make cuts on services benefiting seniors and low-income families, because Obama and lawmakers want to cut the deficit.
“The thing is, the government ends up spending more money if they don’t invest on the people. They need to give people basic healthcare and services,” he said.
Filipinos also said the president focused too much on reviving the economy and failed to address key issues such as immigration reform. But even with their disappointment and worries, some Filipinos are still hopeful that Obama can still turn things around.
Juridico said, “We all need to unite and do our part to help America.” Balitang America
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