MANILA - A feisty President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo delivered her 9th State of the Nation Address (SONA) with a mouthful for her critics, but precious little for those who couldn't wait to hear her speak about.

"At the end of this speech, I shall step down from this stage but not from the presidency. My term does not end until next year," she said.

She did not disclose her political plans after 2010. There was no mention whether she, indeed, wants to remain in power with another title like prime minister under a new form of government.

Mrs. Arroyo left precious little for those who wanted to hear her speak words that left no wiggle room for doubt.

"I have never expressed the desire to extend myself beyond my term. Many of those who accuse me of it tried to cling like nails to their post," she said.

She did not make a direct pitch for charter change, she merely attacked those opposing it.

"The noisiest critics of constitutional reform tirelessly and shamelessly attempted Cha-cha when they thought they could take advantage of a shift to a form of government. Now they feel they can't benefit from it, they oppose it," she said.

But as in the past, Mrs. Arroyo's valedictory outlined what she claimed were her administration's achievements: an economy resilient to the global crisis; sound fiscal reforms; a stable financial system, and a government that walks the talk by spending on the people's health, education, housing, microfinance and targeted subsidies.

And again, she was ready with case studies.

"Narito si Jennifer Silbor, isa sa sampung milyong trainee...Good job, Jennifer!"

The president also credited her allies in the lower House for bringing down the cost of medicine.

But she also used the opportunity to hit back at the author of the Senate version of the cheaper medicines law, presidential aspirant and known critic Senator Mar Roxas.

"Pursuant to law, I am placing other drugs under a maximum retail price. To those who want to be President, this advice: If you want something done, do it hard, do it well. Don't pussyfoot. Don't pander, and don't say bad words in public. Just do it."

The country's most unpopular and distrusted leader since President Marcos also bravely told the nation she is no dictator, she is no thief.

"In the face of atempted coups, I issued emergency proclamations just in case. But I was able to resolve these military crises with the ordinary powers of my office. My critics call it dictatorship. I call it determination. We know it as strong government," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo also turned the tables on those who say she should be made to answer for her actions after 2010.

"I am falsely accused, without proof, of using my office for personal profit. Many of those who accuse me of it have lifestyles and spending habits that make them walking proofs of that crime," she said.

"Those who live in glass houses should cast no stones. Those who should be in jail should not threaten it, especially if they have been there," she said.

She will not cease to work until her last day in office, she said.

And for her ninth and, presumably, her last State of the Nation Address, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo told the nation: she will go down fighting.

She is no lame duck president.

Nothing categorical

Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers were quick to note that the president failed to declare categorically that she will step down in 2010.

The president also failed to address speculations that she will run for congresswoman in Pampanga next year.
    
But even one staunch ally is convinced, judging by the President's body language, that the President's last SONA is far from being a farewell address.
    
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said it looks like Mrs. Arroyo will not retire from politics when her term ends in 2010.

"She was, in effect, attacking those who have been very heavily critical of her, and that is not normally the position of a president who is leaving the limelight," Santiago said.

But for the president's husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, and son, Pampanga Congressman Mikey Arroyo, there should be no doubt about her plans.

"She did very well. I'm very proud of her," the First Gentleman said. Asked if he thought the SONA had a message that she would step down in 2010, he replied: "Of course, it's very clear."

Congressman Arroyo said that the President's "allies, herself, her family, we've never said the term extension is there. As a matter of fact, we specifically said that term extension is nowhere found in our agenda."

But others were not convinced.

"All she said was she would no longer be President in 2010, but she never categorically said she would give up power. So we can ask: after President, will she be Prime Minister?" said Rep. Risa Hontiveros of Akbayan party.

Rep. Joel Villanueva of CIBAC recalled the President's broken promise. "Sabi din niya noon hindi na siya tatakbo sa pagka-Pangulo, at tumakbo siya nung 2004."

Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna said Mrs. Arroyo has "left again the question hanging by saying yes or no."

However, Rep. Roilo Golez said Mrs. Arroyo's statement "thanking her supporters" sounded like a "good bye." "It may not be categorical as some people would want, but sounded like good bye to me."

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney said she "thought she made fairly clear that she's looking forward to elections the remaining months of her term."

A UP professor said it would have been better if the President had made a categorical rejection of Charter change.

"I think I would have clapped more if she said categorically and told her allies in Congress do not do anymore Cha-cha and leave that to the next president to lead. A statement as categorical as that would shut up a lot of her critics. But she didn't say anything related to that. She did not tell her allies to stop Cha-cha," said Prospero de Vera, a professor of the UP National College of Public Adminstration and Governance.

The Makati Business Club, meanwhile, did not see much substance in the president's address.
 
MBC executive director Alberto Lim said Mrs. Arroyo spent more time lashing out at her critics.
 
Many critics were diappointed that the president missed out on the opportunity to heal the nation, the first promise she gave to those who showed up at EDSA in 2001.

But then again that is not the first, but one of the many promises they believe she failed to deliver to the nation that she governed for eight years now. -- reports from Nadia Trinidad, Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News