TRANSPARENCY: What President Noynoy Aquino needs is not a 100-day honeymoon with media – because their adversarial role in our libertarian setting will not allow it — but some self-adjustments in his communication habits.

That goes, too, with the members of his Cabinet, some of whom have shown some frayed edges here and there in their initial bouts with the Fourth Estate.

Of course, we all like it that Noynoy is transparent, because we get to know where he is coming from, where he is taking us and how he intends to lead us to the Promised Land.

But for his own sake, and that of the 90-million-plus Filipinos under his care, he should not be too transparent.

The media may not always forgive him, but the nation will, if he does not always speak out his mind when he thinks public interest requires a holding back.

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LESS TALK: In this world infested with evil spirits, some of them wearing angel’s wings, the President must realize that, despite media badgering, there are thoughts that are best kept to himself and feelings best hidden from public view.

He should forget about living up to the image of a fictional new President “hitting the ground running.” It is well nigh impossible for a Chief Executive to be in total control right on Day One.

What is likely to happen – and it is all right if it does happen – is for the President to descend upon the madding scene “in medias res” (in the midst of things) and grapple with problems as they come from all directions.

Of course, the President must have a ready master plan of action, but he cannot always follow it in chronological sequence as neatly drawn on paper.

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FACT-FINDING: The President has given us a preview of his chosen sequence. He said early on that the first order of business is to get the facts on each and every concern, sort them out, and then plan the best approach.

One thing with our bureaucracy is that while statistics presented by various agencies are generally truthful, they have been tweaked here and there to such an extent that in the end, nobody knows for sure the objective factual situation.

So before he sat down to work, President Aquino ordered each Cabinet official to dig out the true facts, including statistical data, as basis for an integrated plan of action.

Now that takes time.

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GIVING A CHANCE: One can discern from Noynoy’s responses in his first sit-down media conference yesterday that he has a good, and improving, grasp of the state of the nation and how to approach the bigger problems.

One thing we can do in good faith is to give him time and space to get the facts first, organize them and work out doable solutions.

For his part, the President should take nitpicking, which is inevitable with the lively press that we have, also in good faith. It will help him and his advisers in refining plans and programs.

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POTENTIAL ALLIES: Despite the media’s adversarial stance, it would be fatal for the President and his advisers to regard them as an adversary.

The forces locked in the battle for men’s minds are not to be categorized into allies and enemies only. Because the world is not black and white – or yellow and non-yellow — stereotyping media can only lead to a failure of communication.

As they do in war, forces on the ground ar not to be regarded as starkly friend or foe. There should be allowances for potential allies and potential enemies and a continuing campaign to win more allies.

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MEDIA FLAK: That was why it was unfortunate, as it was unnecessary, that on his first working day last Thursday, Education Secretary Armin Luistro told inquiring media something that they loathed to hear.

Translated from Tagalog, Luistro’s remarks were to the effect that journalists have not been very helpful, that they provoke fighting and prevent a dispassionate and orderly discussion of issues.

He got flak for his “tactless” description of media who were just inquiring about his policy on sex education and his department’s pilot project to prevent unwanted pregnancies and curb a runaway population growth.

Last Tuesday, he said: “I wish I could have said it in a better way… That can be considered something like a first-day jitters. Given time, I will be able to bring across my messages more clearly.”

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P.R. REFRESHER: The incident enrolled Luistro (and presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda) in the freshman class ordered by the President for officials who look or sound like they need a crash course on media relations.

In his baptismal press encounter last Thursday, Lacierda had a tough time explaining his boss’ first executive order laying off thousands of personnel, some of them long serving in the government.

That mass purge was carried out rather crudely. Government personnel, however lowly, also have rights. They are not to be summarily removed without benefit of due process and a just cause.

An official appointment is not necessarily illegal just because it was made by Aquino’s predecessor.

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HUMILIATING: Sending Luistro to take a course in media relations is awkward and humiliating, more so if those presuming to teach him are not necessarily recognized experts in the field.

Luistro was lured into giving up the presidency of De La Salle University to take the thankless job of a department secretary. For him to be subjected now to something like that leaves me uncomfortable, whatever his fumble was.

I thought a good manager praises personnel in public but chastises them in private.

Among us Filipinos, public humiliation is cruelty.