Everyone’s looking forward to hearing the first State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, happening on July 25, 2016, Monday.
The SONA marks the opening of the regular session of Congress on the 4th Monday of July in accordance with the 1987 Constitution.
We can say that this is one of the most anticipated SONA in the history.
Why? Let us state some reasons.
Simple SONA
Stunning fashion, exquisite gowns, ternos, barongs and tuxedos.
These get much of our attention (honestly stating) when we talk about SONA or State of the Nation Address.
But this year, change has really arrived.
Because this overwhelming trend has been scrapped from the list, as President Rodrigo Duterte ordered to have a simple SONA.
Guests are requested to come in business attire only, it means–minimal fanfare without any extravagance.
Malacañang official said they are confident that guests will follow the subdued dress code requested by Duterte in order to show empathy with the public.
As for the menu, around 800 guests will be offered traditional Filipino favorites such as salted duck egg dressing on a cocktail tea bowl, mongo soup with smoked fish and alugbati, grissini bread, fresh lumpiang ubod in pouch, empanadita chicken or spicy tuna, sotong goreng, flaked chicken adobo, mushroom dried lumpiang ubod, pandesal with quesong puti, penne with taba talangka sauce at chicken skin cracklings.
This time around only the Speaker of the House, the Senate President, and the majority leaders of both chambers will welcome Duterte when he arrives at the entrance of the Batasang Pambansa. Although the President would still have the ‘meet and greet’ with Representatives at the latter part of the program.
A member of the SONA preparation team cleared that while they’re keeping things simple, they made sure that the SONA will still be an elegant and presentable state function.
An ‘explosive’ speech?
As they say, you haven’t seen or heard anything yet.
The President is expected to deliver a ‘straightforward–no holds barred’ type of speech on Monday.
Reports say that the President will possibly be dropping a number of bombshells, including the identities of local government officials and other personalities believed to be involved in illegal drug operation.
It was mentioned that the President’s speech will be crisp, shorter than previous SONAs, will focus more on his own legislative agendas and will not play the blame-game.
*Director Brillante Mendoza
It was also added that the award winning director Brillante Mendoza will oversee camera shots to create meaningful visual narrative of the SONA.
People might wondering. “Why is there a director for the SONA?”
According to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar the visual narrative will give more emphasis to every detail, and to what the President would really like to deliver to the public.
They want the President to communicate and connect with the people during his speech.
As per Director Mendoza, he said that he will capture the ‘true’ Duterte.
There will be no rehearsals because what he wants to show is the spontaneity of the President.
This won’t be the first time a professional film or broadcast director was involved in SONA preparations.
Filmmaker Lupita Aquino Kashiwahara, aunt of former President Benigno Aquino III, directed then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s SONA.
What do we want to hear?
We’ve asked a few people on their expectations of the upcoming SONA and here are their replies:
“Siguro malaking part ng SONA niya ay about dun sa kung ilan na ang napabagsak niya na drug users o drug lords for the past weeks na dumaan and I’m also a bit of curious kung magpapakita siya ng humanity sa usaping iyon. Sana i-clear din ni President Duterte sa mamamayan yung sa usapin ng death penalty although di ko alam kung SONA is the right event para i-discuss niya ‘yun. I’m also looking forward na ma-discuss niya rin ‘yung sa naging issue niya sa media.” — Jzerenneah Dormido, 4th year Mass Communication Student, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
“Nasasabik akong marinig ang ilan pang drug personalities na maaaring isiwalat sa unang SONA ni Pangulong Duterte kabilang na mga hakbang na naisagawa’t natapos na. Inaasahan ko ring malaman ang mga paunang batas na napaburan na niya partikular ang FOI.” –Rogerly Clare Ivy Egot, 4th year Broadcast Communication Student, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
“Inaasahan kong marinig ang iba pang mabubuting balita at mga achievements ng bagong administrasyon. Sawa na tayo sa mga pangako at mga pagyayabang na walang matibay na output. Inaasahan ko ring marinig ang iba pang mga batas at kasalukuyang aksyon ng administrasyong Duterte sa mga isyung panlipunang patuloy na hinaharap ng bansa” –Raquel Caneo, 3rd year Broadcast Communication Student, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
“Since maikli lang ‘yung SONA niya, inaasahan ko na magstick sila dun sa sinasabi nila na puro plans lang sasabihin. Inaasahan ko syempre sasabihin niya yung pagsugpo sa droga at krimen. Inaasahan ko rin na ilalatag niya yung plano niya for education and health, at solusyon sa trapiko” –Neima Chowdhury, Journalist
“Inaasahan ko na sa darating na SONA ni Pangulong Duterte ay may mababanggit siya ukol sa pagtaas ng sahod ng mga ordinaryong empleyado. Syempre kasama nariyan ‘yung mabawasan ang trapiko sa Metro Manila at ‘yung iba pa niyang plano para mas mapababa ang krimen sa bansa.” –Emmanuel Macose, Security Guard
“Ang gusto kong marinig ay kung paano niya masosolusyonan ‘yung mga problema ng ating bansa. Nalulungkot ako sa dami ng mga napapatay na kriminal ngayon. Sana maging maayos yung pamamalakad ni Pangulong Duterte.” –Auring Borbe, Housewife
“Ang sakin lang ay sana lahat ng mga bibitawan niyang mga pangako sa SONA niya ay kaya niyang tuparin. Mas gusto ko kasi ‘yung president na mas lamang ang aksyon kaysa sa salita.” –Paula Primo, Grade 10 Student, Colegio San Agustin-Biñan
“Para sa akin, hindi na maganda yung nangyayari ngayon na napakarami nang napapatay na mga drug lord. Dapat ang gawin ni Pangulong Duterte ay lahat ng mga pulis na sangkot sa iligal na droga ay tanggalin na agad sa pwesto.”–Erwin Masindo, tricycle driver
“I expect to hear his ‘solid and clear’ future plans for the country especially when it comes to continuing the growth of the economy, solving crimes and improving the transportation system”–Kimberly Ilaya, Trainee, Provill Studios
Though we’re hopeful and anticipating…let us not forget that change and progress don’t just revolve on the Chief Executive’s hands alone… WE have to LISTEN, ACT and be his partners for CHANGE.
By Aiza Rendon | Ira Yuson Cruz
