THE PENULTIMATE SONA OF PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

THE PENULTIMATE SONA 

OF PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

The latest State of the Nation Address of the President became so emotional and less firing. Even the opposition spokesperson agreed with the analysis and considered this 5^th SONA of the president as the best among previous annual addresses. The audio-visual presentation became more evident and comprehensive this time as it involved testimonies from the recipients  who benefited from TESDA schooling program which is one of the agencies that was funded by the so-called economic stimulus or popularly known as the Development Acceleration Program (DAP). Although DAP has its tangible and intangible benefits for boosting economic growth of the country, still many critics of the President have qualms about its existence prior to its repeal.Another, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Conditional Cash Transfer) was also underlined in the speech as this program has helped alleviate the effect of poverty and extend relief to the destitute families.  

Moreover, the SONA of the President, as one can observe and perceive, had a less gloating remark against his foes. This time he became less harsh in verbally lambasting crooks and culprits.He did not even mention about the three senatorial detainees who are charged with plunder and who are currently detained under Philippine National Police Custody. The President did mention also figures about his achievements that his administration boastfully claimed compared with the previous administration.

The SONA will not be completed without the parade of scintillating personalities and spouses sporting terno and barong. Wearing of elegant terno and barong at the SONA has been a tradition and fashion statement for the lawmakers, spouses and guests for the past years together with a walk on the red carpet. However, not all luminaries had wanted an opportunity to walk on the red carpet. Others became elusive like Senator JV Ejercito and his wife to be noticed. Instead the couple just walked straight towards the lounge. However, the leftist group wore peach color to show discontentment about the alleged President’s illegal use of DAP and as a show of support for the impeachment of the President. Flamboyant mother, Nanay Dionisia, once again took center stage as she bragged her gown made from the United States. On the other hand, Nancy Binay was heckled once again but this time about her hot-air balloon gown (as the bashers claimed) which she wore during the pre-SONA session at the Senate. Senator Chiz Escudero and Heart Evangelista were also seen on the red carpet as both headed towards the plenary.

As expected, the President braved to defend the Development Acceleration Program. But this time, he did not lambast the Supreme Court  compared with previous SONA. The President even rationalized DAP's benefits to other key government agencies like the Philippine National Police which recently acquired weapons and ammunition and the like for its operation: LAMBAT.

For me, the epitome of the President's speech concentrated on his last paragraph, as he stated: “The Filipino is worth dying for. The Filipino is worth living for. At idagdag ko lang po, the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.” By the statement of the President, the crowd rose from their seats while others shed tears—including Presidential sister, Kris Aquino, while applauding the President as he was regaining his composure. The State of the Nation Address lasted 91 minutes (more than an hour longer from the assessment of analysts) and got 85 rounds of applause.

FYI:

Completed in 1978 after its construction moratorium in 1960s, the House of Representatives Complex around Batasan Hills was intended to be the foundation of a new Capitol (patterned after US Legislative Capitol building) that would house both Houses of Congress including executive and judiciary and other national government agencies. The construction was spearheaded by Architect Federico S. Ilustre in 1956 but the plan was already premeditated 10 years before and after making Quezon City then as the country's capital through RA 333 under the watch of President Elpidio Quirino. Although the construction was put on hold for decade, the revival of the project was initiated by the late President Marcos together with Architect Felipe Mendoza in time for interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978.