Duterte’s First SONA: What to expect
We’re only 6 days away from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s (PRRD) first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25 at the Batasang Pambansa or the House of Representatives in Quezon City. SONA is the annual progress report of our country. It is presented by the President every year in July, and is always held at the Batasang Pambansa. In attendance are the country’s congressmen, senators, executive secretaries, UN dignitaries, the Vice President, their families (if they so choose), and any of the president’s personal guests.
HIS FIRST SONA. After being sworn in as president, PRRD will deliver his much-awaited SONA this July 25. (Photo courtesy of Presidential Communications Operations Office)
There are no details about what he will talk about during the SONA, but there have been changes to the “usual program.” Apart from the classic report on what the new administration wants to do, here are some of the most prominent changes based on the press briefing held yesterday, July 18:
1. He likes it simple. The SONA fashion show will (hopefully) be a thing of the past. In previous SONAs, the event has always gotten attention because of the lavish clothes that some guests wear to the event, making it a virtual “fashion show.” According to incoming Department of Finance spokesperson Atty. Paola Alvarez, they will adopt a “strict business attire” dress code this coming July 25. The ladies will still be allowed to wear a Filipiniana (a Philippine traditional dress for women), but it should not be more than knee length.
EXPECT TO SEE LESS OF THESE. The red carpet will still be there, but it will no longer play host to a mini-fashion show. (Photos by Trisha Macas and Elizabeth Marcelo on Twitter)
2. Award-winning director at the helm. The President’s first SONA will be directed by no less than award-winning director Brillante Mendoza. His main role will be to direct camera placement and how the event will go, including his entrance to the Batasang Pambansa, which will be shown live on TV on July 25.
AND HE’S DOING IT PRO-BONO. That means free for everyone else who’s not familiar with Latin. (Photo by Ace Morandante/PPD via Rappler)
3. Blame game no more. Previous first SONAs would usually include anything wrong or not done by the previous administration. In the press briefing, Alvarez said that though there is no word on the content of his speech, we can expect a blame-free speech since it is not in Pres. Duterte’s personality to blame past administrations.
4. No more rallies? This might be possible, but highly unlikely. According to Alvarez, the Presidential Security Group will be the ones to address anything regarding the president’s safety. This includes protest rallies held by militant groups. However, she did mention that since the president is open to talking to them, “maybe it is better if we talk to him on a separate occasion.”
HOPEFULLY NONE OF THESE. Protest rallies are a constant at every SONA, but if things go the way PRRD’s administration has planned, we may be in for 6 years of rally-free SONAs. (Photo by Matikas via Wikimedia Commons)
Would these push through? We can only guess, but with how PRRD is, we should be in for an entirely different SONA not just on July 25, but for the next 6 years.
#walangpasok ADVISORY: No classes on Monday (July 25) in all levels in QC due to the SONA of Pres. Duterte #SONA2016
— QC Local Government (@qclocalgovt) July 18, 2016
One thing will remain the same, though: classes will still be suspended in Quezon City on July 25 to make way for the SONA, according to a report by GMA News Online.
Source: Presidential Communications Office, The Philippine Star, CNN Philippines, GMA News Online
