The State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the Philippines is not only a platform for the President to communicate important national issues and legislative agenda, but also an event that can sometimes be marked by unexpected incidents.
Among the many SONAs delivered throughout our nation’s history, a few moments have stood out for being either particularly inspiring or off-putting, at least from the perspective of millions of ordinary Filipinos, who are persuaded to listen and sit through this annual political tradition:
Hoping for a New Society—Ferdinand Marcos Sr. (1973)
The senior President Marcos broke tradition and delivered his eighth SONA over radio and television in Malacañang on September 21, 1973. He defended his declaration of Martial Law, which had been in place since September 1972, describing this development as a “crisis of survival.”
His 5,848-worded speech was marked by assertions that Martial Law was necessary for national stability and progress.
“We have dared to make new beginnings—because the old paths have proved to be dead ends. We have exchanged the poor certainty of the status quo for the dynamism of a new society,” Marcos Sr. said.
A Vigorous Tiger — Fidel V. Ramos (1997)
Delivering the final SONA was challenging for any president, who often had to contend with waning public trust and approval ratings. But President Ramos refused to go down this path. He focused on laying down his accomplishments over six years against the backdrop of the Asian Financial Crisis.
“I will not be a lame duck President for two reasons: First, because that is not my nature, and you know that very well. And second, the times call for vigorous tigers and not enfeebled fowls,” Ramos said in his 6,293-worded speech on July 28, 1997.
FVR painted a picture of the Philippines in relative economic stability towards the end of his administration, guided by his so-called “pole-vaulting strategy,” in which all levels of government and sectors of society shared the responsibility to improve the state of the nation.
Beyond official reports and statistics, Ramos said the greatest accomplishment of his government was to “bring back the Filipinos’ sense of self-respect and pride—of faith in ourselves and of confidence in the future,” aiming to end his administration on a positive note.
‘Hindi binibeybi ang rebelyon. Pinipisa.’ —Joseph Estrada (1999)
The movie star turned commander-in-chief was under immense pressure to prove his doubters wrong during his administration. Estrada banked on his mass appeal to win the presidency in 1998 and used it to his advantage during his public appearances.
His second SONA was no exception. The 6,403-worded speech was highlighted by his ‘war on poverty’ declaration with hints of sarcasm addressed to his critics, including some members of the Philippine press, which he felt had been unfriendly towards him.
Estrada went from his iconic “huwag niyo akong subukan (don’t try me)” line—addressed to corrupt officers during his 1998 inauguration speech—to “huwag niyo kaming hamunin” in his second SONA, taking on criminals and rebellious forces this time around.
“Hindi binebeybi ang rebelyon. Pinipisa. Kaya huwag niyo kaming hamunin. Gayon din ang masasabi ko tungkol sa krimen at mga salarin (Rebellion is not to be cradled. It is supposed to be crushed. So, don’t dare us. I will say the same thing towards crime and criminals),” he said on July 26, 1999.
GMA and her ‘Bangkang Papel’ boys — Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001)
Arroyo’s rise to the presidency did not sail smoothly as it happened at the expense of her predecessor, who was ousted after just two and a half years in office. Evidently, she had a lot to prove and wasted no time trying to endear herself to the masses.
In her first SONA delivered on July 23, 2001, three unassuming kids from Payatas shared the spotlight with the President. They would forever be known as the “Bangkang Papel” (Paper Boat) boys, who stood as a symbol of hope for the Arroyo administration.
The boys—Erwin Dolera, Jomer Pabalan, and Jayson Vann Banogan—reportedly reached out to Arroyo by turning their letters into “paper boats,” which they sent via the Pasig River. She was so moved by their dreams of receiving a good education to lift their families out of poverty.
“I am not a miracle worker. But I will do what is right and I will do my best… God will take care of the rest,” Arroyo said at the end of her speech. All three have been granted scholarships but only Dolera and Pabalan would eventually graduate. Dolera, however, would die of illness at age 24.
Standing Up to China—Benigno Aquino III (2011)
The late Noynoy Aquino ran and won on the platform of anti-corruption, promising to end a culture of abuse or what he referred to as the ‘wang-wang’ attitude. Breaking this mindset of entitlement was one of the guiding principles of his administration and he tried to bring this overseas.
Filipinos remember Aquino as the President who stood up to China in asserting our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. This was evident in his second SONA, when he announced his government’s plan to take China to court before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea.
“Wala tayong balak mang-away. Pero kailangan ding mabatid ng mundo na handa tayong ipagtanggol ang atin. (We do not wish to increase tensions with anyone, but we must let the world know that we are ready to protect what is ours),” Aquino said.
He underscored on July 25, 2011 that the Philippines under his leadership would not allow itself to be intimidated right in its own backyard. “Our message to the world is clear: what is ours is ours,” Aquino said in Filipino. The Philippines eventually won that case against China in 2016.
Defending a Bloody War on Drugs —Rodrigo Duterte (2018)
The 2018 SONA was notably delayed due to a dramatic political maneuver behind the scenes that saw then House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez replaced by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The incident also featured the missing “mace,” a symbol of authority in the House of Representatives.
The leadership change in the Lower House was reportedly instigated by then presidential daughter and now Vice President Sara Duterte, who was allied with Arroyo. President Duterte had to delay his address for over an hour to intervene in the ensuing political drama.
This overshadowed Rody’s third SONA despite adopting a calmer tone and avoiding expletives unlike in his previous addresses. He defended his brutal war on drugs, which was characterized by human rights violations, and tried to focus on achieving his vision for the country.
“The illegal drugs war will not be sidelined. Instead, it will be as relentless and chilling, if you will, as on the day it began,” Duterte said on July 23, 2018. He also appealed to Congress to pass his tax reform agenda, among other priorities of his factionalized administration.
