Occupying the highest key position as the leader of the country, the President addresses the nation of its current shape. He or she is duly recognized by the Constitution to perform the task of informing the public about current assessment, projected plans and accomplishments for the past terms.
Bodies of the government traditionally mark this as a momentous event, thereby its preparation and the act itself are being paid much attention. A close example was the recently concluded July 26, 2010 address of the newly-installed Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.
State of the Nation Address Revisited
In the Philippines, the State of the Nation Address otherwise known as “SONA" is delivered by the President every July at the House of Representatives in Quezon City. It is a presidential function stated in Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution. But before the SONA, there were SOKA, SORNA, SOPIA and SOCGA.
History Professor Frank Grego writes, “The earliest form of what Filipinos know today as the State of the Nation Address (SONA) was delivered by the Supremo of the Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio, on March 22, 1897. He delivered his “SOKA,” or State of the Katipunan Address, in his capacity as national council president of the secret society he helped organize in Manila to overthrow Spanish colonial rule.”
The first speech delivered by a sitting Philippine head of state which resembled what the Filipinos witness today was delivered by General Emilio Aguinaldo on September 15, 1898. It was an address to the Malolos Congress entitled Mensaje Leido Por El Presidente Del Govierno Revolucionario Para El Congreso or "A Message from the President of the Revolutionary Government for Congress." It would be known today as the State of the Revolutionary Nation Address, or “SORNA.”
During the US rule, the governor-general viewed as the highest position did the honors and was called "State of the Philippine Islands" Address or SOPIA, which was delivered by William Howard Taft to the Philippine Assembly on behalf of President Theodore Roosevelt on October 12, 1907. By then, a one-page address was enough.
Manuel L. Quezon as the first president of the Commonwealth Government delivered the same nature of speech at the inauguration of the First National Assembly. It was called State of Commonwealth Government Affairs or “SOGCA” delivered on June 16, 1936.
The tradition continued until the Philippines was allegedly granted independence. President Manuel Roxas delivered the first modern State of the Nation Address or "SONA" which is still being observed today.
State of the Union Address
With the Philippines' resemblance to the United States’ method, SONA’s counterpart is called the State of the Union Address. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the president to outline his legislative agenda and national priorities to Congress. It is given before a joint session of the Congress and is held in the House of Representatives.
Whitehouse.gov explains that in recent years, newly inaugurated presidents have delivered speeches to joint sessions of Congress only weeks into their respective terms, but these are not officially considered State of the Union addresses. The address is most frequently used to outline the president's legislative proposals for the upcoming year.
Aquino’s SONA
Reporter Maila Ager writes, “President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III bared in his first State of the Nation Address a series of irregularities allegedly committed by the past administration, as he vowed to be the opposite of his predecessor.”
Militant groups were disappointed over the pronouncement of Aquino to protesters away from its original grounds, “"The SONA activity has a long tradition of being held on the streets. No president after Marcos has ever imposed on demonstrators to do the SONA protest inside Quezon Memorial Circle,” says Renato Reyes of Bayan.
State of the Nation Address usually serves as the president's "report card" of his accomplishments. But for Aquino being a newly-elected leader, his declaration and promises are still considered proposals until pursued. Marking his posted plans, Aquino's leadership is now officially under people's eyes.
Related Link: RP President Aquino's New Cabinet Members
Yfur Porsche Fernandez - Yfur writes diverse articles on political economy, media literacy, East Asian affairs, poverty & world development, trivial literature, ...
