State of the Nation Address

MANILA — The State of the Nation Address (Sona) in many years has become a fashion event for legislators, their spouses and families. Touted to celebrate local fashion, even the media makes a staple of it and allots a special place in their coverage to have the attendees explain their outfits in a red carpet spectacle. Strangely, there has been no respite in this kind of ritual and excessive display even if the rest of the country is in deep poverty and the government itself purportedly urging austerity measures.  read more »

“The bitchiest SONA ever,” is a general, if somewhat cheeky assessment of Monday’s State of the Nation Address, which is expected to be the last of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s 9-year term.  read more »

Gabriela party-list Representative Liza Maza, on the other hand, said Arroyo will be presenting “the same lies she peddled for seven to eight years.” She called on the President to step down.  read more »

Eight leftist party-list congressmen yesterday declared they will boycott President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) next week while three senators warned that they will not take the matter sitting down should Malacañang and the House leadership renege on their statements that the joint session of the two Houses will not be used as a forum to convene a constituent assembly (con-ass).  read more »

MANILA, Philippines—At least eight party-list lawmakers said Monday they would also boycott the President's State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27 and join street protesters instead in a "real SONA" outside the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.  read more »

DAVAO CITY (davaotoday.com)— Progressive lawmakers launched a signature campaign against the Constituent Assembly right at the homefront of Speaker Prospero Nograles, the close Arroyo ally pushing for Charter change.  read more »