With many Filipinos still reeling from the effects of days-long flooding, top legislators are calling for a toned-down State of the Nation Address (SONA) this July 28, urging that the event remain solemn, focused, and grounded.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez led the call, stressing that the country’s current situation demands sobriety, not spectacle.
“Many of our fellow Filipinos are struggling to get back on their feet. It would be out of touch to maintain a show of pageantry while our people are still in recovery,” Romualdez said.
He has requested the Office of the Secretary General to uphold formal protocols while skipping the usual red carpet treatment, fashion features, and grand ceremonial staging. “The red carpet will be used for its functional purpose, not as a platform for display,” he emphasized.
Romualdez clarified that members of the House may still speak with the media as usual, but underscored that the focus should remain on the work at hand. “This is not about restricting access or silencing anyone. It’s about setting the tone: focused, grounded and responsive,” he added.
Echoing his sentiment, Iloilo Representative Janette Garin stressed that SONA is not meant to be a show for the elite. “We have to dress simply so people will be able to feel that we are one with them,” she said, adding that preparations should be practical and aligned with day-to-day congressional operations.
At the Senate, several lawmakers voiced similar views. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri bluntly criticized the usual glitz and glam, saying it would be insensitive given the suffering of flood victims. “’Wag tayong maging kapal mukha o manhid sa pangyayari sa ating mga kababayan,” Zubiri said, calling for the end of “red carpet fashionista walks.”
Senator Loren Legarda urged fellow lawmakers to use the SONA as an opportunity to focus on problem-solving. “We must use the occasion to solve the problems, to be part of the solution… and not to be out of touch with the real state of nation,” she said.
Senator JV Ejercito was also firm in his stance: “Hindi ito ang pagkakataon para rumampa at magpasikat. Hindi ito tama at hindi dapat.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to deliver his fourth SONA at 4 p.m. on July 28, following the opening of the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress.
