A thousand and one SONAs, and this one again

I was 13 when I first heard President Diosdado Macapagal deliver his SONA over the radio in 1963. He promised a better Philippines especially for the poor. Today, poverty has worsened after 54 years. It was President Ferdinand Marcos’ SONA in 1966 that stirred me as he said “this nation can be great again.” He governed from 1966 to 1986 and the poor became poorer as the nation did regret again. President Cory Aquino delivered her first SONA in 1986 with the whole country covered in yellow ribbons, symbolizing renewed hope and faith in government, but she also failed us. FVR, the general who was catapulted to Malacañan thanks to Cory, succeeded in selling away Fort Bonifacio and Villamor, as well as government corporations like PNOC and MWSS. The state lost control over oil and water. He also brought to the Senate another military man, Gringo, soon followed by another PMAer, Ping Lacson, and now, this character, Trillanes.

President Erap’s SONA were all ‘’bola’’ and ‘’drama’’ purportedly to save the people in the style of Asiong Salonga. But he was convicted and detained. GMA’s SONA was more professorial, focused on the economy which became worse under her presidency. But PNoy ordered her detained to give her a dose of her own medicine. PNoy’s SONAs were all in Tagalog written by purist Bulacan lyricists, all hyperbole with no relation to reality. Now that PNoy has been charged with a very light offense by her favorite Ombudsman, will he also end up likewise detained? Abangan ang sunod na kabanata. Let us listen to the second SONA of President Digong and try to count how many expletives and unprintables he shall blurt out. His rating is high and all his enemies seem to be rejected by the people, if we believe SWS and Pulse Asia.

Whenever there is a SONA, members of Senate and Congress dress themselves as if attending a gala. With the ladies heavy with gold and pearls, in their expensive Pitoy Moreno or Rajo Laurel evening gowns, and the men in their tailor-fit expensive barongs, symbols of their honesty and hard work as legislators of a land with more than fifty million living below poverty line. But all these ostentatious displays have been discouraged by Duterte as he enters the plenary in his ordinary barong, made of native materials from the Manobo of Davao. Even Vice President Leni and Chief Justice Sereno try their best to appear simple, unadorned and unaffected by the fashion show among the wives, girlfriends, and boyfriends of the lawmakers.

Outside, the activists are burning the American flag and effigies of Trump and Uncle Sam. There will be thousands of SONAs beyond our lifetime. But the same old story of promises and disillusionment, hopes and anger will be repeated over and over again. And the people will never stop believing that someday there will be some liberation.