What Everyone Expects

by Joshua Onsay and Mary Kristine Brizuela

The State of the Nation Address is one of the most exclusive and influential speeches nationwide. The speech pinpoints the president’s projects. It identifies the improvement done on the country so far. It tells the president’s further plans. It is greatly significant—because the president’s point of view is in equation with this speech.

On the 27^th of July, 2015, President Benigno Aquino III gave his 6th and final State of the Nation Address during the joint session of the 16th Congress at the House of Representatives in Quezon City. The SONA happens only once a year during the president’s term. Thus, this was greatly anticipated by the administration and every common citizen. 

President Aquino’s address lasted for two hours and 12 minutes, making it the longest SONA of his presidency. It could only be deduced that many things were articulated to his constituents. It is true. The president’s SONA ranged from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, to the MRT system, the TESDA program, the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization, the Bangsamoro Basic law, the Philhealth program, the issues of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the concern with the K-12 program, and to his “Daang Matuwid” campaign. These did not cover up the entirety of what the president was telling. There were more.

Regardless, it was frustrating. The thing is, he still missed a few points: what about China’s claim in being a part of the West Philippine Sea? the PDAF issue among some politicians? the Fallen 44 during the Mamasapano operation? and the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill?

Indeed, people are radical and comprehensive. They have their own principles. One may question the president’s ways of ruling while one may agree to his methods of governance. However, in the end, it can be vexing because one cannot change the fact that President Aquino holds the greatest power. And that his term is coming to an end.

His time as the president is drawing to a close—with this, it could be concluded that he made several SONAs before. He promised a lot. But what? Were all of his promises fulfilled? Or were some disregarded through time? One could most definitely assume that some of his promises were used as cover-ups for his mistakes. After all, the concealment of one’s misconduct could be done through promised endeavors. Thus, people hold rallies during his SONAs because of their assumptions and perspectives.

It was stated that the Philippines is now called as the Rising Tiger of Asia, from what had been formerly named as the Sick Man of Asia. People from foreign countries could see this—the country is progressing bit by bit. But the Filipino people can’t totally see this. There are still qualms with accordance to President Aquino. Therefore, what he states in his SONA must be put into action. His last term must be substantial to the country’s betterment. But most of all, he must put in his mind that the people as his constituents expect a lot. And that what he says is what everyone expects.