By Brian Campued
The 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on July 27 will be conducted in a “simple but dignified” manner, according to Malacañang.
During a press briefing Monday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President’s penultimate SONA will not feature any celebrity director or “A-listers” as his speech will focus on the administration’s report for the past year.
“Ang panawagan po dito—simple lamang po. Ang gagawin lang natin sa SONA ay simple lamang at wala pong celebrity directors o big A-listers na magpe-perform,” Castro said.
“So, simple lang pero dignified ang gagawing pagsasagawa ng isang national event katulad po ng SONA,” she added.
Castro also said that a performer has already been chosen to sing the national anthem but declined to name the individual.
On criticisms that the upcoming SONA would only be a spectacle and that the President himself is allegedly scrambling to prepare a speech that would be “acceptable” to the public, the Palace maintained that the public should not be blind to the administration’s efforts.
This, as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) president Renato Reyes Jr. said Marcos Jr. should be the one to be “ashamed,” nearly a year after he called out those behind anomalous flood control projects to “have some shame” during his 4th SONA.
“Hindi nagkukumahog ang Pangulo dahil sa SONA na ito, nagkukumahog pa po siya para mas marami pa siyang magawa para sa taumbayan. Kulang na kulang ang oras sa Pangulo para maihatid ang lahat ng kailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” Castro said.
She also noted that while natural disasters as well as the Middle East crisis were unexpected occurrences, the administration is doing its part to respond to the needs of the people.
“Lahat nang iyan ay tinutugunan. Hindi iyan nakikita ng iba, so baka sila po ang dapat na mahiya dahil wala silang nakikita,” Castro said.
The Palace previously said the President has been communicating with agency heads to discuss their accomplishments, key programs, and major initiatives, not only for the preparations for the upcoming SONA but also as part of regular updates on projects.
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