State of the Nation Address (Philippines)

The State of the Nation Address (Filipino: Talumpati sa Kalagayan ng Bansa, abbreviated SONA) is an annual event in the Republic of the Philippines, in which the President of the Philippines reports on the status of the nation, normally to the resumption of a joint session of the Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate). This is a duty of the President as stated in Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution:

The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session. He may also appear before it at any other time.

According to the constitution, the SONA delivered every 4th Monday of July at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

History

The concept of a speech being delivered to Congress by a sitting Philippine head of state was conceived on March 22, 1897, when Andres Bonifacio delivered what is now known as the "State of the Katipunan" Address (SOKA) in front of the delegates of the Tejeros Convention. In his SOKA, Bonifacio outlined the achievements of the Katipunan from the time of its founding until August 29, 1896, when the Philippine Revolution began, as well as his planned programs should the Philippine Revolution be successful. However, the first speech delivered by a sitting Philippine head of state which resembled the modern-day SONA was delivered by Emilio Aguinaldo on September 15, 1898, as he was addressing the Malolos Congress. His speech, entitled Mensaje Leido Por El Presidente Del Govierno Revolucionario Para El Congreso ("A Message from the President of the Revolutionary Government for Congress"), would be known today as the "State of the Revolutionary Nation" Address, or SORNA.

During American rule, it became the duty of the Governor-General to address the Philippine legislature on events happening in the islands. This speech was known as the "State of the Philippine Islands" Address (SOPIA), which was delivered by William Howard Taft to the members of the Philippine Assembly on behalf of President Theodore Roosevelt on October 12, 1907. During the term of Francis Burton Harrison however, it became customary for his one-page addresses to be read by the sitting Senate President, which at the time was Manuel L. Quezon, in the belief that since Filipinos are being prepared for self-rule and eventual independence, it should be Filipinos who deliver the speeches. This practice continued until the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934.

What would be known today as the modern SONA was first mentioned in Article VII, Section 10 of the 1935 Constitution:

The President shall from time to time give to the Congress information on the state of the Nation, and recommend to its consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.

With a few minor changes such as "President" for "He" and "its" for "their", this is the same wording as is in Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution. However, these speeches, which were delivered by Quezon as the first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, were called the "State of Commonwealth Government Affairs" (SOCGA) addresses. The first SOCGA was delivered at the inauguration of the First National Assembly on June 16, 1936 at the Legislative Building. However, Commonwealth Act No. 49 would amend CA No. 17, designating the sixteenth of October as the date of the opening of the regular sessions of the National Assembly. Since this fell on a Saturday in 1937, the second SOCGA was delivered by President Quezon on October 18, 1937. This was changed again, starting in 1938, to the fourth Monday of January, pursuant to Commonwealth Act No. 244, enacted on December 10, 1937. President Quezon delivered his last SOCGA on January 31, 1941, as he would already be in exile the following year due to the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

President Jose P. Laurel of the Second Philippine Republic was able to deliver his first and only message before the special session of the National Assembly, led by Speaker Benigno Aquino, Sr., on October 18, 1943 at the Legislative Building, four days after the Republic was established.

With the defeat of the Japanese and the re-establishment of the Commonwealth Government in the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines, now a bicameral body, convened for the first time since their election in 1941 on June 9, 1945. During this special session, President Sergio Osmeña addressed the lawmakers at their provisional quarters at Lepanto Street in Manila, and gave a comprehensive report on the work carried out by the Commonwealth Government during its three-year stay in Washington, D.C. Furthermore, he described the conditions prevailing in the Philippines during the period of enemy occupation and an acknowledgment of the invaluable assistance rendered by the guerrillas to American forces in the liberation of the Philippines.

The last SOCGA was delivered by President Manuel Roxas on June 3, 1946. After the establishment of the independent Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946, the first modern State of the Nation Address was delivered on the fourth Monday of January, pursuant to Commonwealth Act No. 244, starting with President Roxas’ address to the First Congress on January 27, 1947. Beginning in 1949, SONAs were delivered at the newly-reconstructed Legislative Building. Only once did a president not appear personally before Congress: on January 23, 1950, President Elpidio Quirino, who was recuperating at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, delivered his SONA to the joint session of Congress, beamed through RCS in the United States and picked up by the local radio network at 10 o’clock in the morning just in time for the opening of the regular congressional session.

The tradition of delivering the SONA on the fourth Monday of January continued until 1972, when from 1973 to 1977, the SONA was delivered on the official anniversary of the imposition of martial law on September 21 of each year (official, because martial law was actually imposed on September 23, 1972), and since Congress was abolished with the promulgation of the 1973 Constitution, these addresses were delivered before an assembly either in Malacañang Palace or at Rizal Park, except in 1976 when the address was given during the opening of the Batasang Bayan at the Philippine International Convention Center.

President Marcos began delivering the SONA at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City on June 12, 1978 during the opening session of the Interim Batasang Pambansa. From 1979 onwards, the SONA was delivered on the fourth Monday of July, following the provisions of the 1973, and later, the 1987 Constitutions.

The only exceptions have been in 1983, when the SONA was delivered on January 17 to commemorate the anniversary of the ratification of the 1973 Constitution and the second anniversary of the lifting of martial law, and in 1986 when President Aquino did not deliver any State of the Nation Address.

With the restoration of Congress in 1987, President Corazon C. Aquino was able to deliver her State of the Nation Address at the Session Hall of the House of Representatives in the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City. All presidents since then have delivered their State of the Nation Addresses in the same venue.

List

Date	President	Title	Venue	Ref
July 26, 2010	Benigno Aquino III	"State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[1]
July 27, 2009	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	"Ninth State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[2]
July 28, 2008	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	"Eighth State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[3]
July 23, 2007	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	"Seventh State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[4]
July 24, 2006	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	"Sixth State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[5]
July 25, 2005	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	"Fifth State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[6]
July 26, 2004	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	"Fourth State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[7]
July 28, 2003	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	"State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[8]
July 22, 2002	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	"State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[9]
July 23, 2001	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	"First State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[10]
July 24, 2000	Joseph Estrada	"Towards New Beginnings"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[11]
July 26, 1999	Joseph Estrada	"A Poverty-Free Philippines"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[12]
July 27, 1998	Joseph Estrada	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[13]
July 28, 1997	Fidel V. Ramos	"Challenges Still Ahead"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[14]
July 22, 1996	Fidel V. Ramos	"Uniting for Peace and Development"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[15]
July 24, 1995	Fidel V. Ramos	"The Best is Soon to Come"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[16]
July 25, 1994	Fidel V. Ramos	"From Growth to Modernization"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[17]
July 26, 1993	Fidel V. Ramos	"Let’s Seize the Moment!"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[18]
July 27, 1992	Fidel V. Ramos	"Reform, Change and Growth"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[19]
July 22, 1991	Corazon Aquino	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[20]
July 23, 1990	Corazon Aquino	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[21]
July 24, 1989	Corazon Aquino	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[22]
July 25, 1988	Corazon Aquino	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[23]
July 27, 1987	Corazon Aquino	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[24]
July 22, 1985	Ferdinand Marcos	"A Turning Point for the Nation"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[25]
July 23, 1984	Ferdinand Marcos	"State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[26]
January 17, 1983	Ferdinand Marcos	"State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[27]
July 26, 1982	Ferdinand Marcos	"State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[28]
July 27, 1981	Ferdinand Marcos	"State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[29]
July 28, 1980	Ferdinand Marcos	"A Time of Challenge to the Nation"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[30]
July 23, 1979	Ferdinand Marcos	" State of the Nation Address"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[31]
June 12, 1978	Ferdinand Marcos	"A Bold Experiment"	Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City	[32]
September 21, 1977	Ferdinand Marcos	"The Years of Crisis Government: Review and Preview"	Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay	[33]
September 21, 1976	Ferdinand Marcos	"We Stand Proud as a Nation Today"	Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay	[34]
September 21, 1975	Ferdinand Marcos	"The President’s Report to the Nation"	Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay	[35]
September 21, 1974	Ferdinand Marcos	"The Barangay and the Imperative of National Unity"	Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay	[36]
September 21, 1973	Ferdinand Marcos	"Report to the Nation after One Year of Martial Law"	Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay	[37]
January 24, 1972	Ferdinand Marcos	"Strength through Crisis, Growth in Freedom"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[38]
January 25, 1971	Ferdinand Marcos	"The Democratic Revolution"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[39]
January 26, 1970	Ferdinand Marcos	"National Discipline: The Key to our Future"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[40]
January 27, 1969	Ferdinand Marcos	"New Filipinism: The Turning Point"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[41]
January 22, 1968	Ferdinand Marcos	"A Nation of Achievers"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[42]
January 23, 1967	Ferdinand Marcos	"The Epic of Nation-Building"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[43]
January 24, 1966	Ferdinand Marcos	"Address on the State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[44]
January 25, 1965	Diosdado Macapagal	"The Philippines After Three Years (1962-1965)"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[45]
January 27, 1964	Diosdado Macapagal	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[46]
January 28, 1963	Diosdado Macapagal	"The State of the Nation 1963"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[47]
January 22, 1962	Diosdado Macapagal	"Five-Year Integrated Socio-Economic Program for the Philippines"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[48]
January 23, 1961	Carlos P. Garcia	"Address on the State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[49]
January 25, 1960	Carlos P. Garcia	"Address on the State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[50]
January 26, 1959	Carlos P. Garcia	"Address on the State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[51]
January 27, 1958	Carlos P. Garcia	"Address on the State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[52]
January 28, 1957	Ramon Magsaysay	"Address on the State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[53]
January 23, 1956	Ramon Magsaysay	"Address on the State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[54]
January 24, 1955	Ramon Magsaysay	"Address on the State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[55]
January 25, 1954	Ramon Magsaysay	"Address on the State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[56]
January 26, 1953	Elpidio Quirino	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[57]
January 28, 1952	Elpidio Quirino	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[58]
January 22, 1951	Elpidio Quirino	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[59]
January 23, 1950	Elpidio Quirino	"Address on the State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[60]
January 24, 1949	Elpidio Quirino	"The Most Urgent Aim of the Administration"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[61]
January 26, 1948	Manuel Roxas	"The Nation on the Road to Prosperity"	Lepanto Street, Manila	[62]
January 27, 1947	Manuel Roxas	"Message on the State of the Nation"	Lepanto Street, Manila	[63]
June 9, 1945	Sergio Osmeña	"Message to the First Congress of the Commonwealth of Philippines"	Lepanto Street, Manila	[64]
January 31, 1941	Manuel L. Quezon	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[65]
January 22, 1940	Manuel L. Quezon	"The State of the Nation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[66]
January 24, 1939	Manuel L. Quezon	"The State of the Nation and Important Economic Problems"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[67]
January 24, 1938	Manuel L. Quezon	"Revision of the System of Taxation"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[68]
October 18, 1937	Manuel L. Quezon	"Improvement of Philippine Conditions, Philippine Independence, and Relations with American High Commissioner"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[69]
June 16, 1936	Manuel L. Quezon	"On the Country’s Conditions and Problems"	Session Hall, Congress Building, Manila	[70]
September 15, 1898	Emilio Aguinaldo	"A Message from the President of the Revolutionary Government for Congress"	Barasoain Church, Bulacan	[71]

Local versions

Local governments in the Philippines also give their own addresses at some point during the year. At the provincial level, this is called a "State of the Province" Address, or SOPA, given by the provincial governor, while at the city and municipality level, this is called either a "State of the City Address" (SOCA) or "State of the Municipality" Address (SOMA), given by the mayor. In the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, this is called a "State of the Region" Address, or SORA, given by the regional governor. These speeches are not mandated by law, but are given usually as a matter of practice or tradition.

It is the practice of the Philippine Independent Church to release an annual "State of the Church" Address coming from the Supreme Bishop.

See also

• State of the Union Address, the United States' equivalent
• State Opening of Parliament of the United Kingdom

External links

• State of the Nation page on the Philippine President web site
• 1987 Philippine Constitution
• 1935 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines - Chan Robles Law Library