SONA

Everyone here in the newsroom was glued to the television waiting for the President to arrive at the Batasang Pambansa to deliver her SONA.

After almost an hour, the President in sparkling blue gown (Filipiniana ba ‘to, basta!). Then immediately she proceeded with her state of the nation address, well, after a long applause from the audience (char ba lang!).

It her fifth and by far the shortest SONA. We were actually surprised when she said “Maraming Salamat sa inyong lahat.” That’s all?!! Well, this was probably the line of those viewers/listeners, including myself, who were expecting her to say something like “Yeah I cheated, so what?” But her speech was “perfectly” composed.

And, she delivered it with simplicity, even when she said we should opt for a charter change. I guess it’s about time we do it, our consti is kinda obsolete na for this age.

There was also the federalism system of government as an option. And almost everyone in that hall clapped (United States of the Philippines yo!). I say ‘almost’ as Sen Pres Drilon remained silent the whole time, poker face eh. When asked why he did not make any reaction he simply said he was listening to the speech “intently” but I say he was praying “intently.” Tsk tsk tsk.

And of course, what way to end a speech than to say thank you and may God bless us. “Let us call on the Lord…ask Him for the grace to make us worthy of His healing our land.”

“Is the world sick?” asked a 4-year-old genuis boy to his father after hearing from someone that the world needed to be healed. The father explained about the war, the sickness, the corruption, etc…The this boy said: “I guess we should find another planet!”

Well, I guess we should “abandon ship!” And where would we go?