State of the Nation Address (Philippines)

The Address is usually delivered at around 16:00 PST (UTC+8). Before the appointed time, legislators enter the Plenary Session Hall, with members of Congress and their consorts in recent years sporting traditionally-inspired bespoke couture that, in some cases, expresses their legislative agenda or ideological leanings. The President meanwhile arrives at the Batasang Pambansa Complex some minutes before the beginning of the joint session, and enters the main building through a back entrance. The President is then welcomed with military honors, and greeted by the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, and the welcoming committee, before proceeding to the Presidential Legislate Liaison Office. The President then enters the Plenary Session Hall as the Presidential Anthem is played. The Secretary General introduces the President, who approaches the rostrum and is seated. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House then convene the joint session, and the House of Representatives Choir leads the now standing assembly in singing Lupang Hinirang. Representatives of various religious groups then lead the assembly in an ecumenical prayer. The Speaker then introduces the President in English or Filipino with words similar to the following: The Address, which can last anywhere from one to several hours, is broadcast on television, radio, and online streaming by state agencies such as Radio Television Malacañang, as well as private media organizations. ==History==

Malolos Congress An early form of the Address was in place during the First Philippine Republic, which was established in 1899 in Malolos, Bulacan. The revolutionary government took ideas from European parliaments, where the magisterial role of the head of state in the legislature was to mark the legislature's official opening. The Malolos Constitution of 1899 provided for the President to preside over the opening of Congress, as well as convey his messages to the legislature through a secretary. When Emilio Aguinaldo addressed the Malolos Congress in Spanish on September 15, 1898, he simply congratulated the formation of the first representative body of the Philippines and Asia. This is not considered a State of the Nation Address because the Malolos Constitution did not explicitly provide for one. American Period The State of the Nation Address as an annual practice began during the Commonwealth Era. The Jones Act enacted in 1916 was the first instance where a report about the Philippine Islands was required to be submitted. However, the law only mandated a report by the Governor-General to an executive office assigned by the President of the United States. This was in the form of a written document that discussed the transactions and movements of the Insular Government. When the Commonwealth of the Philippines was created and the 1935 Constitution enacted, it provided for an annual report of the President of the Philippines to Congress: "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." == Responses ==

The political opposition has had a response to the address, known as "kontra-SONA" (). Usually, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives delivers the response in a session of Congress, a few days after the actual SONA. In the Senate, the kontra-SONA has been delivered more sporadically, but there were instances of it being done. Protests are done on the day of the address itself. Protests usually occur for the second and subsequent addresses of each president, with the first address usually free from such. Protests are done at Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, the main road leading to the Batasang Pambansa Complex, and Mendiola Street, fronting Malacañang Palace. Leftist groups such as the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan usually burn an effigy of the sitting president as a highlight of the protest. ==Variations==

Local chief executives also give their own addresses modeled after the State of the Nation Address. These speeches are not mandated by law, but are given usually as a matter of practice or tradition. in the 85th State of the Nation Address • At the provincial level, the governor's speech is called a "State of the Province" Address (SOPA). • At the civic and municipal level, this is called either a "State of the City Address" (SOCA) or "State of the Municipality" Address (SOMA), given by the mayor. • At the barangay level, the barangay chairman speech is called a "State of the Barangay" Address (SOBA). • It is also the practice of the Philippine Independent Church, a Christian denomination formed in the wake of the Philippine Revolution in the spirit of a national church, to release an annual "State of the Church" Address coming from the Obispo Máximo (Supreme Bishop). ==Criticism==

Recent addresses have been the subject of criticism by various sectors for being too ostentatious and flashy, with politicians and media personalities treating the event as a red carpet fashion show, thus others dubbing it as the country's version of the Met Gala. Former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago blasted the organizers and called the event a "thoughtless extravagance" where "peacocks spread their tails and turn around and around, as coached by media in a feeding frenzy." Then-House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for the 17th Congress urged representatives to dress in simple business attire for future addresses, preferably the barong tagalog for men and "short" Filipiniana for women, in preparation for President Rodrigo Duterte's first address in 2016. ==See also==