Senators Urge Toned-Down Sona in Flood Aftermath
Many senators have called for a toned-down State of the Nation Address (Sona) from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., showing respect for Filipinos deeply affected by recent flooding. This four-word keyphrase highlights the urgent appeal made ahead of the scheduled address on July 28.
“Let’s not be arrogant or indifferent to the events that are happening to our countrymen, and we should stop those Red Carpet fashionista walks complete with diamonds,” Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said in Filipino. He added, “I hope we think about those wading through floodwaters and exposed to leptospirosis.”
Sen. JV Ejercito also weighed in, emphasizing that the annual Sona should reflect the nation’s current hardships. “I don’t understand why this occasion has turned into a fashion show and a display of outfits and accessories, like it’s the Oscars,” he said. “This is not the time to flaunt and show off.”
Calls for Simplicity and Sensitivity
Sen. Loren Legarda echoed these sentiments, urging that the Senate opening and the Sona itself be kept simple and aligned with the somber mood of the times. In a Facebook post, she reflected, “Our people are suffering from the floods. We must use the occasion to solve the problems, to be part of the solution to this long-standing problem, and not to be out of touch with the real state of nation.”
Flooding Crisis Deepens Urgency for Thoughtful Sona
Recent heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, combined with the impacts of cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, have caused widespread flooding across parts of Luzon and Visayas. These disasters displaced hundreds of thousands and led several local governments to declare states of calamity.
As the nation prepares for the President’s fourth Sona at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, many stress that the focus should remain on addressing these urgent issues, rather than on the usual grandeur. Traditionally, the event is marked by politicians and prominent figures arriving in elaborate designer Filipiniana attire, walking a red carpet.
However, growing voices insist that the four-word keyphrase “toned-down State of the Nation” should guide the event’s tone this year. The Sona must prioritize the country’s pressing challenges and the welfare of its citizens over spectacle.
For more news and updates on the toned-down State of the Nation, visit Filipinokami.com.
