Mallari, Jose Emmanuel P.

SONA 2014-Reaction paper

State of the nation address, more commonly known as SONA, has been the platform for
which the leader of the nation lists down what he and his administration have accomplished. The
SONA does not necessarily reflect the true state of a countrys well-being. AS Pnoy deftly
delivered his speech on his accomplishments and plans he overlooked major issues surrounding
his administration. The PDAF and FOI bill were noticeably overlooked.
He often states that his administrations prime directive is to put the nation on the straight
and narrow, yet he failed to tackle the issues concerning the straight and narrow. His passing
over of the PDAF issue shows he has no handle on the situation and is not prepared to take
action. The missing FOI bill on the other hand makes it look like that the president has been
putting it on the back burner for the past couple of years and it does not look like anything will
be pushed through this year.
Issues of omission aside, Pnoys speech was well made. The speech itself allowed for the
audience, the people, to be invested in him personally. He began with the common mentions of
his administrations successes and potshots on the previous administrations lack thereof. He then
continued and gave examples on how his programs were working out, making a few jokes along
the way. Overall his delivery was as expected but what summed it all is his emotionality during
the closing part. He made it sure that he retains the image of an Aquino politician through and
through, with passing mentions of his parents and their legacies. About how he is willing to die,
live and fight for the Filipinos. Id rate the whole thing a 7/10, a good speech but a bit lacking in
desired content.