GMA's SONA

TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF GMA’S SONA
Prepared by:
Ma. Rowena M. Bayrante

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s state of the nation address (SONA) was a 55-minute speech that summarizes her accomplishments last year and the on-going projects she is pursuing this year. It was applauded 106 times and received 2 standing ovations. The longest of which was in her final speech when she emphasized on her toughness particularly citing that from where she sit she can tell you that the president is always as strong as she wants to be. She did away with lavish jewelry and wore a recycled red mestiza dress. She simply would like to project simplicity and being ordinary just like everyone else.

In her speech she outlined her accomplishments in infrastructure particularly citing the projects undertaken in terms of road network, bridges, airports, ports, irrigation, potable water system, power plants and other tangible projects. These are also the same projects that most traditional politicians prioritized. This simply means that President Macapagal Arroyo is not so different from traditional politicians.

Most of her citations were focused in Mindanao probably because she wanted to show that she is extending too much effort for national reconciliation. This was transparent on the creation of a Philippine model for reconciliation built on inter-faith dialogue, expanded public works and more responsive social services. According to the President these investments show both sides in the Mindanao conflict that they have more at stake in common and a greater reason to be together than hang apart, including being together in isolating the terrorists. She promised to uphold human rights in the stepped up fight against terrorism.

She encouraged lawmakers to enact laws to transform state response to political violence. Before this she paid tribute to the fearless fourteen who were savagely massacred in the pursuit of maintaining peace amidst conflict. This is a clear indication that with the government’s program for reconciliation, drastic measures are undertaken that men in uniform become sacrificial lambs.

Overwhelming accomplishments were continuously cited as the projects moved towards the Visayas and Luzon regions. The projects were specifically enumerated including the budget as well as the persons who requested for the projects. Laws that were passed, needing amendments and approved usually supporting her projects were likewise acknowledged. These included the Bio-Fuels law, Electric Power Industry Reform Act and Cheaper Medicine Bill.

Citations on education, safety net, terrorism and human rights were the last to be mentioned. Very few were said focusing only on increase in appropriation for education, number of classroom built, student textbook ratio and scholarship assistance both for high school and college. Non formal education and trainings were also given due considerations. Other items stressed were on benefits that teachers have enjoyed including the regionalization of payroll and a promised increase effective end of July. She also mentioned the investments of the government in science. engineering research and development technology including scholarships offered for masters and doctoral degrees in engineering in seven universities. Of course she did not forget mentioning students who were recognized in the field of science, mathematics and global governance. With every recognition students stand for full recognition. This is as if the government was solely responsible for their success. This was also evidently observed in her previous SONA. This added to her glorification as president of the state and serves proof for Filipinos ingenuity and being unbeatable.

She also stressed the success of the government in alleviating poverty through jobs, education and medicines. She boasted the first time that Philhealth had spent P3 billion for hospitalization of the poor. Medicines were also sold at reduced costs in barangay drugstores. According to a survey, prices of medicines were made within the reach of people. She also mentioned the long term care for senior citizens, housing and even congratulated Noli de Castro for championing the program on housing. This according to her caused the reduction in interest rates for housing loans through the allocation of PAG-IBIG an amount of P25 billion. This budget according to the president was much more than when it started in 2001 and will continuously increase in 2010.

Among the things emphasized on terrorism and human rights was the fight against terrorism through terror. She asked congress to enact laws that will transform the state to be responsive to political violence. She also gave emphasis on the protection of witnesses from lawbreakers and law enforcers, guaranteeing swift justice from more empowered special courts, imposing harsh penalties to political killings and harshest penalties for rogue elements in the uniformed services. But according to her priority in the struggle for right is the alleviation of the masses to poverty and hunger.

Election reforms also have to be undertaken through computerization where voting, counting and canvassing become modernized. Democratic elections must be conducted though there is disagreement on political goals. She asked Congress to fund poll watchdogs and enact stronger law against election related violence. She also cited her ardent wish in weeding out corruption and build a strong system of justice that the people can trust. She mentioned the provisions of unprecedented billions for anti-graft efforts. Several measures were intensified including lifestyle check that was responsible for suspension, removal from service or charged due to too much expenditures and unexplained wealth. Bribery by firms in taxes, permits and licenses dramatically declined from one-third to one-half. Although according to GMA graft can not be eliminated overnight however progress is made.

In conclusion, the president’s SONA was simply a run down of her accomplishment last year and her continued efforts this year. The things that she mentioned were all outlined in the P1.7 Trillion Medium Term Public Investment Program of the Philippines. This means that everything that was mentioned was not new but just the same things that were mentioned in the previous SONA. To make her SONA seem to be different her strategy was changed by the way she dressed for the particular occasion. She was more simple but more forceful in stressing her accomplishments by the change in tone, gestures and facial expressions. She knew when applause is needed or not. Audiences timing the giving of applause in the time that the president needed it most. This was the same scenario that was observed in her previous SONA. However, the number of applause the president got this year was higher in number as compared to before. She also have set the record for mentioning the most number of names with more than 80 names including political allies and foes. The mentioning of the names from lawmakers to local executives was maybe her way of expressing her gratitude. This may be the reason why this was also done in the previous SONA. She also did not forget the call for unity between political allies and foes for national reconciliation. This was emphasized at the beginning and ending part of her speech, which was the usual strategy she had used in her previous SONA.

The speech in general was very lengthy with few emphases on some important aspects like education, public thrust, human preservation and protection to name a few. No reports were given on the expenditure of the government for travel and other activities that have direct effect on our tax revenues just like before. Speech lacks coherence and seems to be not interrelated that topics being discussed are hanging and just popped out of nowhere. Statements were overwhelming citing accomplishments that are amazing and remarkable for those who have just heard the SONA for the first time. But for others who were aware of the previous SONA would not find something new about it. People of the lower strata of the society could hardly understand what she is talking about. This was because she was speaking in the English language that most of them are not well versed of. Although the president combined English with Tagalog, this still did not bring the speech closer to the hearts of the masses. The injecting of Tagalog words even made the speech very poor because it had violated the rule for English proficiency and communication. The speech lost its formality in text and tone. She could have opted to give it in Tagalog or English but not a combination of both.

Our quest for excellence in English dialect was violated and had made the speech not commonly understood by foreigners. She should have considered that her audiences are not simply Filipinos. As a proof many foreigners were spotted participating in the rally outside the Congress. Rallies were not new since they were conducted even in the previous SONA. Purpose of which was similar in nature the same sentiment that will be continuously aired in the more State of the Nations to come in the succeeding years.