State of what is happening locally

By Alex P. Vidal 

“A superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.” —Confucius

WHAT most Ilonggos wanted to hear after the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28 would be the SOPA (State of the Province Address), SOCA (State of the City Address), SOMA (State of the Municipality Address), and even State of the Barangay Address (SOBA).

in the first place, are there also such aforementioned alphabet speeches by local executive other than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s  SONA? The answer is a big yes.

These speeches by the local chief executives actually have direct impact on the lives of Iloilo folks and are not difficult to decipher.

There were instances when local chief executives have found it more comfortable and practical to communicate with their constituents in this manner rather than dish out paid propaganda rigmaroles.

These localized executive speeches are also attractive and doable in many aspects since they are precipitated with frankness and variation; it’s easy to hold the local chief executives—governors, mayors, punong barangay (village chiefs)—accountable without going after the empty promises they made during the campaign period.

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What they deliver, plan, and promise in the SOPA, SOCA, SOMA, SOBA can be considered as the total assessment of their performances and competence while in office.

Promises they made during the election campaign can be rescripted, copyedited and forgotten, but not during this special edition of a frontal conversation with their constituents, which can be italicized and crosshatched.

Unlike the President’s SONA that is required by the 1987 Constitution, SOPA, SOCA, SOMA, SOBA speeches are not mandated by law but are delivered usually as a matter of practice or tradition.

On a national scale, SONA, normally given every fourth Monday of July at the Plenary Session Hall of the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, has always been much anticipated, scrutinized and even vilified. It depends on who gives the grade.

Vituperation for the President’s critics and praises to high heavens for the President’s loyal supporters and admirers.

The opposition normally has its own version of the speech delivered after the SONA.

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The social and mainstream media, including the news websites, have been burning hot with President Marcos Jr.’s SONA before and after.

Supporters and critics have lined up the things the president should have done in the past years—and the things he has to (and should) do in the coming years.

Local chief executives give their own addresses modeled after the SONA.

The Philippine Independent Church, a Christian denomination formed in the wake of the Philippine Revolution in the spirit of a national church, has also made a practice of releasing an annual “State of the Church” Address coming from the Supreme Bishop or Obispo Maximo.

When guests, spouses, and the female legislators themselves dressed like queens and Hollywood stars, the “state” addresses were also subjected to intense criticism by various sectors.

If the “state” addresses tilted into being ostentatious and flashy with politicians and media personalities treating the occasion as a red-carpet fashion show, negative opinions flooded both the mainstream and social media.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)