History of the State of the Nation Address Read more at Suite101: History of the State of the Nation Address

| Suite101.com http://yfur-porschefernandez.suite101.com/history-of-the-state-of-the-nation-address-a266028#ixzz1tcJHeKOn Occupying the highest key position as the leader of the country, the President addresses the nation of its current shape. He or she is duly recognized by the Constitution to perform the task of informing the public about current assessment, projected plans and accomplishments for the past terms. Bodies of the government traditionally mark this as a momentous event, thereby its preparation and the act itself are being paid much attention. A close example was the recently concluded July 26, 2010 address of the newly-installed Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.

State of the Nation Address Revisited

In the Philippines, the State of the Nation Address otherwise known as SONA" is delivered by the President every July at the House of Representatives in Quezon City. It is a presidential function stated in Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution. But before the SONA, there were SOKA, SORNA, SOPIA and SOCGA.

History Professor Frank Grego writes, The earliest form of what Filipinos know today as the State of the Nation Address (SONA) was delivered by the Supremo of the Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio, on March 22, 1897. He delivered his SOKA, or State of the Katipunan Address, in his capacity as national council president of the secret society he helped organize in Manila to overthrow Spanish colonial rule. The first speech delivered by a sitting Philippine head of state which resembled what the Filipinos witness today was delivered by General Emilio Aguinaldo on September 15, 1898. It was an address to the Malolos Congress entitled Mensaje Leido Por El Presidente Del Govierno Revolucionario Para El Congreso or "A Message from the President of the Revolutionary Government for Congress." It would be known today as the State of the Revolutionary Nation Address, or SORNA. During the US rule, the governor-general viewed as the highest position did the honors and was called "State of the Philippine Islands" Address or SOPIA, which was delivered by William Howard Taft to the Philippine Assembly on behalf of President Theodore Roosevelt on October 12, 1907. By then, a one-page address was enough. Manuel L. Quezon as the first president of the Commonwealth Government delivered the same nature of speech at the inauguration of the First National Assembly. It was called State of Commonwealth Government Affairs or SOGCA delivered on June 16, 1936. The tradition continued until the Philippines was allegedly granted independence. President Manuel Roxas delivered the first modern State of the Nation Address or "SONA" which is still being observed today.

State of the Union Address

With the Philippines' resemblance to the United States method, SONAs counterpart is called the State of the Union Address. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the president to outline his legislative agenda and national priorities to Congress. It is given before a joint session of the Congress and is held in the House of Representatives. Whitehouse.gov explains that in recent years, newly inaugurated presidents have delivered speeches to joint sessions of Congress only weeks into their respective terms, but these are not officially considered State of the Union addresses. The address is most frequently used to outline the president's legislative proposals for the upcoming year.

Aquinos SONA
Reporter Maila Ager writes, President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III bared in his first State of the Nation Address a series of irregularities allegedly committed by the past administration, as he vowed to be the opposite of his predecessor.

Militant groups were disappointed over the pronouncement of Aquino to protesters away from its original grounds, "The SONA activity has a long tradition of being held on the streets. No president after Marcos has ever imposed on demonstrators to do the SONA protest inside Quezon Memorial Circle, says Renato Reyes of Bayan. State of the Nation Address usually serves as the president's "report card" of his accomplishments. But for Aquino being a newlyelected leader, his declaration and promises are still considered proposals until pursued. Marking his posted plans, Aquino's leadership is now officially under people's eyes.

Before SONA were Soka, Sorna, Sopia and Socga

By Frank Grego Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 03:34:00 07/27/2009 Filed Under: State of the Nation Address (SONA), history

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090727-217393/Before-SONA-were-Soka-Sorna-Sopiaand-Socga

MANILA, Philippines?Before the SONA, there were the Soka, Sorna, Sopia and Socga. The earliest form of what Filipinos know today as the State of the Nation Address (SONA) was delivered by the Supremo of the Katipunan, Andres Bonifacio, on March 22, 1897. Bonifacio delivered his Soka, or State of the Katipunan Address, in his capacity as national council president of the secret society he helped organize in Manila to overthrow Spanish colonial rule. The speech followed his proclamation of Republica Filipina during the inaugural session of the Tejeros Congress in San Francisco de Malabon, now the municipality of General Trias, in Cavite province. Bonifacio gave a review of the Katipunan?s accomplishments from its establishment on July 7, 1892, to the outbreak of the revolution on Aug. 29, 1896. He also outlined the programs he intended to launch. In the Malolos Congress on Sept. 15, 1898, Pablo Rianzares Bautista opened the session as acting presiding officer, after which President Emilio Aguinaldo delivered his State of the Revolutionary Nation Address (Sorna). Aguinaldo?s speech was also titled ?Mensaje Leido Por El Presidente Del Govierno Revolucionario Para El Congreso.? The American colonial period led to the third form of the SONA called the State of the Philippine Islands Address (Sopia). It was delivered by Secretary of War William Howard Taft for US President Theodore Roosevelt on Oct. 16, 1907. In 1916, the passage of the Jones Law transformed the unicameral Philippine Assembly into the bicameral Philippine Legislature. Francis Burton Harrison became the country?s governor general. Harrison?s message Harrison, however, chose not to deliver the Sopia during his administration but only a simple one-page message. He adhered to the principle that since Filipinos were being trained for self-government, they should be the one to deliver the Sopia. It became customary for then Senate President Manuel Quezon to deliver Harrison?s annual message until the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Law in 1934. The law paved the way for the creation of the autonomous Commonwealth government in 1935, of which Quezon was elected president. The Philippine Legislature was renamed the National Assembly, and in its inaugural session in 1936 Quezon delivered his Socga or State of the Commonwealth Government Affairs.

When the Americans restored Philippine independence in 1946, President Manuel Roxas delivered what was considered the first official State of the Nation Address. The tradition continued under Presidents Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos, Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (Editor?s Note: The author is a history professor, television commentator, and editor of Congress Magazine based in the House of Representatives. Grego holds doctorates in philosophy and education and has written six books on national and international relations and history.)