The State of the SONA

The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is somethingto look forward to—or so it used to be. This time, and probably in the last two or three SONAs, opening a radio or TV where, by force of circumstance, the Presidential address would be blaring, was not too inviting.

Maybe not by reason of apathy or sheer indifference that more and more people do not find the SONA so attractive anymore—as if it was so before. Perhaps, not even by reason of ideology or politics. It is just that people are getting fed up with unrealism, clouds and smoke. But, of course, nobody should use the word lies, even if more honest, because such is very disrespectful for the highest office of the land that is replete with Catholicism and revered tradition.

But what have the Filipinos done to merit this misfortune? Barely two months ago, the whole 80or so million Filipino people, were promised with the sky and the moon by politicians campaigning for the midterm elections. And then this July 23 at the SONA of the President the very same people were promised with paradise—albeit by 2030 yet! What a pity.

But the 2030 wait pales in comparison with what happened to the people of Israel. The Israelites had to wait 40 years in the desert before finally entering the promise land of Canaan. The only difference is the long wait of the Israelites hinged on the truth; the 2030 of Filipinos is totally about something else.

Reading the papers the day after the SONA, one discovers that there was something good with it after all—the parade of latest designs in couture. It was like watching the Oscars with people clapping and getting awarded from doing comedy, drama and fiction. The SONA is not too far-fetched.