State of the Nation Address will highlight the Presidential long-term work perspective for the Congress to undertake legislation at the fore!

One of the best moment as a Filipino citizen is to hear the presidential perspective that is going to be delivered by a duly elected President as the head of state. The SONA or State of the Nation Address by the President highlights the general outlook of how the head of state should work in his/her term of office and how should it be concretized by legislative action. I believe that’s the reason why it must be delivered during the inaugural opening of Congress. SONA gives directions to the different machineries of the government more particularly the Legislature, so that government can work out for the best interest of its people.

As I see it today, even the legislators seem to abhor SONA because they believe that it brings out the usual niceties, colors and make-up that a President is dreaming to achieve. The Philippines is populated by brilliant people with brilliant mind; but, SONA is not about brilliancy…it is about a purpose…a clear perspective of work…a definition of task…a clear-cut view of things to be achieved…a finite emphasis of what is needed and what is to be done…a need to be satisfied…a problem to be resolved with a resolute mind and spirit. SONA is a matter.

I felt dismayed over Senators and Congressmen who are planning to BOYCOTT the SONA of the President, “saying it will likely be filled with the usual niceties.”

Be that as it may, hey, Senator, you haven’t done things of purpose yet. Hey, Congressman, you seem to get absent more frequently now, because you expect that the president will deliver the same niceties. Hey, save your face!... The people voted you to work in the legislature as you wanted it and as you planned it, as you manipulated it. But now, a simple task of attending the SONA, you would not appear? Are you childish, Senator?... Are you a baby, Congressman. Do we need to baby-sit you, and pray that you should attend? Please have your conscience examined. You’ve been receiving the “usual niceties” all your life since you get elected in that office. Is the “usual niceties” overly not enough to pay off your attention? Do you really understood the meaning of “legislation”.

Please allow me to remind of something; and in my simple pace, try to comprehend the venue of thoughts that comes out from mind.

To run the government, the Head of State gives direction. To execute something to benefit the people, it needs legislation. The Head of State could not pursue his/her work without the back-up legislation that it needed to legitimize the implementation of his/her plan of actions. This is what we call “the balance of power”. One could not work without the back of the other. This is reciprocity of action. What the head of state can work out, it is because it underwent legislation. Simply, the executive executes only after legislators legislated, thus, what the executive have accomplished, it’s the accomplishment also of the legislators. This is how government should be.

Now, comes July 28. The president will deliver her SONA not because she fared well or she failed to achieve the things that she needs to do and achieve. She would deliver her SONA to give direction to legislation. This is real purpose of the SONA, and I believe President Arroyo will repeat other important things that she needs to do, and your legislative action is badly needed to legitimize her action. Hey, Senator… are you listening? Hey, Congressman… are you hearing?... We need you there… You have to be present. You are compelled to listen the rhetoric of our hopes because you are our representative. You make amends to those that needs amendments support your president, because she is our head of state. We pushed you up, don’t push us down. Just be there…we pray… and take action. She is our president, our head of state. Just let her do her best while you take legislative action. Just be there…we pray. Listen to our rhetoric… hear our voice. Whatever others may call it, just be there.

Don’t get absent, or the people will mark you a big X.