For years the State of the Nation Address, or SONA, has been an event to see and which to be seen. A literal red carpet has been rolled out and the politicians who misgovern the nation have paraded down it in their Barongs while the ladies wear their fashionable Terno dresses or Filipiniana. In one notable instance Vice President Sara Duterte even cosplayed as an indigenous person. It's been no different this year.
The trouble started with tarps advertising the SONA being hung during the flood.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1254916 |
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed dismay over the installation of tarpaulins for his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), calling it “highly inappropriate” given the ongoing monsoon rains and flooding in various parts of the country.
“It was a surprise. I only found out early this morning when I got up. That's what they’re doing,” Marcos said Wednesday (Manila time) during a press conference with members of the Philippine media in Washington, D.C.
“It is highly inappropriate… It’s already flooded, why are you putting those up?”
The President said the order to install SONA materials did not come from him and has since been halted.
Marcos emphasized that the government’s priority should remain on assisting affected communities, particularly in flood-hit areas across Metro Manila and nearby provinces, assuring the public that the lapse has been addressed.
“That is an unfortunate misjudgment on their part. But we’ve corrected it, and I trust it will not happen anymore,” he said.
On Tuesday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the President has ordered all SONA-related preparations suspended and directed all government agencies to focus on relief operations and assisting Filipinos amid the heavy downpour.
Marcos is set to deliver his fourth SONA on Monday before a joint session of the 20th Congress at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City.
Why do tarps advertising the SONA, which are paid for by the taxpayers, need to be hung in the first place? They are hung every year, of course. The only difference this time is that the hanging of them during a major catastrophe is bad optics. But they have always been bad optics. The tarps are a way for the President to advertise himself and his policies.
It is impossible to not compare the Philippines' SONA with the USA's SONA because both nations share a history. The Philippines learned how to be a republic under the tutelage of the United States. In the USA, while there is advertising for the SONA, it does not consist in hanging tarps all over Washington, DC at taxpayer expense. It consists in TV news stations alerting viewers they will be interrupting regular programming to show the SONA. The tarps being hung in the Philippines are a symptom of the larger illness of epal where politicians plaster their faces everywhere. Personality politics has always reigned supreme in the Philippines no matter how much lip service is given against it.
How more personality politics can you get than transforming the SONA into a fashion show?
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| https://entertainment.inquirer.net/621207/designer-michael-leyva-admits-having-a-hard-time-with-sona-2025s-simpler-theme |
This year’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) was a break from the extravagant red carpet — literally and figuratively — as government officials and special guests opted for understated ensembles. For Filipino designer Michael Leyva, the “quieter” theme challenged him to focus on the details, instead of its aesthetic value.
Known for his chic sense of style, Leyva has been one of the go-to designers for celebrities and lawmakers in the Sona. One of his notable clients is Heart Evangelista, who donned two understated ensembles for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fourth Sona.
Aside from Evangelista, his clients this year included First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, ACT-CIS representative Jocelyn Tulfo, Mar Tulfo, and Deputy Social Secretary Dina Tantoco, to name a few.
The departure from the traditional glamorous garb was a “big change” from what the designer is used to, as it was “quieter and less flashy” than usual. “In a way, that made it more meaningful,” he told INQUIRER Entertainment, noting that being respectful of the theme is one of the points he took note of.
“It challenged me to focus more on the details and the story behind each design, not just how it looks on camera. I had to be more creative while keeping everything simple and respectful,” he continued.
With this in mind, Leyva admitted that it was “hard” to find the balance between honoring his client’s wishes and keeping his designs solemn.
“It was honestly hard, because I had to follow the rules but still make each dress feel special and different from one another. But I enjoyed the process,” he said. “I made sure to listen to what each client wanted, then found a way to mix that with my ideas and the theme. It’s fun and fulfilling when you get it right.”This year witnessed the removal of the traditional red carpet in the north and south wing lobbies of the Batasang Pambansa. At the same time, lawmakers and guests opted for a simpler approach in their Filipinianas. While some went for intricate details on muted tones, others chose deeper hues as the added oomph.
This step-back from the traditional Sona fashion was done for an understandable reason. It was the House of Representatives’ way of showing solidarity with the victims of Typhoons Crising, Dante, and Emong that hit the nation.
When asked about the possibility of removing the red carpet for good, Leyva said he is not in favor of doing so, as it is supposed to be a platform for designers to showcase their work.
“The red carpet gives designers, artists, and even local weavers a chance to show their work. It’s not just about being seen — it’s about showing what we can do and inspiring others. It’s a celebration of Filipino talent,” he said.
“Sona gives designers a chance to be seen. It’s not just about fashion — it’s about culture, pride, and talent. It helps local artists and weavers get recognized, too. For years, it’s been a way for us to show what Filipino creativity looks like on a big stage,” he continued.
Since Sona is one of Leyva’s busiest times of the year, he takes the pressure as a driving force to keep moving forward in his work.
There’s definitely pressure because people expect a lot. But I try to stay focused and remember why I do this. I get inspired by stories, by our culture, and by the women I design for. That keeps me going,” he said.
In this article fashion designer Michael Leyva says outright the SONA is about fashion. It's about having "a chance to be seen" and "it helps local artists and weavers get recognized." But that's not what the SONA is about. The SONA is when the President address both houses of Congress and the nation and gives an update on how things are going. He gives updates on the economy, on foreign policy, on crime, and on everything else relevant to the health of the nation. The SONA is meant to be a moment of accountability and national unity, where the President addresses the entire nation. When it becomes a stage for individual display, it undermines the collective spirit of governance and reinforces personality over principle. It is not a fashion show, yet that is what it has been for a number of years.
It is very true that the SONA is a place to be seen and what the public sees is the riffraff who run the nation parading around like it's the Oscars. What the public sees is the contempt these elected officials have for the people who entrusted them with improving their lives and keeping them safe. What the public sees is the demons who run the hell that is the Philippines.
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