Philippine SONA

June 27, 2009 was the last SONA of the Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at 4:00 P.M. at the Batasan Pambansa Complex in Batasan Hills, Quezon City. Many said that was the the last SONA of her being the president of the Philippines but we're really not sure if she will not run for same position this May 2010 election. To those who are not familiar what is a SONA? Here is a clipped i got from wiki.com. The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is an annual event in the Republic of the Philippines, in which the President of the Philippines reports on the status of the nation, normally to the resumption of a joint session of the Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate).

The History about SONA from wiki.com. The concept of a speech being delivered to Congress by a sitting Philippine head of state was conceived on March 22, 1897, when Andres Bonifacio delivered what is now known as the "State of the Katipunan" Address (SOKA) in front of the delegates of the Tejeros Convention. In his SOKA, Bonifacio outlined the achievements of the Katipunan from the time of its founding until August 29, 1896, when the Philippine Revolution began, as well as his planned programs should the Philippine Revolution be successful. However, the first speech delivered by a sitting Philippine head of state which resembled the modern-day SONA was delivered by Emilio Aguinaldo on September 15, 1898, as he was addressing the Malolos Congress. His speech, entitled Mensaje Leido Por El Presidente Del Govierno Revolucionario Para El Congreso ("A Message from the President of the Revolutionary Government for Congress"), would be known today as the "State of the Revolutionary Nation" Address, or SORNA.
During American rule, it became the duty of the Governor-General to address the Philippine legislature on events happening in the islands. This speech was known as the "State of the Philippine Islands" Address (SOPIA), which was delivered by William Howard Taft to the members of the Philippine Assembly on behalf of President Theodore Roosevelt on October 12, 1907. During the term of Francis Burton Harrison however, it became customary for his one-page addresses to be read by the sitting Senate President, which at the time was Manuel L. Quezon, in the belief that since Filipinos are being prepared for self-rule and eventual independence, it should be Filipinos who deliver the speeches. This practice continued until the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934.

Local governments in the Philippines also give their own addresses at some point during the year. At the provincial level, this is called a "State of the Province" Address, or SOPA, given by the provincial governor, while at the city and municipality level, this is called either a "State of the City Address" (SOCA) or "State of the Municipality" Address (SOMA), given by the mayor. In the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, this is called a "State of the Region" Address, or SORA, given by the regional governor. These speeches are not mandated by law, but are given usually as a matter of practice or tradition.