On July 27, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will deliver her State of the Nation Address (SONA).  All eyes I bet will be glued to TV sets as the country’s most powerful official speaks about the accomplishments of her administration.
In the point of view of a journalist, July 27 is surely a big task waiting to be completed.  And because I work for a news website, the demand is twice harder.  People would expect us to cover the SONA as it happens.   They would expect to see photos and videos too.  And so undoubtedly our preparations should be doubled otherwise tripled.
Good thing is we have mapped out a plan on how to go about our coverage.  Accreditation was the first step.   And that’s solved already as we were assured to get inside the House of Representatives’ Plenary Hall where Mrs. Arroyo will deliver her SONA.  Thanks to some connections.
Next thing is video grab.   We have made a move on this but still awaiting for response from the office that is in charge of the matter.
Then the stories.  We discussed possible highlights of this year’s SONA.  We talked also on what to expect in the President’s report, how to do the minute updates, and the personalities to be interviewed.
Everything is still on date as to preparations.  I just hoped all things will turn out well on the SONA day.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Her promises
Every SONA, the ongoing debate is whether the President was able to achieve the promises she made in her last report or not.
On her 2008 speech, Mrs. Arroyo mentioned three general targets of her government – to bring in rice to feed people; to bring in investments to create jobs; and to keep peace and maintain stability in our country.
I personally salute the Chief Executive for these so-called aims.   But while she may have done something to accomplish her targets, it cannot be denied that there are some circumstances affecting food security, job generation, and peace and order.
For one, the global recession resulted to shut down of big companies.  More employees lost their jobs. A lot of overseas workers also were sent home by their respective employers.   Thus, as an effect, it is just understandable that many families were having hard time putting food on their tables.
The series of bombings in Mindanao is another thing we must consider.  Last July 7, a bomb exploded near a church in Iligan City.  At least 22 people were hurt in that incident.  Kidnappings in the southern part of the country remain rampant.   Italian Red Cross Volunteer Eugenio Vagni was recently released by his Abu Sayyaf captors.  But there are still teachers who remain captives.
So to the question whether President Arroyo was able to keep her promises, I think the answer depends on how one sees the current state of the country.