#SONA2016: What is the story of the nation?

MANILA, Philippines – Stories from the regions form the story of the nation.

On Monday, July 25, President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his first State of the Nation Address (SONA). The President’s speech is expected to be different from those of his predecessors. Previously described as the “Oscars of Philippine politics,” this year’s SONA will be a much simpler affair: guests attending the event were advised to come in simple outfits.

The former Davao mayor himself is known to prefer casual wear. He paired his Mindanao silk barong with khaki pants on his inauguration day.

But more importantly, on that day, the President will paint the situation of the country as he views it, and present his plans in broad strokes.

Help capture and complete the bigger picture of the nation by sharing the situation and aspirations from the regions.

You can do this by posting photos, videos, and stories. Here’s how:

Step 1: Identify the story

Look for a story from your immediate community – town, city, province, and region.

What motivates the people in your area? What frustrates or inspires them?

What do they want the President and the nation to know about their community? 

Record their answers and other basic details, like their name and profession.

Think about the best way to tell the story – text story, photo, video, or graphics.

Step 2: Capture, write the story

Highlight the unique issues in your story. What are the issues faced by the Ilocanos, Cebuanos, Ilonggos, Cagay-anons, Warays, Muslims, the Lumad, etc? 

If you’re taking a photo or video of your subject, it’s best to take them in their natural environment or in a situation that says something about who they are.

Take note that the subjects do not need to always smile or look at the camera.

Step 3: Submit the story

You can publish the photos, videos, captions, posters, artworks, and other relevant information on X, Rappler’s self-publishing platform. Don’t forget to include #StoryOfTheNation in the tags of your story.

You can also send your entries via Facebook or Twitter. When submitting via social media, remember to use #StoryOfTheNation and make your post public. You can also submit using the Rappler app.

By Sunday, July 24, we will be producing a wrap of the story of the nation told from the different regions. Your entries could be selected and featured in a social video. – Rappler.com