Looking back: SONA trivia

Renz Paolo B. Regis

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Looking back: SONA trivia
(UPDATED) Ferdinand Marcos' 1969 speech is the longest SONA, thus far, going by word count

 MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is seen as an important event in the Philippines.

It is a constitutional obligation by Philippine presidents fulfilled since the time of former president Manuel L. Quezon.

Before listening to what President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has to tell the country and seeing what happens during the SONA itself, here’s interesting trivia about the SONAs of past presidents.

1938. Former president Manuel Quezon delivers the country's first SONA. Photo from the Official Gazette
Manuel L. Quezon

The first SONA by a Philippine president was delivered by Quezon in 1935. He delivered a total of seven SONAs during his presidency.

All his SONAs were delivered at the Legislative Building in Manila, and had a combined total of 40,684 words.

The last SONA he delivered was in 1941. No SONA was delivered from 1942 to 1944 because of the Japanese occupation.

Jose P. Laurel

Laurel is one of two Philippine presidents (the other being Emilio Aguinaldo) who didn’t deliver a SONA. Constitutions during their time didn’t require presidents to address the Congress in its opening session.

Sergio S. Osmeña

Osmeña delivered his first and only SONA in 1945. He delivered his 4,525-word speech at the Temporary Congress Building at Lepanto Street, Manila.

Manuel A. Roxas

Roxas delivered 3 SONAs during his presidency from 1946 to 1948.

His 1946 SONA was delivered before the last Congress under the Commonwealth, while his last two SONAs were delivered before the First Congress under the republic government.

All were held at the Temporary Congress Building, and had a combined total of 33,690 words.

1950. Former president Elpidio Quirio delivers his SONA via radio broadcast aired live before Congress. Photo from the Official Gazette
Elpidio R. Quirino

Quirino delivered a total of five SONAs during his presidency from 1949 to 1953. Four of them were delivered at the House Session Hall of the Legislative Building in Manila.

His 1950 SONA, however, was delivered via radio broadcast aired live before Congress. During that time, he was confined at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

This made him the first and only Philippine president who was not able to appear before Congress to deliver his speech.

His five SONAs had a combined total of 25,604 words.

Ramon Magsaysay

Magsaysay delivered a total of four SONAs during his presidency from 1954 to 1957.

All were delivered at the House Session Hall of the Legislative Building in Manila.

His four SONAs have a combined total of 19,208 words.

Carlos P. Garcia

Garcia delivered a total of four SONAs during his presidency from 1958 to 1961.

All SONAs were delivered also at the House Session Hall of the Legislative Building in Manila.

His four SONAs had a combined 32,447 words.

Diosdado P. Macapagal

Macapagal delivered a total of four SONAs during his presidency from 1961 to 1965.

All his SONAs were delivered also at the House Session Hall of the Legislative Building in Manila.

His four SONAs had a combined total of 37,412 words.

While his 1964 SONA is currently the 4th shortest ever delivered (with 2,838 words), his 1963 and 1965 SONAs are among the longest (with 13,264 and 12,851 words, respectively).

1967. Former president Ferdinand Marcos delivers his second SONA. He had a total of 20 SONAs. Photo from the Official Gazette

Ferdinand E. Marcos

Marcos delivered the most number of SONAs – a total of 20. That’s more than twice the record of the president with the second most number of SONAs (Arroyo with 9).

Similar to his predecessors, he delivered his first seven SONAs (1966-1972) at the House Session Hall of the Legislative Building.

After the imposition of martial law and the abolition of Congress in 1972, his SONA was delivered in different areas – Malacañang in 1973 and 1974, Quirino Grandstand in 1975, the Philippine International Convention Center in 1976, and Rizal Park in 1977. During these years, the SONA was delivered on the anniversary of the imposition of martial law on September 21.

The 1973 Constitution set the SONA to every 4th Monday of July, and brought it back to the Batasang Pambansa. The date was strictly followed, except in 1983 when the SONA was delivered on January 17.

Marcos’ 20 SONAs had a combined total of 212,510 words. Of all the 77 SONAs so far delivered by Philippine presidents, six of his speeches are the longest in Philippine history. His 1969 speech is the longest SONA, thus far, going by word count.

Corazon C. Aquino

Aquino delivered a total of five SONAs during her presidency from 1987 to 1991.

Her five SONAs had a combined total of 21,213 words.

Fidel V. Ramos

Ramos delivered a total of six SONAs during his presidency from 1992 to 1997.

His six SONAs had a total of 30,760 words.

Joseph E. Estrada

Estrada delivered a total of three SONAs during his presidency from 1998 to 2000.

His three SONAs had a total of 16,436 words.

2007. Former president Gloria Arroyo delivers her 7th of 9 SONAs. Photo from the Official Gazette

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Arroyo delivered a total of nine SONAs during her presidency from 2001 to 2009.

Her nine SONAs had a combined total of 35,572 words. Her 2005 speech is the shortest SONA, going by word count.

Benigno S. Aquino III

Aquino delivered a total of six SONAs during his presidency from 2010 to 2016.

He delivered his very first SONA (2010) entirely in Filipino – the first and only president, so far, to do so.

His six SONAs had a total of 52,091 words, almost double the longest SONA of his mother.

Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte delivered a total of six SONAs during his presidency.

Duterte’s first SONA in 2016 contained 9,451 words and lasted for one hour and 32 minutes. 

His second in 2017 contained 12,527 words and lasted for almost two hours.

– Rappler.com

Sources: State of the Nation Addresses, SONA Trivia, and SONA Traditions and History from the Official Gazette

Renz Regis is a Rappler intern.

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