Quoted: PGMA's 2009 State of the Nation Address

• "I will defend democracy..."
• "I have never declared martial law..."
• "I have never expressed the desire to extend my term..."
• "I have been falsely accused of using my position for profit..."
• "Those who lived in glass houses should not cast stones..."
• "Governance is not about looking and getting even..."

The above quoted statements are taken by yours truly from the recently concluded President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address - July 27, 2009.

The State of the Nation Address or better known in its acronym - SONA, is one of the most controversial and highly criticized event in the Philippines' Republic. And the main reason behind this is the fact that this is a very special event wherein the current President of the Philippines reports on the status of the nation as a whole - in different areas and perspective, normally to the resumption of the Congress' joint session (the House of Representatives and the Senate). This is one of the duties of the Philippine President as stated in Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution:

"The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session. He may also appear before it at any other time."

The following 5 quoted statements are the 5 things which PGMA included in the list of her administration's achievements:

• "We have a strong economy in a strong fiscal position to withstand political shocks."
• "We built new modern infrastructure and completed unfinished ones."
• "The economy is more fair to the poor than ever before."
• "We are building a sound base for the next generation."
• "International authorities have taken notice that we are safer from environmental degradation and man-made disasters."

With this recently concluded event, there have been mixed reviews given by the people of the Philippines towards PGMA's SONA itself, but more importantly to her governance as a whole. I shall bear witness to these reviews... I have heard people praising her for her achievements and I have heard people mocked her.

And later, I will be revealing my personal views or reviews rather, on such issue - particularly in PGMA's governance as a whole. So you better watch out for it on my next posts...