Malacañang said yesterday that President Duterte’s State-of-the-Nation Address tomorrow will be simple and not a fashion show like in the previous administrations.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said he believes politicians attending the SoNA have become more sensitive and completely forgot gracing the red carpet with stylish clothes.
“Karamihan sa atin mga pulitiko ay sensitive diyan sa ating mga kababayan, siguro naman – like the previous SoNA, maraming nag-recycle ‘di ba?” he said.
“Sa kanilang mga gowns. Sa lalaki naman, simpleng barong lang ‘di ba so okay na iyon eh. So tingnan natin kung anong mangyayari, kasi siyempre aabangan din ‘yan,” he added.
Andanar expressed that events like the SoNA should highlight Filipino culture, like that other Southeast Asian countries do in their events.
“Kailangan din ipagmayabang iyong ano eh, iyong fashion ng Pilipino eh. ‘Hindi ba, iyong Filipiniana?” he said. “‘Pag may ASEAN, halimbawa sa Bangkok, ASEAN doon…Makikita mo talagang ang sinusuot nila iyong kanilang national ano eh, iyong national dress, at ganoon din sa Jakarta, ganoon din sa Cambodia and they’re very nationalistic eh,” he added.
Andanar also disclosed yesterday that preparations for Duterte’s fourth SoNA are in full swing, adding that the Chief Executive himself edited his speech during rehearsals Friday.
Andanar said that Duterte has been editing his speech since he assumed office. “So far ‘yung ating State-of-the-Nation Address preparations ay in full swing. At for the past three years siya talaga ang nag-e-edit ng speech,” he said.
Andanar said that Duterte cut his speech from 28 to just 19 pages. “The original 28-page speech was cut to 19 pages. We are still revising the speech as ordered by PRRD. It’s 98 percent done,” he said. “The speech will be about 45 minutes to an hour-long without adlib,” he added.
Assisting the President during rehearsals which ended around 10 p.m. were Andanar, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, and Sen. Bong Go. Television and film director Joyce Bernal who was tapped to direct the SoNA was also present.
Andanar said that Radio Television Malacañang and Bernal’s team are now ready for the event. “The RTVM headed by Director Demic Pabalan and the team of Director Joyce Bernal are 100 percent ready. Barring any technical malfunction, we are good to air,” he said. (Argyll Geducos)
