Bunye: Sona practices and traditions

Right here within the Philippines, it’s known as State of the Nation Deal with or Sona for brief. Within the US, it’s State of the Union. In Nice Britain, it’s known as Speech from the Throne or The Queen’s (of King’s) Speech. It’s Prinsjesdag within the Netherlands. There is no such thing as a equal identify in Japan however the speech, likewise, is delivered in the course of the first session of Parliament.

Native chief executives have additionally provide you with their very own variations since 1988. So it is not uncommon for us to now learn or hear concerning the State of the Province Deal with (Sopa), State of the Metropolis Deal with (Soca), and State of the Municipality Deal with (Soma). I’m not positive although if there may be an equal for the Barangays or Soba.

The day after the Sona, the political opposition in Congress, as represented by the Minority Ground Chief, delivers what has come to be often called Contra Sona. The Opposition calls this speech “The True State of the Nation.”

In contrast to the well-attended Sona, with all its media hype, the Contra Sona is often delivered earlier than a half-empty meeting, whereas most legislators — be they pro-Administration or Opposition — are having espresso on the South Lounge.

President Fidel V. Ramos, who throughout his personal time period delivered 6 Sonas, jokingly refers to an imaginary speech which incorporates a individuals’s want checklist of things which ought to have been included, however weren’t, in a Sona. PFVR calls it Sana.

The ceremonies within the Philippines and in the USA have many similarities. The principal motive: In each international locations, the capabilities of Head of State and Head of Authorities are exercised by the identical particular person — the President.

Distinction this with ceremonies in Nice Britain, the place the Queen is Head of State, whereas the Prime Minister is Head of Authorities.

Each within the Philippines and within the US, the apply relies on a constitutional mandate which requires the Chief Government to tell Congress of the state of the nation and to advocate such measures as could also be obligatory and expedient.

For the reason that time of President Quezon, each Philippine President personally appeared yearly earlier than Congress to ship his message. The one exception occurred in 1950 when President Quirino, who was then recuperating from an sickness, delivered his Sona through radio from his hospital mattress in the USA.

Within the US, early presidents beginning with Thomas Jefferson, discontinued George Washington’s apply of personally showing earlier than Congress. Jefferson and the remaining merely submitted a written report. Woodrow Wilson resumed the apply of non-public look.

Right here within the Philippines, the President delivers the Sona earlier than a joint session of Congress. In attendance are virtually all of the members of each homes, together with those that are perennially absent in the course of the common session.

The girl legislators and the congressional spouses often come of their most elegant Filipiniana. Broadcasters often have a discipline day describing who’s sporting what (and by whom) in the course of the congressional style present.

Additionally in attendance are members of the judiciary, cupboard members, members of the diplomatic corps, a fastidiously screened visitor checklist, and naturally, the duly accredited media.

Often, some legislators – strongly against the President – leak to media upfront their non-attendance claiming “waste of time.”

Exterior, militant teams, 12 months in and 12 months out, make a present of marching with clenched fists in direction of the Batasan solely to be stopped (“harassed” in response to the militants) by the police. However in the course of the first 12 months of President Duterte, the militants, as a substitute of staging a “kilos protesta,” held a “kilos suporta.” At the moment, a honeymoon between President Duterte with the leftists was in impact.

The US has institutionalized a apply (The Designated Survivor) because of 9/11. Accordingly, one Cupboard member doesn’t attend the State of the Union tackle in an effort to present continuity within the line of succession within the occasion {that a} disaster disables the President, the Vice President, and different succeeding officers gathered within the Home chamber.

Moreover, since 9/11, just a few members of Congress have additionally been requested to relocate to undisclosed places during the speech to type a rump Congress within the occasion of catastrophe.

In Nice Britain, it’s the Queen who reads a speech ready by the Prime Minister. It’s known as Speech from the Throne. The speech is delivered in the course of the State Opening of Parliament — an event marked by pageantry steeped in British tradition and custom. The State Opening of Parliament was based mostly on custom which dates again to the early 14th century.

In contrast to right here within the Philippines, the place each single applause is tallied and duly reported by the media, the Queen’s speech is met with dignified silence, with the attendees neither applauding nor exhibiting dissent. The Queen, for her half, reads the speech in a impartial, virtually monotonous tone.