Filipinos online criticized the President’s goals during the 5th State of the Nation Address for targeting opposition figures, telecommunications firms, and so-called ‘oligarchs’ instead of discussing proposals to tackle the COVID-19 crisis.
One thing that also caught the attention of the netizens was the scripted clapping of the 5th SONA participants.
Netizen and comedian Gabe Mercado mentioned how these ‘handpicked believers’ can’t even clap on cue for Duterte’s 5th SONA Speech,
Handpicked true believer audience members.
And they still couldn't clap on cue.
— Gabe Mercado (@gabemercado) July 27, 2020
News Anchor Karen Davila tweeted on how SONAs should be centered on what the state of the country is instead of mentioning private companies and own personal agendas,
‘No senator or private company deserves to be mentioned at the opening of the President’s SONA. This is about the state of the country, where we are, where we are going, not about personal vendettas or feelings. People are hungry and jobless. People are looking for inspiration’
This was when a netizen replied why he didn’t bother to watch the 5th SONA since he noticed how the government officials even clap for every remark of the President.
‘That’s why [we] never bothered to watch. SONA matters only to govt people, because they need to clap and wave at the Pres’s remarks.’
https://twitter.com/lologabemman/status/1287696251870273537?s=20
Netizen Derrick Barredo said they could not even follow the scripted clapping.
‘Pati yung palakpak nila PALPAK. (Im assuming SONA tong tweet mo). Magagalit si Remeter niyan, di sabay sabay yung clap’
Pati yung palakpak nila PALPAK. (Im assuming SONA tong tweet mo). Magagalit si Remeter niyan, di sabay sabay yung clap
— Derrick Barredo (@derricktweets) July 27, 2020
Me doing a slow clap habang nanonood ng mga pumapalakpak sa sona sa tv and saying to myself "tingnan mo itong mga tangang ito"
— Lakwatserong Kuripot (@Jer0m3DelaCruz) July 27, 2020
One netizen even asked why do people clap even clap during the speech since according to him most of the points raised are useless.
“And I really doubt why do people clap. Inisip ko na baka may magandang points syang sinabi na deserve palakpakan pero di ko lang narinig. But I found out, wala talagang sustansya yung SONA hahahaha EXCEPT sa sinabi niyang bababa sya sa 2022”
https://twitter.com/raynermantos/status/1287702482240454657?s=20
me everytime mu clap ang mga attendees sa sona: pic.twitter.com/VKCHpF8LHH
— tian (bini yaan)🥑 (@chozzseungs) July 27, 2020
Netizens’ sentiments about President Rodrigo Duterte’s penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) show that the Chief Executive did not have a comprehensive and practical action plan for the country’s recovery from COVID-19.
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman told the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) that they were expecting accurate plans for the COVID-19 pandemic,
“We were expecting that the President will tell us very accurately what the administration’s plans are with respect to responding to the health and economic crisis brought about by the pandemic but he did not,”
The Magdalo party-list said that Duterte’s SONA included the same “elements” that had been heard in his previous addresses.
“As usual, the elements of a Duterte SONA were there – very few important updates, some more promises, bloated drug problem, defeatist stance in the West Philippine Sea, fear-mongering, ramblings against the opposition, Xi Jinping and Bong Go. The COVID-19 pandemic was not given the commensurate attention it needs considering that it is the most urgent problem right now.”
