#ThrowbackSeries: SONA 2013 Paper

So today for our Throwback Series, I will be showing you the paper I wrote to review and summarize the SONA 2013 by our President Benigno Aquino III. This paper was part of my 3rd Year Portfolio

SONA 2013- President Benigno Aquino III’s 4^th State of the Nation Address: Pagtahak sa Tuwid na Daan

Submitted to Teacher Rose Operaña

Submitted by Riona Operaña

July 25, 2013

SONA 2013- President Benigno Aquino lll’s 4^th State of the Nation Address: Pagtahak sa Tuwid na Daan

Statement of Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review this year’s State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino lll

               I.            Highlight of SONA

A.      Government and the nation’s actions

B.      Nationalism

             II.            Good news presented

A.      Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

B.      Phil Health

           III.            Promising Facts and Figures

A.      Tourism

B.      Education

C.      Agriculture

           IV.            Observations of president and the audience

             V.            Positive or negative outlook

SONA 2013- President Benigno Aquino lll’s 4^th State of the Nation Address: Pagtahak sa Tuwid na Daan

     I love how PNoy stated the fact that even if the government is doing everything they can, to fix the complaints and problems of our country, if we ourselves would not step-up to make a difference in this country, nothing will change. He also highlighted the nationalism that was shown through three simple police officers and that we Filipinos should see them as an example on helping Philippines to straighten up and bloom.

There were indeed a lot of good news and also some bad news that PNoy stated in his so far longest SONA speech. He tackled issues in the areas of tourism, education, employment, agriculture, security (soldiers), and achievements.

·         One of the ‘to-do lists’ of the government that was done was to broaden the scope of “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4p’s)”. About 4 million beneficiaries were enrolled so far during the three years of President Benigno’s administration.

·         Another good news was the rise of beneficiaries of PhilHealth from 2010-2013. From 68% beneficiaries on the year 2010, we now have 81% of the population enrolled in PhilHealth, which is about 85,633,200 beneficiaries.

Some other achievements that were shown were in the areas of tourism, education, and agriculture.

·         In tourism, PNoy stated some praises such as “Best romantic destination” and such from various magazines such as Scuba Diving, Travel + Leisure, Shanghai Morning Post, and Oriental Morning Post. We were able to pass the 2016 target of 35.5m tourist arrivals on the year 2011 in which we reached 37.5m tourists. We now have a new 2016 target which is to have 56.1m tourist arrivals.

·         In education, the governments is still on the progress of building 66,800 classrooms, providing 2,573,212 chairs, and obliterate the 61.7m textbook backlog and achieve the ratio of 1:1 to students.

·         We have 5,500 hectares in 90 various places in this country for 10,000 farmers to use for intercropping. When we plant coconuts per hectare we can earn 20,000php, but through coconut intercropping we can produce and earn more. If we are to plant coconuts and coffee on a hectare every year, we can earn 172,000php, with bananas we can earn 102,325php, and with cacao 89,00php.

The reporters mentioned that SONA is like the Oscars here in the Philippines because not only is the content of the message is awaited, but also the colorful gowns worn by the congresswomen, senators, and spouses of the government officials.  By wearing these colorful Filipiniana gowns in the SONA, I personally think that the SONA became more colorful and more uplifted in a the eyes of our generation today since most of us, teenagers, think that SONA is just another long, boring speech of the president to the country.

I also liked the improvement of PNoy from using powerpoint to video playback. The government should try to attract our generation today on listening the SONA through connecting to us through our language and tastes.

I also think that schools need to show students as young as they are that SONA is a speech in which the president of a country states the achievements, issues solved, and the summary of events that happened to our country every year; and that SONA is there to remind us of what’s happening with the country and what the government is doing to improve the country.

As PNoy highlighted nationalism even on ordinary citizens, he made a positive, encouraging, yet strong reminder to us Filipinos that our actions as individuals will depend on how this country will improve. I also love how he ended that this SONA is our SONA; for me it means that the content of the SONA will depend on us, the citizens, on how we live in this country. President Benigno Aquino’s speech was also sandwiched and he showed the balance of a leader on giving love and just to his country.