Marcos Answers Citizen Queries on SONA Preparations, Content

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. addressed citizen queries regarding his State of the Nation Address (SONA) through his official Facebook vlog, offering insights into the preparations and content of his recent address. The SONA, which lasted one hour and 26 minutes, saw the President engage with public reactions and questions. Responding to a question about who wrote his speech, Marcos stated that he personally penned the entire first and last parts of the address. He also revealed a significant detail from the SONA's opening, where he announced that criminal cases were being prepared against his first cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez, in connection with a multibillion-peso flood control scandal. "I am not the President of my family. I am not the President of my friends. I am the President of the Philippines and my duty is to you, my fellow Filipinos," Marcos declared, emphasizing his commitment to the nation. In the latter part of his address, Marcos strongly condemned what he termed threats to Filipinos' dignity and self-respect by "detractors." He reiterated his vow to continue upholding the "final and binding" 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea. "Let me remind our friends and our detractors: Filipinos are a noble, kind, gracious and a great race. We are not greedy. We are not racists. We are not liars. We are respectful and we are dignified. We are Filipinos and we do not yield," he asserted. Regarding his attire, Marcos shared that his sister, Irene Marcos-Araneta, selects his clothes, particularly his barongs (traditional Filipino attire). She reportedly sent him five "really beautiful barongs" about a month before the SONA for him to choose from. The President also mentioned receiving a message from Aliyah Mae Lozari, convener of the Youth for Health Coalition, after his SONA. He acknowledged that some "extremely important" topics had to be excluded from the speech due to time constraints. Furthermore, Marcos read a question from a citizen named Ali, who urged him to prioritize House Bill 3887, which aims to raise excise taxes on alcoholic beverages and implement other health taxes. "Your letter is so timely, Ali. That is precisely why we have really strengthened our efforts to assist our fellow citizens when it comes to health care," Marcos responded, highlighting the government's focus on healthcare. Source: Philstar Nation