SONA 2026: Commonwealth vendors, supporters tune in with hopes for economy, accountability

While thousands gathered along Commonwealth Avenue on Monday for the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., some Filipinos outside the protest lines said they were listening for updates they hoped would affect their daily lives. Among them was 59-year-old vendor Anito Soriano, who continued selling his goods despite the SONA. “Kahit may SONA, puwede naman po naming panoorin sa bahay,” Soriano said when asked why he still chose to work. He said he hopes to hear developments on the country’s economy. “Sana malaman po natin ang pagbabago sa ating ekonomiya,” he said. When asked what improvements he wanted to see, particularly on the prices of basic goods and fuel, Soriano said he believed the President had already delivered changes. “Marami namang pagbabago ang nagawa ng ating Pangulo,” he said, adding that continuing to sell during the SONA was also his way of showing support for the President. Nearby, 63-year-old Teresa Soracho, a member of the Ladies of Heart Movement, said she joined fellow members in listening to the President’s address. She said she wanted to hear whether the administration’s promises would be fulfilled. “Yung mga pangako niya, kung matutupad o hindi,” Soracho said. She also said she is interested in hearing more about the government’s investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects. “Yung pasabog niya tungkol sa flood control, kung meron pang mga ‘big fish’ na makukulong,” she added. Asked whether she had seen changes since the previous SONA, Soracho said one notable development was the administration’s acknowledgment of corruption issues. “Na-announce niya na meron palang corruption na nangyayari,” she said. For senior citizen Elbera Bantog, attending the gathering was worth enduring the midday heat because she wanted to personally hear the President’s message instead of watching it on television. “Gusto naming marinig ang mga pinagsasasabi ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos. Nawa sa kaniyang mensahe marinig natin 'yung pagbabago ng ating bansa,” Bantog said. She expressed hope that the President would address the rising cost of living, particularly fuel and commodity prices. “Kagaya ng langis, masyado nang mataas. 'Yung mga bilihin, nagtaasan na,” she said. Not everyone waiting along Commonwealth shared the same view. JR, a street food vendor, said he wanted the President to provide answers to the issues confronting the country. “Yung sagot ni President sa lahat ng nangyayari sa Pilipinas. Siyempre, lahat naman tayo apektado,” he said. While acknowledging that there had been positive developments under the Marcos administration, JR said he believes there have also been more negative developments. The interviews were conducted along Commonwealth Avenue hours before Marcos delivered his fifth SONA, as supporters, vendors, residents, and protesters gathered amid heightened security for one of the country’s biggest annual political events. —AOL, GMA News