House memo: Avoid ostentatious displays, exercise discretion on SONA

‘AMID CALAMITIES’

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco on Friday issued a memo for the austere holding of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. 

“There will be no staged ceremonies, fashion coverage, or photo setups in the red carpet area,” read the memo. 

“Members are respectfully urged to avoid ostentatious displays and exercise discretion in their wardrobe choices,” it added.

According to the memo, this is “in view of the recent calamities affecting several regions of the country.” 

“We will forego with fashion style na entrance. Mas magiging formal na lang tayo ngayon para din matugunan yung panawagan ni Speaker Martin Romualdez na i-tone down yung pagpasok ng SONA para naman din mapakita natin ang ating pakikiisa sa mga kababayan natin na patuloy pa ngayon ay nakakaranas ng epekto ng mga bagyong dumaan,” explained House Spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante on the memo.

(We will forego the fashion style entrance. We will be more formal now to meet Speaker Martin Romualdez’s call to tone down the entrance of the SONA so that we can show our solidarity with our countrymen who are still experiencing the effects of the recent typhoons.)

“Sa pagkakaintindi ko, hindi naman yung mismong red carpet pero hindi na siya yung magiging may mga spectacle pa on the attire. Mostly, it will just be a regular entrance and a place where other members of the House may be interviewed by the media,” Abante said.

(As far as I understand, it won’t be the red carpet itself, but it won’t be the one with spectacles focusing on the attire. Mostly, it will just be a regular entrance and a place where other members of the House may be interviewed by the media.)

“Definitely, we will forego of the pageantry for SONA but we will just stick with the formalities. Of course, yung barong and Filipiniana is still encouraged but not for any fanfare anymore,” she added.

Several parts of the country are still reeling from the effects of consecutive storms amid days of heavy rains. The reported death toll due to Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, Emong and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat has increased to 25 as of Friday morning. 

A state of calamity has also been declared in 84 cities and municipalities. 

‘Matutuloy’

Meanwhile, Abante also assured the public that the SONA will push through in the Batasan Pambansa Complex whatever the weather conditions are on Monday.

“The delivery of the State of the Nation Address is a constitutional mandate naman. So, rain or shine, matutuloy siya,” she said. 

(The delivery of the State of the Nation Address is a constitutional mandate. So, rain or shine, it will continue.)

“Ang lagi kong sinasabi, if merong mang magiging pagbabago, yan would be kung how it will be held katulad ng panahon ng pandemic. Pero sa ngayon, wala naman kaming information kung may mga magiging pagbabago,” Abante added. 

(What I always say is, if there will be any changes, it would be how it will be held, like during the pandemic. But right now, we have no information if there will be any changes.)

Abante also disclosed that preparations for the SONA inside the House of Representatives is almost complete.

“Noong Monday, parang final clean-up na lang and set-up,” she said —VAL, GMA Integrated News