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- PGMA's 2008 SONA will be her eighth SONA since she became President in 2001.
- So far, PGMA's longest SONA was her first SONA. She spent 1 hour and 6 minutes discussing her plans to provide jobs, education, housing and food on every table in her 2001 SONA. Her shortest SONA was the 25-minute, 55-second speech about charter change and the tale of two Philippines in 2005.
- PGMA's consistently boasted of the country's economic growth in her SONAs. She often asked Congress to pass revenue measures.
- She also consistently called for national unity and a stop to political bickering.
| SONA 2001 July 23, 2001 Â | SONA 2002 July 22, 2002 | SONA 2003 July 28, 2003 | SONA 2004 July 26, 2004 |
| jobs, education, housing, food 1 hour, 6 minutes Taking off from the wishes of three Payatas kids, PGMA outlined plans for job creation, education, housing and food security. She set targets and asked Congress for several legislative measures. Â She called for national unity, at the same time stating her administration's policy to support the fair and speedy trial of all accused in the cases vs. former President Joseph Estrada. Â PGMA promised to end the Abu Sayyaf. Â PGMA acknowledged the importance of information and communication technology in economic development. Â Â | "strong republic"
53 minutes  Point by point, she mentioned her administration's accomplishments in relation to targets set in 2001 (agriculture, land reform, food security, health, education, job creation).  PGMA reported an improved fiscal status.  She also cited gains in anti-terror (defeat of the Abu Sayyaf, rescue of Gracia Burnham) and anti-crime efforts (particularly vs. kidnapping, illegal drugs and smuggling).    | war against terrorism, corruption, disease and drugs
 She declared war against terrorism, corruption, disease and drugs.  PGMA proceeded with a rundown of accomplishments achieved in keeping with the 2001 SONA promises - job creation, food security, housing and education  PGMA declared that there will be no moratorium on the death penalty for drug traffickers, but maintained that she is still pro-life in other matters.  | "Mamamayan muna"; sacrifice, reforms  38 minutes
With the budget deficit as the country's "most urgent problem", PGMA asked for reforms, revenue measures, and "more sacrifice". PGMA expected Congress to consider charter change in 2005. PGMA reported economic gains, investments, and provision of basic needs. She also cited anti-crime efforts (breaking up drug and kidnapping syndicates) and government reforms (lifestyle checks, procurement reforms, downsizing government by abolishing 80 offices) |
| SONA 2005 July 25, 2005 | SONA 2006 July 24, 2006 | SONA 2007 July 23, 2007 | tale of two Philippines; Â 25 minutes, 55 seconds PGMA described the country as divided -- poised for economic take off but is beset with a degenerated political system. Half of the entire speech was devoted to pushing for charter change. PGMA expressed her preference for charter change by way of Constituent Assembly. PGMA gave a rundown of accomplishments in previous years: economic growth, job generation, tax collection, housing, health insurance, drugs, kidnapping -- all mentioned very briefly and described in general terms. | Super Regions
1 hour, 3 minutes PGMA detailed her plans for the "super regions":
The plans include construction of infrastructure -- road networks, airports, bridges. With record revenue collections and savings, PGMA said there are enough funds --
PGMA also mentioned the repatriation of OFWs caught in the hostilities between Lebanon and Israel. | investments
59 minutes PGMA cited her administration's accomplishments in previous years and laid out investment priorities for the remaining three years of her term:
The most part of her SONA focused on ongoing construction/ improvements on various infrastructure projects in the "Super Regions", including road networks and airports. PGMA envisioned RP to be in the ranks of rich countries within 20 years. |
- PGMA's pet legislation include the anti-terrorism bill, election computerization, farmland as loan collateral, and various measures for fiscal reform and revenue generation. She requested Congress to pass these legislative measures in more than two SONAs.
- PGMA asked Congress for an anti-terror law in her 2002 SONA. She reiterated her request in 2003 and 2005. In 2007, the Human Security Act (RA 9372) was signed into law.
- In her first ever SONA, PGMA expressed her hope that the just concluded 2001 polls would be the last national elections to use "primitive methods of voter identification and ballot tabulation." PGMA was elected President in 2004 while new senators and local government officials were elected in 2007; both polls were conducted manually.
- PGMA constantly asked for legislation allowing farmland to qualify as loan collateral from 2001 to 2004. She dropped the request since her 2005 SONA.
- Many of PGMA's requested fiscal reform/ revenue measures became laws. Some of these are the Special Purpose Vehicle Act (RA 9182) Reformed VAT Law (RA 9337), increased excise tax rates on alcohol and tobacco products (RA 9334), and a rewards and incentives system for the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs (RA 9335).
| SONA 2001 July 23, 2001 | SONA 2002 July 22, 2002 | SONA 2003 July 28, 2003 | SONA 2004 July 26, 2004 |
| farmland as loan collateral computerization of elections laws to reduce red tape in the national government amend the BSP charter and the Banking Act to improve supervision and promote financial prudence enact the Personal Equity Retirement Act enact the Investment Company Act enact the Securitization Act enact amendments to the Securities Regulation Code enact a law providing for a gross income tax overseas absentee voting enact laws addressing internet privacy and security; allowing for multimedia convergence; creating a Department of Telecommunications and Information Technology wage increase creation of a Department of Housing tax reform law enact a law reducing the amount of drugs in a suspect's possession for him to be charged with drug trafficking | anti-terrorism bill farmland as loan collateral special purpose vehicle act absentee voting bill Transco franchise bill | Senate ratification of 5 remaining UN conventions against terrorism anti-terrorism bill Transco franchise bill farmland as loan collateral rationalization of excise tax on automobiles elimination of documentary stamp tax creation of National Revenue Authority indexation of sin taxes (to finance the universal coverage of Philhealth insurance) make sure that coconut farmers benefit from coco levy funds -- allocate a portion to victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime | farmland as collateral extra year of studies (standardize what is taught in barangay daycare centers) strengthen the Office of the Ombudsman government re-engineering (abolish redundant offices, reduce red tape) consider charter change pass 8 revenue measures to collect P80 billion Transco bill |
| SONA 2005 July 25, 2005 | SONA 2006 July 24, 2006 | SONA 2007 July 23, 2007 |
| charter change pre-need code legislation encouraging renewable, indigenous energy swift passage of anti-terrorism law | automate election process local governments must get their rightful share of revenues | create the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines enact laws to protect witnesses from lawbreakers and law enforcers laws to empower special courts laws to impose harsher penalties for political killings laws reserving the harshest penalties for the rogue elements in the uniformed services expedite the computerization of the COMELEC fund poll watchdogs enact a stronger law against election-related violence pass the Cheaper Medicines Bill create a law that would improve long term care for the senior citizens amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act for open access and more competition |
- PGMA tended to cite her administration's accomplishments in cumulative rather than in year-on-year terms.
- Unlike in her earlier SONAs where she reported on her administration's accomplishments, PGMA's later SONAs focused more on detailing plans. In 2005, she described achievements briefly and in general terms. Meanwhile in 2006 and 2007, PGMA rattled off a list of ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects.
- Peace and order used to be a key issue in PGMA's SONA. In 2001, PGMA promised to end the Abu Sayyaf. in 2002 she cited gains in anti-terror and anti-crime efforts, particularly vs. kidnapping, illegal drugs and smuggling. in 2003 she deplored the Oakwood Mutiny and declared that there will be no moratorium on the death penalty for drug traffickers. In 2004 she reported the break up of drug and kidnapping syndicates. Peace and order became less of an issue in PGMA's later SONAs.
- PGMA started to hint about charter change in her 2004 SONA. She devoted half of her speech on the topic in 2005.
- PGMA's 2006 and 2007 SONAs were laden with infrastructure projects and nods to pro-administration local government officials.
| SONA 2001 July 23, 2001 | SONA 2002 July 22, 2002 | SONA 2003 July 28, 2003 | SONA 2004 July 26, 2004 |
| PGMA mentioned a few specific deadlines in her speech -- e.g. "deliver tangible results vs. graft within 12 months"; "a school building in every barangay by 2004". The SONA also contained specific targets. This was PGMA's first SONA, fresh from the events of EDSA II and EDSA III. The 2001 senatorial elections had just been conducted in May that year. Months before the SONA, the Abu Sayyaf kidnapped foreign and local tourists from the Dos Palmas Beach Resort in Palawan. They also escaped military offensives in the Lamitan siege, taking a few more hostages as they went. | PGMA mentioned concrete accomplishments, but did not set specific targets and deadlines like before. Abu Sayyaf hostage Gracia Burnham was rescued by government troops a month before the SONA. Burnham's husband, Martin, and Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap were killed in the rescue attempt. | This SONA was delivered...
| This was PGMA's first SONA after winning the 2004 presidential elections. Kidnapped OFW Angelo de la Cruz was released by his captors in Iraq days before the SONA. |
| SONA 2005 July 25, 2005 | SONA 2006 July 24, 2006 | SONA 2007 July 23, 2007 |
| PGMA delivered her SONA amid the Hello Garci and jueteng controversies, and yet she made no mention of these issues. PGMA also faced impeachment complaints at that time. Mention of concrete accomplishments and goals were scarce as the speech was practically devoted to charter change. This speech proved to be the shortest among all the SONAs PGMA delivered from 2001-2007. | PGMA credited a lot of politicians in her speech. She had survived the impeachment complaints filed against her in 2005. PGMA delivered her SONA amid charter change moves: Certain groups have been gathering signatures in support of chacha by people's initiative since the start of the year. PGMA praised 7th Infantry Division Commanding General Jovito Palparan for his campaign against rebels -- and in the same breath said she condemns political killings (Human rights groups have linked Palparan to political killings). The SONA was more on detailing plans for the Super Regions, less on reporting accomplishments. PGMA signified in her speech that she will relinquish presidency in 2010. | PGMA peppered her speech with the names of several politicians and Pinoy achievers. Again, she survived the impeachment complaints filed against her in 2006. The 2007 senatorial and local elections had just been conducted two months before. Despite allegations of administration-backed election fraud in parts of Mindanao, most of the opposition senatorial candidates won. Weeks before the SONA, 14 Marines were killed in a rebel encounter in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan. PGMA paid tribute to the slain soldiers in her speech. |
- PGMA's SONA always had a human face. She feted Filipino achievers (e.g. Manny Pacquiao), acknowledged political supporters, and cited commonfolk who benefited from government programs (e.g. Payatas kids/ "bangkang papel" boys, freed OFW hostage Angelo dela Cruz, a call center agent she had coffee with).
- PGMA often paid tribute to her father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, in her speeches. She opened her 2002 SONA with an anecdote about him; she also mentioned him in passing in her 2001, 2006 and 2007 speeches.
| SONA 2001 July 23, 2001 | SONA 2002 July 22, 2002 | SONA 2003 July 28, 2003 | SONA 2004 July 26, 2004 |
Bangkang Papel boys - three boys from Payatas who wrote letters containing their wishes to President Arroyo; the letters were folded into paper boats and made to float on the Pasig River:
| PGMA started her speech by recalling President Diosdado Macapagal’s humble beginnings. PGMA mentioned past kidnap victims (Mary Grace Rosagas, daughter of Uratex owner, kidnapped in UP; Connie Wong, abducted and killed; Rowena Tiu, kidnapped in La Union, rescued in 8 days, ransom recovered) and then cited accomplishments against kidnappers. PGMA briefly mentioned the rescue of Abu Sayyaf Gracia Burnham and the death of Abu Sabaya. | PGMA wrapped up her speech by naming Filipino achievers, referring to granddaughter Mikaela, and calling for God’s blessings in several dialects. Cited Filipino achievers / Filipinos who overcame problems:
| PGMA's speech took off from the release of OFW Angelo dela Cruz from his Iraqi hostage takers. She thanked the people for winning the 2004 elections and for giving her a huge majority in Congress and in the local governments. |
| SONA 2005 July 25, 2005 | SONA 2006 July 24, 2006 | SONA 2007 July 23, 2007 |
| Opposition congressmen distributed peach roses (for "impeachment") before the start of the SONA, then walked out. PGMA supporters wore blue ribbons (for "peace"); Rep. Way Kurat Zamora distributed calamansi plants. Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao was in attendance. PGMA wore an old gown to the SONA -- the blue terno she wore used to belong to her mother, former First Lady Eva Macapagal. Senate President Franklin Drilon's stoic reaction to PGMA's charter change pitch was in complete contrast with House Speaker Jose de Venecia's enthusiastic clapping. After delivering her speech, PGMA held hands with and walked alongside her daughter, Luli Arroyo (who, unlike other members of the First Family, has not been linked to any controversy). | Bloopers: apparently overexcited, House Speaker Jose de Venecia introduced PGMA before the national anthem and the opening prayer. A Powerpoint presentation accompanied PGMA's speech. Cameras trained to politicians and other personalities in the gallery as PGMA acknowledged them in her speech. Those who merited special mention in PGMA's SONA ranged from government officials (mostly local government officials and congressmen) to Pinoy Everest summiteers, SEA games athletes, beauty queens, and boxing champs to a call center agent. | PGMA used a Powerpoint presentation. PGMA congratulated every elected official, from municipal to provincial to Congress. She mentioned the names of several government officials as she enumerated the various infrastructure projects in her SONA. PGMA again cited several Filipino achievers (farmers, students who won in international competitions, etc.):
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