MANILA, Philippines - In a few hours, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will be delivering his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

His message is widely expected to be "sober and realistic," especially since he "doesn't like very long speeches," according to Manolo Quezon III, a member of Aquino's communications team. (Read story here.)

He's not the type who will use human props, either. (Read story here.)

"The SONA will be specific, it will be an extended discussion of his ideas, his agenda...There will be no Lenny Skutnik," Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier told ANC's "Strictly Politics."

Lenny Skutnik, an all-American guy, was invited by former United States President Ronald Reagan in his 1982 State of the Union address. He was heavily praised for saving an air crash victim from the Potomac river in Washington DC.

Since Aquino is not planning to include any Skutniks in his first SONA, let's just take a look at some of the poster boys featured in speeches of 2 previous chief executives.

'Bangkang Papel' boys

One of the main highlights of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's (who's now a congresswoman representing Pampanga's 2nd district) first SONA was a bunch of boys from Payatas.

Jomar Pabalan, Jason Vann Banogan and Edwin Dolera -- among the victims of the Payatas tragedy on July 2000 -- wrote their dreams on paper folded into boats and launched these into the polluted Pasig river.

The said boats supposedly reached the hands of then President Arroyo after it reached Malacañang Palace -- with the paper still intact and the handwriting still legible.

Arroyo, during her speech, promised that the boys' dreams -- from college education to land ownership -- would sail just like the paper boats they sent her.

This, she said, also goes for the ambitions of every poor Filipino.

Since then, the kids were called Bangkang Papel (paper boat) boys, and the symbols of the Arroyo government's efforts to curb poverty in the country.

Setting sail?

Eight years later, the Bangkang Papel boys' dreams are on their way to being fulfilled.

Families of Pabalan and Banogan now have their own businesses, and all 3 boys are currently in college.

Since 2001, they've received medical and transportation allowance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). (Read story here.)

"We are very proud of the boys. They are all doing well," a DSWD official earlier told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.

Unlike before, however, the Bangkang Papel boys are not as keen to have media exposure.

But the bigger question is, have they presented an accurate picture of the Arroyo government's battle with poverty through the years?

Mang Pandoy

Here's another poster boy, who shot to fame when he was mentioned during the first SONA of then President Fidel Ramos.

Felipe Natanio, more popularly known as Mang Pandoy, only finished Grade 3 and made a living selling vegetables.

He became the face of the Filipino poor during Ramos' term. Natanio earned at least P2,000 per episode as host of a short-lived weekly TV show, was later hired as a consultant by then House Speaker Jose de Venecia, and received some doleouts.

Not so lucky

Even with these, however, Mang Pandoy was unable to escape the shackles of poverty.

He wasn't as fortunate as the Bangkang Papel boys -- he passed away 2 years ago due to complications from tuberculosis. (Read story here.)

His death showed that it takes a lot to take someone out of poverty.

Mang Pandoy didn't need doleouts alone -- he needed a stable livelihood and someone to teach him how to make his money grow.

Can no-frills Aquino deliver?

Even without the use of props and poster boys, Aquino currently enjoys a record high trust rating, thanks to his family's clean reputation. (Read story here.)

The people of the Philippines have pinned their hopes on the son of 2 late democracy icons.

"Our people see that he is a leader that speaks the truth. Here is a leader that will not tell lies. Hindi lang hindi magnanakaw, hindi rin magsisinungaling," said Herminio "Sonny" Coloma, a member of Aquino's communications group.

As he addresses the current state of the nation, will Aquino manage to deliver on his promises? Let's all stay tuned.

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E-mail the author at karen_flores@abs-cbn.com.