Palace: No human props in SONA

Posted at 07/21/2010 1:34 PM | Updated as of 07/21/2010 1:34 PM

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will not be using any Lenny Skutniks in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

As far as Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda is concerned, the address will be about the state of the nation since his predecessor had left and the corresponding “doable” solutions.

“The inaugural was more or less political theater. The SONA will be specific, it will be an extended discussion of his ideas, his agenda…There will be no Lenny Skutnik,” he told ANC’s Strictly Politics on Tuesday night.

Lenny Skutnik is an all-American guy who was invited by former US President Ronald Reagan in his January 1982 State of the Union address.

Skutnik, heavily praised for saving an air crash victim from the Potomac River in Washington, DC, was asked to sit next to First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Since then, notable people invited to sit in the galleries of the joint meetings of Congress have been called Lenny Skutniks.

Philippine presidents had their fair share of Lenny Skutniks, sometimes drawing attention away from the real state of the nation.

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo presented the “Bangkang Papel” boys in 2001 to show the plight of poor Filipinos.

Like thesis defense

Lacierda said Cabinet secretaries had to appear in marathon meetings with the President in order to put meat to the speech.

“The Cabinet secretaries were made to report the lay of the land. All the figures in the speech will have basis,” he said.

The Cabinet meeting, which started on Tuesday and will continue today, was kind of like a thesis defense, he added.

After hearing the speech, people will not be left with more questions unanswered, he said.

“You won’t ask the question, ‘saan galing ang pondo nun?’ That will also be explained. Marami ideas [before], flowery pero wala namang pondo. Ngayon, klarong-klaro,” he said.

Lacierda refused to comment further on the contents of the speech, saying it is being checked and re-checked day after day.

The draft speech has not even reached discussions regarding the Truth Commission, he said.

“It will be about the true state of the nation left by Arroyo. President Aquino will lay out the problem, propose solutions, his legislative agenda…[It will be] a call to arms, a call to people to rally behind him,” he added.

Lacierda is 1 of 5 persons helping Aquino draft the speech. The others are: Manuel “Manolo” Quezon III and Ricky Carandang from Aquino’s communications group, Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad and speechwriter Mai Mislang.

The speech will be in Filipino.

“He’s particular about the tone, it’s his speech. The people will just be drafting it. At the end of the day, it’s his tone, rhythm, cadence, his own choice of words,” Lacierda said.


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2 comments

Pres.SONA

Pres.1ST SONA, the common problem of ordinary filipino is
poverty,because they have no job,or source of income
to feed their family.

I think the best solution to resolve the problem of
ordinary filipino citizen is to lower the cost of
electricity,how?

option 1

nuclear plant - some country already using nuclear
power,so why cant we adapt them.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/vie
w/20100721-282287/Russia-to-help-SEA-build-nuclear-power-plants

option 2

solar power - why the goverment support,promote and
encourage residential area to use solar power as
alternative source of power even small scale of unit
compose of "small solar panel,small storage battery
and 1 small light that uses LED that less energy
consumption and run during at late night while their
Children studying or member of family working at
home",this can give basic light in every home which help
middle or very poor family,especially in provinces
that electricity is not available.

this can elevate their life and just not using candle
light in studying during night time.

option 3

windmill - govt also can use windmill as alternative
source of power within province with sufficient
current of wind is available but their is windmill can
run even with less current of wind.
wind mill can help farmer to pump water from deepwell
to water their farm.

this can encourage farmers to plant rice we need all
year round without worrying especially in dry season
and promote work in barrios.

wind mill can best use in province with no power
available but with enough wind like in seashore or in
open area.

i believe lowering cost of electric power is the key to
eliminate poverty and problem to all filipino we can
unite from luzon,visayas and mindanao and we can stop
crime if majority of filipino have work and have
source of income to feed their family and live in
peace.

many business run now by electricity,so let us utilize
uses of technology.

Question of funding? govt can start coordinating
supplier for volume order the component for lesser
cost that poor family can afford to buy or govt can
give provide them.

or they can encourage foreign investor that will build
this project in the provinces and explain to all
citizen on how they can benefit this project which in the
end all filipino can benefit with low cost
electricity..."NO KICK BACK,OVER PRICE OR RED TAPE"


SONA

Holiday po ba sa first SONA?hehehe



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