NEW YORK – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to take center stage on Monday for her annual State of the Nation Address (SONA).

But unlike in previous years, expectations from Filipino Americans on what the chief executive will report to the public are higher since this will be her last after eight years in Malacañang.

Like Filipinos in the Philippines, Filipino-Americans in New York are also gearing up for the SONA.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-USA founding member Bernadette Ellorin said Mrs. Arroyo should stick with the truth when she describes the state of the nation.

“I think the last thing Filipinos, especially Filipinos overseas... they are expecting the truth to come out of her mouth,” said Ellorin.

Ellorin said that the Philippines continues to reel from poverty and human rights violations.

“Life is too hard in the Philippines because they can't even provide their children with three meals anymore,” added Ellorin.

Lawyer Ferdinand Suba, who has been in the United States for more than 20 years, also expects the truth from Arroyo, especially on the nation’s economy.

“The economy is very important. As you know, poverty in the Philippines is so prevalent, so that must be addressed,” noted Suba.

He said the President did have good intentions in her almost nine years in power. But corruption had made it difficult for her to govern properly.

“I think President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would like to leave a legacy, that history would judge her kindly despite all those controversies,” Suba added.

For Louise Valderrama, who just recently moved to New York, Arroyo’s address should be her swan song. And her final note should pave the way for a transition of power.

“When we get a new president, it's like we start from zero. I expect Gloria to build at least a foundation which our next president next year could use,” remarked Valderrama.

All eyes will be on Arroyo on Monday in what is expected to be her last SONA, and Filipinos in New York are tuning in to see how their version of the nation’s state measures up to Arroyo’s. By Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN News