Some Filipinos felt that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘s speech during his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) was reminiscent of speeches delivered by past presidents.
Marcos on Monday, July 27, delivered his fifth SONA at the Batasang Pambansa Complex as he entered the last two years of his presidency.
His one-hour-and-25-minute speech tackled issues such as the flood control scandal, electricity bills, a tax relief package for the middle class, the controversial Pax Silica Industrial Hub and the partial opening of the MRT-7.
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Some Filipinos commented that Marcos’ SONA reminded them of speeches delivered by former presidents Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Joseph “Erap” Estrada.
Aquino was known for delivering his SONAs in Filipino, while Estrada’s inaugural address included the line: “Walang kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kamag-anak o anak na maaaring magsamantala sa ngayon.”
“He is doing a Noynoy Aquino by delivering his SONA in Filipino #SONA2026,” an online user commented in response to Marcos’ speech.
“Is it me? Parang same writer ng speech ni PNoy before??? The entirety reeks of the memory of PNoy or idk [I don’t know],” another wrote.
Political scientist Cleve Arguelles also commented that Marcos was “doing a PNoy,” noting that the late president was known for his delivering his SONAs in Filipino.
He also said Marcos was “doing a bit of an Estrada.”
“At the beginning of his speech, he had this line na, ‘Hindi lang ako pangulo… of my family, I’m not only the president of my family, I’m also the president of my country.’ Diba? Which reminded me of ‘Walang kamag-anak, walang kaibigan,'” Arguelles added.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) president Renato “Nato” Reyes Jr. also said some of Marcos’ lines reminded him of Estrada.
“Marcos took a page out of Joseph Estrada’s inauguration speech ‘Walang kaibi-kaibigan, walang kamakamag-anak.’ With his voice almost cracking, Marcos said, ‘Hindi ako Pangulo ng aking pamilya. Hindi ako pangulo ng aking kaibigan,'” he wrote on Facebook.
Last year, during Marcos’ fourth SONA, the name of Aquino also trended after some Filipinos noticed similiarities in the languege of his speech and its key messages.
“The call for accountability sa tubig, kuryente, sa mabagal at anomalous flood control projects,” an online user said last year.
“MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO!! – PBBM This sounds like PNoy’s ‘Saan kayo kumukuha ng kapal ng mukha?’ Either way, I love the messaging. Go after the corrupt and the thieves in [government],” another said.
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Aquino was the only president to deliver all of his SONAs entirely in Filipino. Previous presidents delivered their addresses in English, while some, including Marcos, used a mix of Filipino and English.
Meanwhile, in his 1998 inaugural address, Estrada vowed to eradicate graft and corruption, saying:
“Walang kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kamag-anak o anak na maaaring magsamantala sa ngayon. At ngayon pa lamang sinasabi ko sa inyo, nag-aaksaya lamang kayo ng panahon. Huwag ninyo akong subukan.”
Marcos used similar lines when he mentioned the Ombudsman and referred to flood control projects in the opening part of his fifth SONA.
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the president’s first cousin, was among those allegedly linked to the scandal.
Romualdez, meanwhile, said he respects the president’s decision.
“It may be painful for my family, but I respect the statements of the President. I never asked for favors or special treatment from anyone,” he said in a statement.
“I agree that we have to do the right thing. And the right thing is to follow the process and let the evidence speak. I maintain that I did not do anything illegal. And I am ready to prove this,” Romualdez added. — with reports from Philstar.com/Cristina Chi
