President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will deliver his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in just over a week's time, and at least one House member thinks that using the Filipino language for this important speech would make it "resonate more" with the people.

Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo acknowledged on Saturday, July 16 that some Filipinos found it a "challenge" to understand Marcos's speech during the latter's inauguration at the historic National Museum last June 30.

The 30-minute speech was mostly delivered in English.

"Thus, the sentiment by some that the President consider delivering his SONA in Filipino language is understandable," Salo said.

"Or perhaps, the President may consider juxtaposing Filipino language in stressing important key points," added the lawmaker, who was a vice chairman of the House Committee on Public Information during the previous 18th Congress.

"And of course, the Filipino language resonates more with most of our people, many of whom will be glued to their screens to hear the President’s first SONA. This is perhaps the reason why the President used Filipino language in most of his campaign speeches and was able to capture the imaginations and captivate the emotions of the electorate," Salo pointed out.

Marcos, 64, son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., hardly spoke in English on his campaign trail.

He ended up amassing 31 million votes en route to a rare majority mandate during the May 9 elections.

During Marcos's inauguration, this reporter, who covered the event, heard sighs of disappointment from people in the crowd as the new Philippine leader began to speak in English. "Paano natin yan maiintindihan (How are we going to understand that)?" asked one of them, who was an elderly woman.

But it still made sense for Salo as to why Marcos chose to use English for most of his inaugural address.

"President BBM’s inauguration speech delivered in English is consistent with his pronouncement of the need to elevate our proficiency with the English language, particarly by our students," he said.

"The challenge encountered by some listeners to fully grasp the President’s message delivered in English drives home the point," the solon noted.
Marcos's first SONA will take place at the Batasang Pambansa complex, home of the House of Representatives, on July 25.