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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Quick facts: SONA 2025

Quick facts: SONA 2025

Published Jul 26, 2025 01:42 pm

At A Glance

  • President Marcos will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon City on Monday, July 28.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)


President Marcos will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon City on Monday, July 28.
Normally filled with pomp and pageantry, this year's event will be toned down considerably as part of the government’s commiseration with Filipinos all over the country who bore the brunt of the successive typhoons and consequent floods.
Here are other details you must know to stay ahead of the conversation about SONA 2025:
- The effects of the severe rains and flooding a week before the SONA results to calls from House members led by former Speaker, Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez to hold an austere and simple event.
- Heeding this call, House Secretary General issues a memorandum on dated July 25 to implement changes to the red carpet protocol. The memo essentially gets rid of the traditional "fashion show" that's traditionally part of the red carpet gala just before the SONA.
- The physical red carpets on the north wing and south wing lobbies have been removed. The red carpet in the main lobby--a fixture in that part of the House of Representatives--will remain.
- The dress code remains formal, although House members and guests are requested not to wear any ostentatious garb.
- Invitations to the SONA get sent out on July 21.
- 85 members of the diplomatic corps have confirmed their attendance.
- Initially, House Spokesperson Princess Abante says the the same number guests from last year (2,000) was being expected. Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin has since confirmed that the SONA attendance would be scaled down.
- Garin says austerity will also be observed in other aspects of the SONA, like with the decorations. She says no new items will be procured just for the sake of decorations.
- Garin says the snacks to be served to the guest will feature "local fare", but nothing fancy.
- An invite has been sent to former president Rodrigo Duterte as part of the protocol for living ex-presidents. He is currently being detained and tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague in the Netherlands for crimes against humanity.
- Vice President Sara Duterte isn't expected to attend this year's SONA after sending her regrets. She also no-showed last year's event.
- Abante says a seat will still be reserved for Duterte at the VIP gallery in the plenary hall in case she changes her mind.
- The Voice Season 26 winner Sofronio Velasquez will sing the national anthem before the President’s speech.
- A total of 160 medical personnel we be deployed on SONA day, together with 17 ambulances stationed inside the House premises. Some 115 hospital rooms have been reserve in various medical facilities around Metro Manila for any medical emergency that may occur.
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