Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
'In keeping with the times': Expect another simple SONA this year, says House official
Philippines
National
'In keeping with the times': Expect another simple SONA this year, says House official
'In keeping with the times': Expect another simple SONA this year, says House official
Published Jun 9, 2026 02:28 pm
At A Glance
- House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil announced that President Marcos' July 27 SONA will be simple and austere, with no red carpet or gowns, in light of the recent Sarangani earthquake.
- She stressed that the event will remain dignified, and encouraged attendees to wear simple Filipiniana attire.
- This continues last year's toned‑down SONA, reflecting government solidarity with Filipinos affected by calamities.
The House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
For the second straight year, the House of Representatives is conscientiously organizing an austere State of the Nation Address (SONA) in light of recent events.
House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil made the announcement Tuesday, June 9 during the first coordination meeting for President Marcos' SONA this year at the House of Representatives.
"The operative word for this year I think will be a simple SONA, in keeping with the times," Garafil said.
"So there will be no red carpet, no long gowns. As you can see in the invitations that we've prepared, we've specifically mentioned that we're encouraging everyone, especially the ladies to just wear simple Filipiniana dress," said the top civilian official of the House.
Garafil made these remarks a day after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Sarangani and other parts of Mindanao. The calamity, which has claimed over 30 lives, is now the focus of government response efforts.
Garafil said SONA 2026--President Marcos' fifth and penultimate SONA--would still be "dignified".
"Even the preparations that we are all geared toward, it is simple but still dignified. Of course, this is a major event for the administration and for the Filipino people."
"I hope everyone would also contribute to making this a very simple but dignified for the President and the whole government," she further said.
This year's SONA will be held on July 27 before a joint session of Congress at Batasan Complex, home of the House of Representatives.
The previous SONA that was held on July 28, 2025 was also toned down a great deal as part of the government’s commiseration with Filipinos who bore the brunt of the successive typhoons and floods.
Normally filled with pomp and pageantry, the annual SONA serves as the Chief Executive's report card to the country, where he or she cites the government's accomplishments the previous year and lays down promises and future plans.