In every lengthy State of the Nation Address (SONA), which typically lasts an hour or more, it is the most pressing issues or the most controversial portions that tend to linger in the public's memory until the next address is delivered.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s past four public addresses each left behind at least one highlight that came to define the annual speech.

During his first SONA delivered on July 25, 2022, his first year in office, Marcos made a strong pronouncement about the country's maritime territory. 

"On the area of foreign policy, I will not preside over any process that will abandon even one square inch of territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power," Marcos then said. 

It earned both applause and cheers from the members of Congress, government officials, and guests inside the Batasang Pambansa. 

He then maintained the Philippines' foreign policy: a friend to all and an enemy to none. 

"But we will not waver. We will stand firm in our independent foreign policy, with the national interest as our primordial guide," the President said.

From the infamous Build, Build, Build infrastructure program implemented by the previous administration, Marcos rebranded it using his initials—Build Better More (BBM).

"The infrastructure program of the Duterte administration must not only continue but, wherever possible, be expanded. We shall confidently build on this firm foundation established by my predecessor. As it is in building an edifice," Marcos said during his first SONA.

"We must keep the momentum. And aspire to Build Better More."

Marcos made no mention of his administration's anti-illegal drugs campaign during his first SONA.

His no mention of the anti-drug campaign was later criticized but Malacañang defended the move, saying just because it was not included in the President's first SONA, does not mean the administration won't address it.

On his second SONA, he finally included it in his second SONA on July 24, 2023, saying it will be given a "new face."

His administration's anti-drug campaign would focus on rehabilitation and dismantling their network of operations.

"The campaign against illegal drugs continues—but it has taken on a new face. It is now geared towards community-based treatment, rehabilitation, education, and reintegration, to curb drug dependence amongst our affected citizenry. Last year, we launched the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan or BIDA Program, and established additional 102 Balay Silangan Reformation Centers nationwide," Marcos said.

"We will relentlessly continue our fight against drug syndicates, shutting down their illegal activities – we will shut down their activities and dismantle their network of operations," he added.

The President warned erring law enforcers involved in drug trade, saying he would accept their resignations.

"Unscrupulous law enforcers and others involved in the highly nefarious drug trade have been exposed. I will be accepting their resignations," Marcos said.

"In their stead, we will install individuals with unquestionable integrity, who will be effective and trustworthy in handling the task of eliminating this dreaded and corrosive social curse. We cannot tolerate corruption or incompetence in government," he added.

"Effective today, all POGOs are banned."

This was among the most applauded remarks Marcos said during his third SONA on July 22, 2024. 

Three years into the presidency, and he declared an end to all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO), which, he said, "ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder."

"At ngayon po, naririnig po namin ang malakas na sigaw ng taumbayan laban sa mga POGO (And now, we hear the loud scream of the people against POGO)," he then said.

"The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop," he declared.

"Kailangan nang itigil ang panggulo nito sa ating lipunan at paglalapastangan sa ating bansa (It's time to put an end to the chaos it has caused in our society and the disrespect it has shown toward our country)," the Chief Executive stressed.

By declaring an end to the crimes-ridden operations, he drew cheers and applause, including a chant of his name.

More than a year later, Marcos signed the Anti-POGO law in October 2025.

Declaring a ban on POGO in his previous SONA raised the anticipation for Marcos' next public address. 

The public had expected him to make a strong statement on the case of the missing sabungeros during his fourth SONA on July 28, 2025.

The President indeed included the issue on the missing cockfighting enthusiasts, who vanished across Luzon between 2021 and 2022, in his SONA. 

"Hahabulin at pananagutin natin ang mga utak at mga sangkot, sibilyan man o opisyal. Kahit malakas, mabigat, o mayaman, hindi sila mangingibabaw sa batas (We will go after and hold accountable the masterminds and all those involved, whether they are civilians or officials. No matter how powerful, influential, or wealthy they are, they will not be above the law)," Marcos then stated.

The investigation carried on, but the case has yet to be resolved.

As if to end his final SONA on a dramatic note, Marcos highlighted the deep-rooted, long-standing multibillion-peso flood control scandal and vowed to hold accountable those behind the alleged corruption scheme.

Due to their corruption, the supposed flood-control projects intended to protect communities from the impacts of continuous rainfalls and typhoons failed, and worse are mere "pigments of imagination," Marcos lamented.

"Huwag na po tayong magkunwari. Alam naman ng buong madla na nagkaka-racket sa mga proyekto (Let us no longer pretend. The entire public already knows that there are people making a racket out of these projects)," Marcos then said.

He cited the various money-making schemes such as kickbacks, initiative, errata, SOP, and for the boys. 

"Kaya sa mga nakikipagsabwatan upang kunin ang pondo ng bayan at nakawin ang kinabukasan ng ating mga mamamayan, mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino (So to those who conspire to take the people's money and steal the future of our citizens, have some shame before your fellow Filipinos)!"

"Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kabahayan nating naanod o nalubog sa mga pagbaha (Have some shame before the families whose homes were swept away or submerged by floods)!"

"Mahiya naman kayo lalo sa mga anak natin na magmamana sa mga utang na ginawa ninyo, na binulsa niyo lang ang pera (You should be especially ashamed before our children, who will inherit the debts you created while you simply pocketed the money)," the President said, calling out those involved.

He later formed a body called the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate the massive flood control mess. 

Following such a pronouncement, anticipation grew for him to address corruption further, especially since the issue of flood control anomalies remained unresolved.