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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider First Lady on Marcos' SONA: 'Couldn't help but shed a tear'

First Lady on Marcos' SONA: 'Couldn't help but shed a tear'

Published Jul 28, 2026 03:45 pm
Members of the First Family—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and one of their sons, Vincent—share a moment before the President delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Liza Marcos)
Members of the First Family—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and one of their sons, Vincent—share a moment before the President delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Liza Marcos)
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos said President Marcos' fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) left her emotional, especially when he delivered one of the speech's most memorable lines.
"Couldn't help but shed a tear as I listened to my husband deliver his SONA," the First Lady said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, July 28.
"When he said, 'We are respectful, we are dignified… and we do not yield,' I felt the weight of every challenge, every sacrifice and every prayer that brought us to this moment," she added.
In her post, the First Lady expressed her appreciation to the staff, whom she considers family. She thanked them for believing in their shared vision and for their loyalty.
"This time next year will be my husband’s last SONA. So please allow me to say what I know is in his heart: To every member of our staff [read: you’ve always been family to us] and to everyone who never stopped believing in our shared vision -- thank you," the First Lady said.
"Your loyalty, hard work and quiet sacrifices have meant more than words can ever express," she added.
Borrowing the President's words, the First Lady told their staff: You are respectful, dignified, and you will never yield.
Noting that the nation's unity and consciousness are currently challenged, the President, during his SONA, attempted to raise the citizen's morale, saying: Our unity and collective consciousness are challenged now greater than ever before. A common threat lies before us, directed against our dignity and self-respect as a people.
"Let me remind our friends and our detractors: Filipinos are a noble, kind, gracious, and great race. We are not greedy. We are not racists. We are not liars. We are respectful and we are dignified. We are Filipinos and we do not yield," the President said.
In a separate post on Tuesday, the First Lady expressed her pride for her husband.
"Every SONA reminds me of the countless hours, the sacrifices, and the heart my husband pours into serving our country. I couldn’t be prouder of the man he is and the leader he strives to be," the First Lady said.
"His greatest wish has always been simple —to make life a little easier and a little better for every Filipino family," she added.

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President Marcos First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos SONA First Family
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