SONA day not a holiday

It will be a REGULAR WORKING DAY when President Aquino delivers his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the opening session of the 15th Congress on Monday, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Malacañang had to consider the business sector in regarding Monday as an ordinary working day even with the SONA.

“It’s a working day because the administration is not worried about the rallyists. The new administration just came in and so there is no reason to hold protest rallies at this time. That’s the reason why (it’s not a holiday),” Lacierda said.

He said it would be up to the Quezon City government to decide whether to declare a holiday, particularly in the areas near the Batasang Pambansa where Mr. Aquino would deliver his first SONA. source: Philstar.com

GMA's last State of the Nation Address (SONA)

July 27, 2009 will be a significant date for Iglesia ni Cristo (their Anniversary) and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. This will be GMA’s last State of the Nation Address (SONA) during her term. That means bigger rallies and more criticisms are expected because of the never ending issues about Constitutional Change. According to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes, around 15,000 protesters are expected to join the rally along Commonwealth Avenue which they call the people’s version of the SONA.

12,000 policemen will be deployed when GMA delivers her SONA before a joint session of Congress at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City. At least four senators announced that they will boycott the SONA (Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Mar Roxas and Aquilino Pimentel, Jr.).

This time, GMA has only less than a year left to fulfill her promises (again!).

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