MANILA, Philippines — In directing her second State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22, filmmaker Joyce Bernal wants a more celebratory atmosphere, unlike 2018’s tense and suspenseful one as a result of the speakership battle that upstaged President Rodrigo Duterte’s speech. “I want it hopeful and good” this time, said the movie director, as she conducted her first walk-through on Monday at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City, where a joint session of Congress would be convened for the Sona. Although it was still Alvarez who sat behind the President while he delivered his speech, Arroyo was installed Speaker that same evening. “We want it to be happy because, look at last year, what happened? So I hope you can set the mood of the people here, like, ‘Hey, stop quarreling already!’” Bernal said in Filipino.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 08, 2019 21:33 UTC