SONA EXPECTATIONS

*Statement of Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros

After the killing of thousands, the systematic attacks against democratic institutions, the relentless sexism and misogyny, the surrender of our sovereignty and territorial integrity to China and the worsening economic slump, I expect nothing true and good from President Duterte's State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Sa SONA ng Pangulo, walang maaasahang katotohanan. Walang maaasahang kabutihan. Walang maaasahang direkyon.

Alam na natin ang tunay na kalagayan ng bansa. Ang laganap na patayan, katiwalian, seksismo at pagsuko sa ating mga isla at yamang dagat. Kung hindi nalulubog ang bansa sa baha, binabaha naman tayo ng dugo ng mga pinapaslang.

"Bad outweighs the good"

If there is anything good at all that will be said, I fear that this will only be used to deodorize the stench of death, corruption and incompentence under the Duterte administration. Under Duterte's rule, the bad outweighs the good.

Malacanang said that President Duterte will address the people as the "father of the nation." A quick assessment of President Duterte's more than two-year governance will reveal that the President is anything but a loving father of the country.

"Abusive father of the nation"

On the contrary, President Duterte is an abusive father. And like any abusive father, during his SONA, the President will subject us to his irrational, verbally abusive stream-of-consciousness rants and rambling.

Then again, President Duterte might try to surprise us all by acting statesman-like and civil. He might take a pause from his usual abrasive self. However, after subjecting us to more than two years of violent and misogynistic rhetoric, we already know who the real Duterte is.

To be totally honest, nagdalawang-isip ako kung dapat pa akong dumalo sa SONA ng Pangulo. Pero dahil sa binabalak na Senate-less Constituent Assembly (ConAss), paglapastangan sa ating Konstitusyon at bantang pagsuspinde sa halalan sa 2019, pinili ko na lumahok upang patuloy na ipagtanggol ang ating demokrasya. The struggle to defend democracy demands steadfastness. Huwag natin silang hayaang patuloy na ibalot ang bayan sa takot at dilim.