Hold up. We know the State of the Nation Address has become a yearly red carpet moment. A terno here, and an embroidered barong there. But while everyone’s busy rating fits, we forget that the SONA isn’t a fashion show. It’s supposed to be a check-in on whether our government is doing its job.

Think less “Oscars” and more “Parent-Teacher Conference,” except the teacher is the President and the parents? That’s us. The Filipino Citizen. And bro, we have questions.

So instead of obsessing over who wore what, here is what we should be asking:

1. Is the country passing or failing?

The SONA is literally in the Constitution. It’s the President’s chance to tell us how the Philippines is doing, what got done, what didn’t, and what’s next.

Not vibes, verdicts. Are we thriving as a nation or just surviving?

2. Are they walking the talk, or just walking in designer shoes?

This isn’t just an annual TED Talk. The SONA is where we hold the president and his crew (aka the Cabinet) accountable. Did they deliver? Were the campaign promises fulfilled? Are the problems being solved or just renamed and rebranded?

Let’s call it what it is: Accountability Hour

3. What laws are they trying to pass (and for whom)?

The SONA is a wishlist to Congress. Expect new bills, policies, and sometimes, some power plays. Congress isn’t here to hand out photo ops or warm up for 2028. Your district rep is supposed to represent you.

4. Are we broken or thrivin’?

Why did your favorite P20 chips suddenly double in price over the past few years? Spoiler: Inflation
The SONA should explain where the money’s going and how we’re doing economically. You might zone out on a term “fiscal framework,” but that affects why your favorite potato chips are at an all-time high.

5. Are we fixing the stuff that matters, or just the stuff that trends?

Poverty, education, healthcare, transport, public safety – these should be headline topics. If your mayor’s boxing match made more airtime than all that? That’s a problem.

6. Are we safe?

Cool, someone had a handshake moment in Washington. But is that diplomacy or just another press release?

What about the West Philippine Sea? Tensions in Taiwan? Our national Defense Strategy?? The SONA should give us more than ‘strong ties.’ We need resibo, fam

7. Are there facts, or just feelings?

SONAs can get dramatic. Standing ovations, slow claps, camera pans. But behind every speech should be SOLID DATA. No fluff, hindi “pa-quote”

We want numbers, bro. Results.

8. Are we part of the conversation or just spectators?

This speech should spark conversations, not just chismis.

Talk to your barkada. Talk with your family. Demand more from your district rep than a branded barong or their very energetic clap. Because if we don’t care about what’s said, they’ll keep caring more about how they look than what’s being said.

Look, you don’t even have to watch it live. Scroll through clips or read summaries. But whatever you do, don’t let the fashion distract you from the function.

Yes, this might sound demanding of us. But who are we to demand?

Wait — we’re citizens of the Republic of the Philippines. And let’s not forget: we voted for the people in there.