Rappler's latest stories on State of the Nation Address
SONA 2019 review: Paint-by-numbers, a rehash
We review the latest SONA as a cinematic experience – because why not?

Applause, curses, other Duterte SONA 2019 tidbits
We count the number of times President Duterte was applauded, the number of times he cursed, and list other notable tidbits during his 4th SONA

Makabayan lawmakers' protest materials confiscated before SONA
Progressive lawmakers Sarah Elago, Arlene Brosas, and Ferdinand Gaite get in trouble for using their Filipiniana attire as protest materials for the SONA

Duterte again pushes for disaster resilience dep't, 'warns' of Batasan quake
President Rodrigo Duterte jokes about a psychic's prediction that a big earthquake will devastate Batasang Pambansa and wipe out all the country's top officials

Duterte seeks passage of coco levy bill after vetoing it
'I also have not forgotten my commitment,' says President Rodrigo Duterte on the coco levy funds

FULL TEXT: President Duterte’s 2019 State of the Nation Address
The first thing the President asks Congress in his speech is to restore the death penalty for heinous crimes related to illegal drugs and plunder

No charter change, federalism push in Duterte’s SONA 2019
(UPDATED) The President instead focuses on other priority bills, which are less controversial than charter change

Duterte: Teachers to get salary increase in new Salary Standardization Law
Senators of the 18th Congress have also filed bills seeking to raise public school teachers’ salaries

Halfway through: Duterte's midterm, in charts
From the economy to the country's standing in the world, here's how President Duterte and his administration fared in many areas in his first 3 years in office

[OPINION] Duterte's best and worst
The Duterte administration has achieved some successes that many Filipino appreciate, but it has also done very badly in some other areas as well

Filipinos share #StoryOfTheNation ahead of SONA 2019
Rappler goes around various cities and provinces and asks Filipinos what they would like to hear from President Duterte in his fourth SONA to get the #StoryOfTheNation

Populist-authoritarian rulers present 'simplistic' solutions, weaken institutions
Political scientist Temario Rivera says leaders like President Rodrigo Duterte present themselves as a savior of the country’s ills

What will future Philippines look like? Wait for Duterte's 4th SONA, says Andanar
'This Monday will be the day that you will know the future and how the future will look like in the Philippines,' says Communications Secretary Martin Andanar

CAAP declares 'no-fly zone' over Batasan for SONA 2019
(UPDATED) The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines prohibits airmen from flying up to 10 kilometers near Plaridel, Bulacan, where aviation schools are located, ahead of the 2019 State of the Nation Address

Filipinos' top SONA 2019 issues: Pay hike, lower prices, Philippine sovereignty
Pulse Asia Research, Incorporated polls Filipinos on the topics they want President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss or mention in his 4th State of the Nation Address

[OPINION] LEAKED: Director's notes for Duterte's 4th SONA
If Duterte's SONA could be directed like a mainstream blockbuster, what would it look like? This satire piece goes full-budget – with a lot of twists and turns.

After Sulu bombings, House working with intel units for SONA 2019 security
House Sergeant at Arms Romeo Prestoza says they have yet to detect any 'substantial' security threats for SONA 2019

Joyce Bernal wants ‘hopeful’ SONA 2019 after last year's House coup
'Actually gusto ko po. I want to do something for him,' says Joyce Bernal on pro bono directing President Rodrigo Duterte's SONA for the second time

PH invests in infrastructure to lure businesses amid U.S.-China trade war
Philippine officials are seeing the silver lining in the US-China trade war and are building the necessary infrastructure to reap the benefits

Joyce Bernal is directing Duterte's 4th SONA
It's the second year in a row for the director to be at the helm of the State of the Nation Address

Robredo hits Duterte for 'untruth' on human rights
(UPDATED) Vice President Leni Robredo challenges human rights advocates, 'Beyond speaking truth to power, we must speak truth to the heart of every Filipino'

The week in photos: July 21-27, 2018
This week's selection of photo highlights here and around the world

What you need to know about what Duterte said in 2018 SONA
Here's context and a fact-check on President Duterte's orders, accomplishments, and attacks on critics during his 3rd State of the Nation Address

#BabaeAko movement: Arroyo as Speaker won't champion women's status
At the forefront of #BabaeAko movement's SONA 2018 protest is its call to abolish the 'regressive' TRAIN Act

[OPINION] With love, from Deadpoor
'People tend to come together to comfort each other, to affirm each other, and give each other hope. This is a simple practice of empathy. To many of us, it is called solidarity.'

SONA 2018: Duterte cleans up but House spoils it
President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 3rd State of the Nation Address without going off-script, without cuss words, but definitely with drama, courtesy of his allies in the House of Representatives

Quick point-by-point summary of Duterte's SONA 2018
Here's a brief guide to all the important points in President Rodrigo Duterte's 3rd State of the Nation Address

People's SONA unites opposition in 'true' state of the nation
The protest action, which had about 15,000 at its height according to police, is the historic union of nearly 330 opposition groups tackling different, problematic issues facing the Duterte administration

SONA 2018, Alvarez ousted, Olympics 2020 | Evening wRap
Watch Rappler’s evening newscast with Natashya Gutierrez

IN PHOTOS: Thousands hold SONA 2018 protests around PH
(UPDATED) Protesters come from various groups of women, students, indigenous peoples, farmers, workers, urban poor, religious groups, business leaders, and academics

Duterte: No stopping TRAIN law
President Rodrigo Duterte says some have 'incorrectly blamed' the price increases in the past months to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law

SONA 2018 rallies 'very peaceful'
'Wala ni isang untoward incident na nareport sa atin o recorded,' says Metro Manila top cop Guillermo Eleazar

'He followed the script!': #SONA2018 reactions, hugot, and memes
From funny tweets to direct reactions to the president's speech, here are some tweets that highlight netizens' takes on the 2018 SONA

Duterte urges Congress to pass law ending contractualization
In his 2018 State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterates that Congress – not Malacañang – can prohibit contractual employment schemes 'once and for all'

FULL TEXT: President Duterte's 2018 State of the Nation Address
He tells Congress to pass the second package of tax reforms, among a number of laws, while he warns irresponsible miners and rice cartels of consequences

Duterte calls for creation of Department of Disaster Management
President Rodrigo Duterte also calls on Congress to pass the proposed National Land Use Act, which has been pending for two decades

Duterte vows to defend West Philippine Sea in SONA 2018
President Rodrigo Duterte says the Philippines will not 'waver in our commitment to defend our interests in the West Philippine Sea'

Duterte to local officials: Don't make me do your job
'Proactively enforce our laws, and not wait for us to swoop down on your areas just to do your duty and work,' says President Rodrigo Duterte in his 2018 State of the Nation Address

Duterte to rice cartels: Stop messing with me
President Rodrigo Duterte directs all intelligence agencies to address the 'economic sabotage' caused by rice cartels

Drug war will be 'as chilling as the day it began' – Duterte
(UPDATED) If you think the government will sideline this campaign, you got it all wrong, says President Duterte in his State of the Nation Address

PH's Cersei Lannister? Arroyo as 'House Speaker' confuses netizens
It may just be SONA 2018's biggest plot twist, netizens say

IN PHOTOS: All the looks from the 2018 SONA
While the opening of the 3rd regular session of the 17th Congress and the SONA are political events – officials and their spouses make their fashion moments too

No network services in parts of Quezon City for SONA 2018
National Telecommunications Commission Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios says the affected areas are the Batasan Complex and Barangay Culiat

LOOK: Human rights cops watch over SONA 2018 protests
These cops will keep an eye out for rights violations by their colleagues

SONA 2018: Celebrities we always look out for
In the Philippines, after all, celebrity and politics don't just mix – they often exist in the same sphere

[EDITORIAL] #AnimatED: 7 fist bump para kay Tatay Digong sa SONA 2018
O ano, mga ka-DDS? Itaas ang ating mga kamao at pagsalpukin para kay Tatay Digong, ama ng bayan! Siya ang tutupad ng pangarap nating bagong lipunan!

PNP's drug war death toll tops 4,500 before SONA 2018
Two years on, President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign remains unrelenting

Duterte drops by hospital day before SONA 2018
(3rd UPDATE) President Rodrigo Duterte visits the Cardinal Santos Medical Center on Sunday afternoon, July 22, for a 'routine medical checkup'

LIVE: President Rodrigo Duterte's 2018 State of the Nation Address (SONA)
Watch live on Rappler

Traffic advisory for SONA 2018
Here's a look at the rerouting scheme and partial road closures for Monday, July 23, when President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his 3rd State of the Nation Address
