News Update No 'bahag,' 'Bangkang Papel' on SONA day

When President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III delivers his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) next week, don't expect the kind of frills and gimmicks Former President Gloria Arroyo employed during her time.

"We don't do gimmicks," said Malacanang Executive Secretary Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa Jr. said in an interview on Monday.

Aquino will be "straightforward" in his first SONA on July 26, he said.

Arroyo's SONAs sometimes had gimmicks, like the presentation of Payatas kids or "Bangkang Papel" boys in 2001 and Rosario Camma, mayor of Nagtipunan, Quirino, wearing his tribe's traditional formal wear--"bahag"--in 2008.

In a separate interview, Aquino said his SONA will dwell on the country's current status, what his administration has started to do in its first weeks in office, and what is proposes for the coming years.

"Marami tayong proposals (We have many proposals) for the needs of the country especially for infrastructure and major tickets items and equipment ," he said.

Aquino said one of the issues he will bring up in his speech is the possible increased involvement of the private sector in developing the country's infrastructure.

"Mukhang ngayon may (It seems today we have) significant investor confidence, they are willing to undertake these major infrastructure projects," said the president.

The SONA will also include the salient findings of Cabinet members in their respective departments over the past weeks.

Ochoa said Cabinet members will thresh out what will be discussed in the SONA when they meet on Tuesday.

Ochoa added that a "team," whose members he refused to disclose, is working with the president in writing the SONA.

"The president's the head of the team," Ochoa said. "Most of his speeches talagang hands on siya dun (Most of his speeches, he's really hands on)."

"By this time you know the style of the president, more or less being straightforward in almost anything that we say in the media. I don't think we have changed as yet," said the executive secretary. –VVP