MANILA, Philippines -- Smarting from plunging trust and approval ratings, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo got a much-needed confidence booster -- if only from her own allies -- on the eve of her State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Around 130 administration congressmen threw a “solidarity fellowship” in support of the embattled leader Friday night, promising their “grateful” leader that they would “remain committed and will continue supporting her policies.”

Arroyo apparently needed all the support she could get going into her eighth SONA, her annual report to a nation of visibly fewer believers over the years.

A Pulse Asia survey on July 1 to 14 showed that “much skepticism is expressed as regards the truthfulness of President Macapagal-Arroyo's previous SONAs.”

“It was a solidarity meeting of political parties in the majority coalition,” Albay Representative Edcel Lagman told the Inquirer Saturday, referring to the gathering at the residence of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on McKinley Road in Forbes Park, Makati.

“We all committed to continuously support the policies and leadership of the President.”

Majority Leader Arthur Defensor said administration congressmen organized the affair, but avoided associating it with Arroyo’s dwindling public support in the surveys.

Arroyo got negative 38 points in net satisfaction rating in the latest Social Weather Stations survey, making her the “most unpopular leader” since the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in 1986.

“The present conditions in the country -- political, social, and economic -- demand that we all stay united,” Defensor told the Inquirer. “We should not dig deep into the reasons that divide us, but instead focus on those that unite us.”

Lagman and Defensor said both Arroyo and her congressional allies didn’t tackle her miserable survey ratings or the contents of her SONA. Lagman said Arroyo arrived at around 9 p.m., about three hours after the gathering had started.

“She spoke very briefly,” he recalled. “She said she didn’t want to speak lengthily because she might end up talking about her SONA already. She didn’t give us a preview.”

Defensor said representatives from the administration’s coalition partners had earlier delivered short messages, which were later summarized by Speaker Prospero Nograles for Arroyo.

“I’m very grateful for your show of solid support for my leadership,” he quoted Arroyo as responding.

Lagman said Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez represented the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), and Leyte Rep. Andres Salvacion the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP).

Also present were Rep. Edgar Valdez of the Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives, and Quezon City Rep. Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo of the Nationalista Party.