MANILA, Philippines?At first, the mood was welcoming and ebullient.

But when President Benigno Aquino III began enumerating the erstwhile undiscovered ?sins? of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, a sobering hush fell over the crowd that packed the House plenary hall for his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Then a wave of murmurs slowly spread across the gallery. An elderly woman was heard exclaiming ?My God!? after the President revealed the fat bonuses received by executives of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado ?Dato? Arroyo first appeared stoic in his swivel chair, a few meters from where President Aquino recited a litany of complaints against his mother?s presidency.

Dato Arroyo was seen turning in his chair and leaning over to say something to Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez every time a new anomaly was discussed in the President?s speech.

But eventually Dato Arroyo managed a big smile. This was when Mr. Aquino appealed to members of the Commission on Appointments to go easy on his Cabinet appointees, hoping they need not ?pass through the eye of the needle.?

In contrast to the rest of the audience, the former President?s allies in the House hardly applauded when Mr. Aquino devoted the first part of his speech exposing the alleged irregularities.

Some were even seen taking down notes or whispering to each other. Cathy Yamsuan and Leila Salaverria

Lost in translation

Throughout Mr. Aquino?s 35-minute speech, all they understood were the applause.

Members of the diplomatic corps appeared at a loss as the President spoke entirely in Filipino, in sharp departure from previous SONA?s which were delivered in a mix of English and Filipino.

?Can you tell me what he said? I?ll be very grateful if you tell me,? Nigeria Chief of Mission Ndubisi Amaku said, when asked about the experience. ?What did he say? Tell me,? he said, smiling.

European Union Ambassador Alistair MacDonald declined to comment when asked if there?s any European interest among the future projects outlined by Mr. Arroyo in his speech.

?I don?t know the context in which the President mentioned that. So until I see something which I can understand, I can only say that the audience obviously found it very impressive,? MacDonald said.

Mr. Aquino had also delivered his inaugural address mostly in Filipino.

And unlike Ms Arroyo, Mr. Aquino did not use a PowerPoint presentation in his SONA. Tarra Quismundo, Gil Cabacungan Jr.

Will he be late again?

The House session hall gallery was already abuzz with excitement as early as 2 p.m., two hours before the SONA.

Some local officials who came from the provinces were upset because they were only given monobloc chairs. Others were worried President Aquino might arrive late because of his now-famous directive to his security escorts not to use sirens (wangwangs) when they?re on the road.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo noted, however, that traffic leading to the House was ?notably lighter? compared to previous SONAs.

Mr. Aquino made it to the Batasan Pambansa complex at around 3:45 p.m. and stayed briefly at the holding area with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte. He entered the session hall at exactly 4 p.m.

He left the Batasan complex at around 7:30 p.m. and proceeded to a Chinese restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan City. Cathy Yamsuan, Gil Cabacungan Jr.

Marcos reunion

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos and son, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.?from the house of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos under whose regime Mr. Aquino?s father suffered in jail?were among the early birds.

They whiled away the time chatting with supporters and friends, including the reelected Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former Sen. Francisco Tatad, who served as information minister during the Marcos regime.

A few meters from where mother and son stood, Tarlac Rep. Jose ?Peping? Cojuangco Jr., an uncle of the President, appeared oblivious to the Marcoses? presence and had his own banter with fellow congressmen.

As Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos took her seat near the giant video screen on the left side of the session hall, the screen suddenly flashed the image of former beauty queen Aurora Pijuan, the first wife of Marcos? ex-husband Tommy Manotoc. Cathy Yamsuan

Pacman?s posse

The people?s champ, boxing star and now Saranggani Rep. Emmanuel ?Manny? Pacquiao, arrived with a posse led by ex-Manila Rep. Miles Roces.

TV personality and now Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez made heads turn when she arrived in a hydrangea blue gown. She was quickly surrounded by congressmen eager to shake her hand.

A female journalist noted that Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Cesar Jalosjos held the hand of the neophyte congresswoman the longest.

Pink was the dominant fashion motif of this year?s SONA. Shades ranged from Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla?s baby pink confection to Gov. Imee Marcos? flaming magenta gown.

Even the flowers set in front of the session hall rostrum were a saturated shade of pink.

Sen. Loren Legarda?s arrival triggered some speculations: Was it just her attire or had she gained some weight?

Onlookers said the senator?with an off-shoulder top, billowy skirt, and short hair?looked pregnant. Cathy Yamsuan

Walking ?yellow ribbon?

From the neck down, the wife of Deputy House Speaker Raul Daza made sure everyone knew where her loyalties lay.

To show her support for the President, Tessie Daza donned a yellow terno and even drew attention to the yellow ribbons on her dress. Her nail polish also featured yellow ribbons painted on a black background.

Asked why she had gone ribbon-crazy, Daza said: ?Because I love P-Noy (President Aquino). He is the greatest President ever. His victory emanated from above.? Tarra Quismundo

In their SONA best

Usually clad in simple casuals during ordinary news coverage, several journalists assigned to cover the SONA strictly observed the Filipiniana dress code.

Female reporters came in their own glittering terno, chic wraps and abaca shawls, blending easily with the well-dressed VIPs. Jocelyn R. Uy

?Better be a no-show?

They, too, were worried about Ma?am?s feelings.

Before leaving for Hong Kong on Sunday night to accompany her husband for a medical checkup, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was advised by her Lakas-Kampi-CMD party mates that she?s better off skipping her successor?s first SONA Monday.

?We asked her [about going to the SONA], and then she asked us, ?what do you think??? Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said. ?(We told her) maybe it would be better if you don?t go there, Ma?am. Anyway, you will play an active role in the congressional process.?

This was because President Aquino himself as early as last week served notice to the press that he would be exposing the alleged sins of the previous administration in his SONA, Suarez said.

He said he and other Lakas-Kampi members were all concerned that Arroyo?s feelings would be hurt?not just by the President?s speech but by the applause it would get.

?Those statements? it?s very hard to contend with a popular president. And then when he makes statements, the people might applaud. That would be hurtful for the [former] President,? Suarez said. Leila Salaverria

Where?s Shalani?

Those looking for Shalani Soledad, the President?s girlfriend, at his first SONA were in for a disappointment.

She chose to spend the historic afternoon working at another legislative hall, being a councilor of Valenzuela City?s second district.

Soledad said she missed the SONA because it coincided with the session of the Valenzuela City Council and that she could not excuse herself from Monday?s session because she was due to sponsor five ordinances.

?I had to work. But it?s OK, he knows that I don?t have to be physically present to show my support for him. He knows that I?m always a hundred-percent behind him,? Soledad told the Inquirer.

Soledad said she managed to keep in touch with her boyfriend through text messages the whole day. ?Thanks to Twitter, I got feedback from the SONA from start to finish even while we were in session in Valenzuela,? she added.

Mr. Aquino did not ?sugarcoat? anything in his much-awaited report to the people, Shalani said in praise of his speech. Beverly Natividad

Also seen and heard

Roces? erstwhile political foe Harry Angping, another former congressman, chatted with old friends as he accompanied his wife, Representative Zenaida of the third district of Manila.

Cameras also caught former President Fidel Ramos exchanging pleasantries with the presidential adviser on the peace process, Teresita ?Ging? Deles. Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona was seated beside former President Joseph Estrada in the VIP gallery.

Ramos was also seen bumping into socialite Rosemarie ?Baby? Arenas at the main lobby and giving her a peck on the cheek.

Spectators also noticed how Pampanga Rep. Anna York Bondoc, a known ally of former President Arroyo, stayed very close to Mr. Aquino when he arrived and again after he delivered his SONA. Cathy Yamsuan and Philip C. Tubeza