Sona director Joyce Bernal wants ‘hopeful, good’ mood this time

MANILA, Philippines — In directing her second State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 22, filmmaker Joyce Bernal wants a more celebratory atmosphere, unlike 2018’s tense and suspenseful one as a result of the speakership battle that upstaged President Rodrigo Duterte’s speech.

“I want it hopeful and good” this time, said the movie director, as she conducted her first walk-through on Monday at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City, where a joint session of Congress would be convened for the Sona.

Bernal, best known for her romantic comedies, was also at the helm of last year’s Sona, which was delayed for hours as former Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her allies staged a coup against then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

Although it was still Alvarez who sat behind the President while he delivered his speech, Arroyo was installed Speaker that same evening.

“We want it to be happy because, look at last year, what happened? So I hope you can set the mood of the people here, like, ‘Hey, stop quarreling already!’” Bernal said in Filipino.

She said she was taking on the job for free.