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In about a week’s time, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. will deliver his inaugural State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the Congress of the Philippines. It is one of the Constitutional duties of the Chief Executive expressed in Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution: “The President shall address the Congress at the opening of its regular session.”

No one will argue that the Philippines made significant steps to reopen the economy this year. The easing of restrictions stimulated business activities and generated jobs for millions of people.

The assassination of Shinzo Abe, Japan’s former Prime Minister, was a shock to all of us. His death was horrific not only because of its suddenness and the fact that it was caught on video but also because Abe was a dear friend to the Filipino nation. His government provided a lot of help to our country especially during his stint as Prime Minister from 2012 to 2020. In particular, I know that he has a special bond with former President Rodrigo Duterte whom he immediately befriended after the latter’s assumption to office in 2016. In fact, Japan was one of the first countries President Duterte visited when he assumed office, and Prime Minister Abe had likewise visited our country twice, also going to Davao City.