FILM director Joyce Bernal wants to lighten the mood and excite the audience during this year's State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte on July 22.
"Sana malaki yung difference. I want it hopeful and good. Yung parang masaya na kasi yung last year ano nangyari? So parang i-set mo yung mood ng lahat ng tao (I hope there's a big difference. I want it hopeful and good. I want it joyful because last year what happened? I want to set the mood of the people)," Bernal during an ocular inspection Monday, July 8, at the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives.
Duterte's Sona before the Joint Session of Congress last year was delayed by an hour and 15 minutes because members of the House of Representatives ousted Pantaleon Alvarez as Speaker just a few minutes before the President arrived.
Majority of the lawmakers chose former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the new Speaker, but the validity of the proceedings was questioned.
Macapagal-Arroyo was formally installed as House Speaker after the President's speech.
Read: House installs Arroyo as new Speaker
The House coup caused confusion, delayed the proceedings, and rendered the entire event "gloomy".
"And then last year talaga na-gloomy-han ako sa mood. So gusto ko lang na makinig, i-excite yung mga tao," she said.
Bernal said she plans to synchronize the transitions and shot selections to match the President's spontaneity.
"Last year he wanted it short, so pacing n'ya talaga. So kung ano yung pacing n'ya talaga, yung rhythm kung paano n'ya man gusto sabihin lahat at sa mamayan susundan natin. Di ko sya kayang i-direct sya yung President eh. Mga masasabi lang small things like 'sir dahan dahan lang kahit ako hindi ako makacope,'" she said.
(Last year he wanted it short. So, we'll follow his pacing, his rhythm. I can't direct him, he's the President. We can only say small things like make him talk slower.) (Ryniel Berlanga/SunStar Philippines)