President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) brimmed with optimism and a promise of a “Bagong Pilipinas.” But beneath the upbeat tone, flowcharts, and figures, the President’s speech was riddled with glaring omissions—especially for Mindanao, the labor sector, Indigenous Peoples, overseas workers, and the vulnerable pillars of our society.
If the SONA is a reflection of national priorities, then the message is clear: the voices from the margins—and the cries of a deteriorating environment—are not priorities at all.
Mindanao: Still Waiting for Its Turn
Despite repeated promises of inclusive development, Mindanao was again an afterthought. While President Marcos Jr. touted bridges and roads, the long-awaited Mindanao Railway Project—a historic commitment to finally interconnect the island’s vast regions—was nowhere in sight.
Even more troubling, there was zero mention of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This, at a time when the region is facing delays in the decommissioning of MILF combatants, budget constraints, and rising political anxiety. The peace process, which many sacrificed lives and livelihoods for, was completely ignored. It is a betrayal to every promise made in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
Indigenous Peoples and the Environment: Rendered Invisible
Not once did the President utter the words “Indigenous Peoples.” Across the country—particularly in Mindanao—Lumad communities face land grabs, displacement, militarization, and exclusion from development talks. Yet the SONA failed to mention any plan to protect ancestral domains or enforce the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).
Worse still was the complete absence of a real environmental agenda. While climate change was mentioned in broad terms, there were no concrete proposals to:
- Stop illegal logging and mining.
- Protect forests and watersheds.
- Safeguard biodiversity and critical habitats.
- Support environmental defenders who face harassment and death threats.
Climate resilience cannot be separated from ecosystem protection. You cannot fight climate change by merely referencing it in a speech. You must act—boldly, immediately, and justly. The lack of a climate-environment nexus in the President’s vision is a missed opportunity that puts both lives and livelihoods at risk.
Human Rights: Erased from the Narrative
There was no mention of human rights. None. Not in terms of the drug war victims, political detainees, or the rampant red-tagging of activists, teachers, and development workers. Not even a token line to reassure the public that the government would uphold freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.
This silence is not neutral. It is a clear indication that accountability, transparency, and justice are not part of the President’s vision of a modern Philippines.
The Working Class: Used but Unheard
Perhaps the most jarring omission was the complete lack of recognition for the Filipino worker.
- No mention of wage increases.
- No roadmap for secure and decent jobs.
- No acknowledgment of labor unions or the rising cost of living.
- No update on legislated wage hike proposals, despite growing unrest among minimum wage earners.
The President praised economic growth and private sector partnerships, but failed to acknowledge the workers behind that growth—those enduring meager pay, insecure contracts, and rising inflation. They were left out, yet again.
Even healthcare workers, who bore the brunt of COVID-19 and continue to serve in under-resourced facilities, were completely forgotten. No mention of their long-delayed benefits. No recognition of their heroism. No promise of support.
OFWs and SMEs: Out of Sight, Out of Mind
The 10 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)—hailed in previous years as “modern-day heroes”—were barely acknowledged. Where is the plan for their protection, reintegration, or upskilling? With global economic uncertainty and increasing abuse cases abroad, the SONA offered no clarity, no support, no gratitude.
Equally abandoned were the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)—the backbone of our local economy. They received no mention. These businesses, many of which are still recovering from the pandemic, were simply not part of the President’s agenda. No stimulus package. No tax relief. No capacity-building.
This is a staggering oversight, considering MSMEs account for over 99% of business establishments in the Philippines and employ the majority of our workforce.
Corruption and Online Gambling: Talk Without Self-Reflection
Yes, President Marcos Jr. mentioned corruption—but only in the abstract. There was no reckoning with the corruption that persists within his own administration, especially in the distribution of social amelioration funds (ayuda). Communities continue to report ghost beneficiaries, politicized lists, and kickbacks in supposed welfare programs.
No acknowledgment was made of the corruption scandals involving his allies—from overpriced fertilizers and sugar imports to unexplained confidential funds. Fighting corruption must start from within. His failure to mention these undermines the sincerity of any anti-corruption pledge.
And in the face of growing public concern, not a single word was spoken about online gambling and POGOs, which continue to fuel addiction, crimes, family breakdowns, and systemic money laundering in the country. The social costs of online gambling have been well-documented, yet the President failed to even hint at a plan to stop or regulate it. This is a glaring omission for a crisis affecting countless Filipino families.
A Unity that Excludes Is No Unity at All
President Marcos Jr. ended his SONA with repeated calls for unity. But unity without inclusion is meaningless. A country cannot move forward if millions of its citizens are left behind, unrecognized, or silenced.
You cannot build a “Bagong Pilipinas” on the backs of the marginalized, while muting their voices in national policy. Real progress requires not just building roads—but building trust, justice, and equity across every island, sector, and community.
Conclusion: What Wasn’t Said Tells the Real Story
The State of the Nation Address is not just about what is said—but what is deliberately left out. And in this year’s SONA, the exclusions were deafening.
To the people of Mindanao, to the Indigenous Peoples, to the workers and health frontliners, to OFWs and small business owners, to the families hurt by gambling, and to every Filipino who continues to fight for dignity, justice, and environmental survival—this SONA was not for you.
But your struggle remains. Your voices matter. And they will not be silenced—not by a speech, nor by its silence.