Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte made news for the humble menu in his inauguration to become the next president of the Republic of the Philippines. The simplicity of the menu, which served pan de sal with kesong puti, monggo soup with smoked fish and alugbati, lumpia ubod, pritong saging, and a durian tartlet, cemented his reputation as a man who doesn’t like to fuss around.
No extravagant meal in Duterte's Sona
JUST like in his recent inauguration last June 30, guests during President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (Sona) this Monday will be served with simple meal.
House deputy secretary-general Artemio Adasa Jr., a member of the Task Force SONA, said the menu on Monday's event will mainly serve maruya or banana fritter.
Also included in the "merienda buffet" are bite-sized sandwiches, native chips and salted eggs dressing on cocktails tables, mongo soup, smoked fish with alugbati, fresh lumpia ubod in pouch, chicken and spicy tuna empanaditas, sotong goreng (calamares), crispy triangles of flaked chicken, adobo and mushrooms, friend lumpia ubod, pandesal with white kesong puti, beef steak, penne with taba ng talangka sauce, balut pate in profiteroles, and chicken skin crackling.
Aside from members of Congress, at least 3,000 guests led by of Vice President Leni Robredo, former Presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Cabinet members, members of the judiciary, diplomatic corps, government officials, media, as well as Duterte's family and friends were invited.
"It's around siguro, mga three thousand," said Adasa.
Adasa said that the expenses for food and the overall preparations are "very minimal" compared to previous Sona of the former presidents.
"Malaki ang nabawas, siguro we’ve reduced our expenses to more than two hundred thousand pesos. We simplified the menu of course," said Adasa.
Last year, a total of P2.3 million was allotted by the previous tasked force during the final Sona of former President Benigno Aquino III.
Adasa said the public can expect a short Sona as the chief executive will do away with the traditional handshaking with lawmakers and other very important persons (VIPs).
While business attire will be the new dress code from formal attire in the previous Sona, Adasa said that the red carpet was already placed in the south and north wing of Batasan Complex to honor the guests though he noted that it will stick with the Duterte administration’s advocacy of simplicity.
Meanwhile, OPM artist and Manobo musician Bayang Barrios, who sang the campaign jingle of former presidential bet Senator Grace Poe, will sing the country’s National Anthem on Monday's occasion. (Sunnex)
