President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) was a first for many things.

Going against norms and traditions, this year’s SONA broke records and protocols. In many ways, it was a breath of fresh air. Change is indeed here… and that’s not necessarily a bad thing!

Here were five “firsts” at yesterday’s SONA:

1. Militant groups were allowed to stage their rally near the Batasan Complex

In the previous SONAs, protestors were always met with violence. Yesterday, however, it was all about flower power. Demonstrators and millitant groups were allowed to approach the Batasang Pambansa as police officers stayed on the side. Also, for the first time in 15 years, demonstrators did not burn an effigy of the President. Instead, murals called “Portraits of Peace” were used to show that the rallyists support the administration. 

2. Minadanaoans are holding three of the four highest positions in the land

President Duterte is the first Mindanaoan President. Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, voted as Senate President, and Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, voted as House Speaker, also hail from Mindanao. With the country’s leaders forming a strong Mindanaoan triumvate, there’s a good chance that the probems of peace in the South of the Philippines will be given more focus. It also puts the President in a much better position to push his legislative agenda.
 

3. Guests and VIPs were asked to wear business attire

Nope, this isn’t — and should never have been — about fashion. By changing the dress code of the SONA, President Duterte wants to send a message about keeping a simple lifestyle. This year’s guests were asked to wear business attire instead of the usual long gowns. While there were those who didn’t seem to get the memo, most complied. House Deputy Secretary General Artemio Adaza Jr. said that this year’s SONA was the simplest and thriftiest. 

4. Duterte met militant leaders after SONA

BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes himself posted the update on his Facebook page. After the SONA, President Duterte met with activist leaders to talk about peace. In a meeting that lasted for about an hour and a half, the President reportedly said that he wants to devote more resources to social services once armed conflict has been resolved. Reyes said that the gesture was appreciated. Considering how tired the President must’ve been after his long speech, this is indeed great effort!

(“We were fixing our stuff in the truck, but the police summoned us. We didn’t know where we were going. So I asked Beng to join. Turns out we were going here.”)
 

5. An award-winning director took charge of SONAs visuals

Brillante Mendoza — whose film Ma’Rosa competed at the 2016 Cannes film festival —  high-angle and low-angle shots to portray a “real” and “sincere” Duterte. It received mixed reactions from Filipino netizens who are not used to seeing artistic shots in an event like the SONA. Not everone was impressed, but seeing art and politics work together to communicate to the people can’t be a bad thing, right?