The Batasang Pambansa started to fill up at 1:00 p.m.

At first, the atmosphere was like a reunion of sorts for the first-timers and veterans in Congress.

Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada, who ran against then Senator Noynoy Aquino in the May elections, attended the SONA with his family.

He was accompanied by his wife, Sen. Loi Ejercito, sons Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, and nephew, Pagsanjan Mayor ER Ejercito.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos appeared to be in a happy mood despite reports that Erap Estrada had snubbed him earlier.

 

After the SONA, Ramos gamely posed for photographs with reporters waiting outside the session hall. He even showed that his spectacles were useless by putting his fingers through its holes. "Walang lens," he said. "I'm promoting my laser eye surgery."

Former First Lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez Marcos waltzed into the session hall wearing a purple terno that spectators tagged as "imeldific."

Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. also arrived early.

His wife Gina de Venecia (not in picture), who has taken his place as Pangasinan representative, accompanied him.

Former House Speaker Prospero Nograles was one of the early birds.

He ran for mayor of Davao City in the last elections, but lost to Sara Duterte.

Though a newbie in politics, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez appeared at ease in her new environment.

She arrived with her husband, actor Richard Gomez (not in picture), who will be her chief of staff.

Boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao appeared nervous during his first day in the 15th Congress, but he pulled it off with the help of his new colleagues, who looked happy to assist him.

He was accompanied by his wife, Jinkee Pacquiao (not in picture), who was wearing a pink beaded gown by Pepsi Herrera and was looking lovelier than ever. 

Former Akbayan Party-List Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel donned a "stylized tapis" by Joel Acebuche. Risa was part of Aquino's senatorial line-up, but she lost her bid, landing in 13th place.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad rubbed elbows with representatives before listening to the SONA, which he and Pres. Aquino had been rigorously preparing for in the past month.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and former President Fidel V. Ramos shared laughs while waiting for Pres. Aquino to arrive at the session hall.

Actor-TV host Richard Gomez sat in the gallery during the whole SONA. He accompanied his wife, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez.

The gallery was already jampacked one hour before Aquino arrived at the session hall.

The sound of two choppers landing behind Batasang Pambansa signaled Pres. Aquino's arrival.

Pres. Aquino arrived at the Batasang Pambansa around 4 p.m. He was aboard the presidential car, with plate Number 1. He entered the Batasan through the Rear Entrance Lobby.

Pres. Aquino was first received in the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, where he was welcomed by Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile (left) and House Speaker Sonny Belmonte (right).

Pres. Aquino, accompanied by his aide-de-camp, walked past the Congressional Honor Guards on his way to the rostrum.

As protocol dictated, Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile (left) and House Speaker Sonny Belmonte were already waiting for Aquino to take his place at the rostrum.

Before climbing the rostrum, Aquino paused for a glance at the huge audience in the session hall.

Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Sonny Belmonte welcome Aquino to the rostrum while band music plays.

Aquino, Enrile, Belmonte, and all the guests at the SONA face the flag while singing the Philippine National Anthem.

Enrile, Aquino, and Belmonte pause quietly to take part in The Legislator's Prayer, which was led by invited priests and ministers of various faiths.

After being introduced to the audience, the President proceeded to the Lower Center Podium. He began his speech by laying out several exposés against the past administration.

Aquino's first salvo: "Matagal pong naligaw ang pamahalaan sa daang baluktot. Araw-araw po, lalong lumilinaw sa akin ang lawak ng problemang ating namana. Damang-dama ko ang bigat ng aking responsibilidad."

 

The exposés focused on the budget deficit facing his administration, the result of several budget misappropriations Aquino said had been committed under the regime  of former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

 

Fraud was disguised under the release of funds for calamity assistance, unfair "rewards" to officials in several government agencies, "unplanned" infrastructure projects, and others.

Aquino had to drink water in the middle of his SONA speech, which he was reading from a teleprompter.

Aquino also brought a lot of notes but he was not seen turning to them. 

People inside the Batasang Pambansa occasionally interrupted P-Noy's speech with their applause. 

Vice President Jejomar Binay sat beside his wife Elenita, while listening to Pres. Aquino's first SONA. They were seated below the VIP Upper Deck.

Binay told the press that he was surprised by Aquino's exposé. "Muntik na akong malaglag sa upuan," he said.

Listening on the floor of the session hall were Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado (lower left, wearing pink), Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco (center), and San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito (upper right).

The senators sat in the first row during the SONA. (Right to left) Senators Franklin Drilon, Miguel Zubiri, and Edgardo Angara.

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (center) has a light moment in the Batasan hall.

Other senators present were (first row, from right) Senators TG Guingona, Ralph Recto, Bong Revilla, and Lito Lapid.

 

Sitting on the third row was Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia.

Pres. Aquino ended his SONA with words of hope.

"Akin pong paniwala na Diyos at taumbayan ang nagdala sa ating kinalalagyan ngayon. Habang nakatutok tayo sa kapakanan ng ating kapwa, bendisyon at patnubay ay tiyak na maaasahan natin sa Poong Maykapal. At kapag nanalig tayo na ang kasangga natin ay ang Diyos, mayroon ba tayong hindi kakayanin?

"Ang mandato nating nakuha sa huling eleksyon ay patunay na umaasa pa rin ang Pilipino sa pagbabago. Iba na talaga ang sitwasyon. Puwede na muling mangarap. Tayo nang tumungo sa katuparan ng ating mga pinangarap."

 

House Speaker Sonny Belmonte (right) banged the gavel to signal the adjournment of the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Representatives rush to congratulate Pres. Aquino after he delivered his first SONA.

Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez waves to friends while waiting for her husband Richard Gomez before leaving the session hall. While waiting...

... Lucy was caught by the media. She gamely answered questions about the SONA.

"It was short but very siksik," Lucy told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

Former Agriculture Secretary and current Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap was similarly hounded by the media, who asked him to clarify Pres. Aquino's charge that the National Food Authority, which was formerly under him, procured far more rice from abroad than the country needed, leaving them to rot in warehouses.

Popular with the guests at the SONA were power couple Jinkee Pacquiao and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, who obliged fans wanting to have their pictures taken with the couple.

Also popular were the family of Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez and Richard Gomez.

Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño did not tire of airing his opinions to the media, who kept approaching him for interviews.

"I was disappointed," he told PEP. "Hindi naisama ang ilang mahahalagang issue, tulad ng Freedom of Information Bill."

U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. said he admired Pres. Aquino for delivering his SONA in Filipino. He told the press he believed the speech was "outstanding" even though he did not understand most of it.

Sen. Loren Legarda was "disappointed" with Pres. Aquino's SONA because issues about climate change were not included.

"But let's give him a chance," she appealed.

Sen. Miguel Zubiri was also "disappointed." Issues not included, he told the press, were those about overseas workers and universal health care.

He was accompanied by his wife Audrey Tan.

Bataan Board Member Dexter Dominguez—known in showbiz as comedian Teri Onor—  also attended Pres. Aquino's SONA.

Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson attended the SONA as a close friend of Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao. He accompanied Pacquiao's family as they left the session hall.

Makati Mayor Junjun Binay was at the SONA as a guest of his father, Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay.

Pagsanjan, Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito and his wife, Pagsanjan Mayor Maita Ejercito.

The new directory of Representatives in the main lobby of Batasang Pambansa now features new but familiar faces, including...

TV host and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez...

Actor and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez...   

San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito and Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia.

All Representatives in the SONA received brown handwoven briefcases as souvenirs. Inside were primers for their role as legislators.