One of the biggest plot twists in this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) was when former president and acquitted plunderer Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took oath as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Minutes before President Rodrigo Duterte’s SONA, Arroyo took over the podium and took her oath even with the microphone turned off. The unexpected change of leadership happened after 161 House members signed a manifesto ousting incumbent Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
And just like a villain who rises up from the dead to take vengeance, Arroyo made the ultimate comeback! Some were not even surprised by it but were definitely disappointed to see her back in power.
"HUY MGA GAGO, I'M BACK!!!
I AM NOT SORRY… YOU ARE!!!" #SONA2018 #SONAlokoNa pic.twitter.com/JDB1aSJVq8
— Ash Presto 💜 (@sosyolohija) July 23, 2018
Pres. Duterte’s SONA is directed by yet another popular director, Bb. Joyce Bernal this time, and Pinoys think that it’s probably why we’re getting all the drama and plot twists as if we’re watching a teleserye every SONA.
Reading SONA highlights and updates about the PH government at this ungodly hour… at this point, all I can say is that our political history is the cringiest teleserye ever written 😤
— China Gabriel (@superfinechina) July 23, 2018
Bigyan na ng award si Direk Joyce for giving us the most thrilling plot twist of the decade 😂#SONA2018 #Alvarez #Arroyo #NatabunanSiPDutz
— Ruski Cavalier (@Russ_Cavs) July 23, 2018
It might as well open with “Previously on Pilipinas, S03E18” because it looks like we’re living inside a political TV series.
Our government looks like a bad production of Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Scandal rolled into one.
Sorry not sorry, Bb. Joyce Bernal. #WeCanDoBetter
— Ted Pylon (@TedPylon) July 23, 2018
This year’s SONA is basically Game of Thrones IRL.
basically, this year's SONA's a literal Game of Thrones. Agawan na ng upuan literally and figuratively
— Kamisato Ayathoe, OTRP (@KingKhrushchev) July 23, 2018
Fans who are excited to see Season 8 don’t have to wait much longer because it’s already here in the Philippines—live in action. It’s probably why this season would be it’s finale.
https://twitter.com/ardincullen/status/1021308191915663360
GMA is Cersei Lannister all along who’s playing the game all too well and ascending to the Iron Throne once again.
https://twitter.com/ChrisDaveTan/status/1021335248288690176
https://twitter.com/Danzheen/status/1021320063129858049
When you play the Game of Thrones, you win or die or become Speaker of the House. pic.twitter.com/nyxTNYKsMm
— Miss Maggie (@MiaMagdalena) July 23, 2018
Some got confused if they’re watching a crossover between GoT and Netflix’s House of Cards or a real-life political drama a.k.a SONA.
House of Cards or Game of Thrones?
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) July 23, 2018
And if you’re wondering who replaced Kevin Spacey on House of Cards, it’s our very own former president and current House Speaker! Get ready for some action-packed Filipino version of House of Cards, now streaming. #PinoyPride
Our new favorite show, surprise episode of Season 3 today!!#SONA2018 #NoToDu30ChaCha #SONAlokoNa #Alvarez #Arroyo #HouseSpeaker pic.twitter.com/r9SKJPPkK8
— Jason del Rosario (@fauxillustrado) July 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheNthNadine/status/1021324405069131776
https://twitter.com/jsphbtst/status/1021303308957302787
Who needs House of Cards when you have real life suspense, action, front stabbing (not back stabbing btw) at the Lower House? #SONA2018
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) July 23, 2018
Professor Dolores Umbridge made a special appearance on SONA, too. Not gonna lie, we hated this scene because we all know that Umbridge is more evil than the Dark Lord. One mustn’t tell lies, remember?
https://twitter.com/lsmrmpgjr/status/1021320231963115520
Lily Cruz is also back in action and ready to serve some cold blood.
https://twitter.com/itsroquetaaj/status/1021319062276591616
LILY CRUZ IS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE 🌹 #SONA2018 #SONAlokoNa pic.twitter.com/yTJu7yUxKG
— karl (@KickstarterKarl) July 23, 2018
GMA stood on the podium, rose to power again, and addressed everyone a la Madison Montgomery from American Horror Story. That show isn’t based on true events and people for nothing, really.
Philippine Horror Story Season 3 starring…#SONA2018#SONAlokoNa
House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pic.twitter.com/kQZ5id3QZ8— Kiko (@foreverkiko99) July 23, 2018
Life imitates art as GMA looked like the real-life portrait of Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”.
CHOOSE YOUR FIGHTER:
Edvard Munch's "The Scream"
VERSUS
House of Representatives Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo#SONA2018 #SONAlokoNa #SONAngyariSa2Years pic.twitter.com/o0TfqXOAYu
— Bruja Mariko-dono (@BrujaDelDemonio) July 23, 2018
And if you wanna know what she was shouting about, the internet have theories…
https://twitter.com/yeahwhatnow/status/1021310863486042114
https://twitter.com/LesserDans/status/1021306249097330689
https://twitter.com/RJEstrellado/status/1021303983464275968
https://www.facebook.com/faisidro/posts/10212079985742724
"Hello?! Hello Garci?!" pic.twitter.com/BNDffwQL9O
— Jai Cabajar (@jaicabajar) July 23, 2018
From “I am sorry” to “I am back,” this is the ultimate “GLO-up”!
https://twitter.com/pathcarcer/status/1021317590575067141
And as she takes a seat as House Speaker, may we never forget, Pilipinas.
#NeverForget the victims of the Ampatuan Massacre. The Ampatuans were allies of then President, now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The halls of the country's institutions are filled with mass murderers.
— 🇵🇸 (@omidong) July 23, 2018
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the most hardworking woman we know.
https://twitter.com/anbinarciso/status/1021302016222494722
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