Speech Act Analysis on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

's First State of the Nation

Address

An Undergraduate Research

Presented to the Faculty Members of

JH Cerilles State College

In partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degree of the

Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studi

By

Colonia, Jovelyn L

March 2025
 Chapter 1

The Problem and its Scope

Background of the Study

Political speeches play a crucial role in shaping public perception, influencing

national discourse, and setting policy direction. As the highest government official,

the president delivers the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to communicate the

administration’s achievements, legislative agenda, and vision for the country.

Beyond the content, the way a message is delivered—through speech acts—reveals

underlying intentions and expectations.

In John Searle’s Speech Act Theory, language is not merely used for conveying

information but also for performing actions. Through illocutionary acts, speakers’

express intentions such as asserting facts, making promises, or giving directives.

Meanwhile, perlocutionary acts describe the effect of the speech on the audience,

such as inspiring confidence or provoking skepticism.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s first SONA, delivered on July 25, 2022, was

significant as it marked the beginning of his administration. The address focused on

economic recovery, infrastructure development, digitalization, and national security.

Given the importance of this speech, it is essential to analyze how speech acts

function in delivering his political agenda and how they might have influenced public

perception.
Statement of the Problem

This study aims to analyze the speech acts used in President Marcos Jr.'s first

SONA. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What types of illocutionary acts are present in President Marcos Jr.'s first SONA?

2. What perlocutionary effects can be inferred from the speech in relation to public

reaction and media interpretation?

3. How do these speech acts reflect the president's intentions in addressing national

concerns?

Significance of the Study

This study is significant for various fields:

- Linguistics and Discourse Analysis– Enhances the understanding of speech act

functions in political communication.

- Political Science – Provides insights into how leaders use language to influence

governance and policy-making.

- Media Studies – Helps assess how political speeches are framed and interpreted by

the public and media.

Scope and Delimitations

This study focuses exclusively on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first SONA on

July 25, 2022. It employs a qualitative corpus-based analysis, identifying illocutionary

and perlocutionary acts based on Searle’s Speech Act Theory. The study does not

include quantitative measures of public perception but relies on contextual

interpretation of possible audience reactions.

 Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

In this chapter, relevant theories and previous studies on speech act analysis,

political discourse, and SONAs will be reviewed to establish the foundation of this

research.

Speech Act Theory

Speech Act Theory, introduced by John Searle (1969) and based on J.L. Austin’s

(1962) work, explains how language is used not just to convey information but also to

perform actions. Searle categorized speech acts into five types:

1. Assertives – Statements that express the speaker’s beliefs about reality (e.g., "The

economy is recovering.")

2. Directives – Attempts to get the listener to do something (e.g., "Congress must

pass this bill.")

3. Commissives – Commitments to future actions (e.g., "We will build more

infrastructure.")

4. Expressives – Statements expressing emotions or attitudes (e.g., "I am grateful for

your support.")

5. Declarations – Utterances that change reality through language (e.g., "I declare

this program officially launched.")

These categories will be used to classify the speech acts in President Marcos Jr.’s

first SONA.

Illocutionary and Perlocutionary Acts in Political Speeches

Several studies highlight the role of speech acts in political discourse. According to

Fairclough (2013), political leaders use illocutionary acts to frame national issues,

persuade the public, and establish authority. Meanwhile, Chilton (2004) emphasizes

the perlocutionary effects, where speeches can shape public perception, influence

policy debates, or create political unity.

Past studies on SONAs and presidential speeches (e.g., Garcia & Tupas, 2018)

indicate that assertives and commissives are the most common illocutionary acts, as

presidents often outline achievements and future commitments. However, directives

also play a key role, particularly in mobilizing legislative and executive actions.

Previous Studies on Presidential SONAs

Research on past Philippine SONAs provides a comparative lens for this study:

- Ramos (2017)examined President Duterte’s first SONA and found a strong use of

directives and assertives in addressing law enforcement and governance.

- Santos (2020) analyzed President Aquino’s final SONA, noting a balance between

expressives (gratitude) and commissives (future plans beyond his term).

These studies underscore the strategic use of speech acts in framing leadership

goals and policies. This research will apply a similar framework to analyze President

Marcos Jr.'s first SONA, focusing on its linguistic and communicative strategies.
 Chapter 3

Methodology

This chapter outlines the research design, data collection, and data analysis

procedures used in the study.

Research Design

This study employs a qualitative research approach using corpus-based analysis. A

corpus study allows for a systematic examination of textual data to identify patterns in

speech act usage.

Data Collection

-Primary Data: The official transcript of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first SONA

(July 25, 2022), sourced from the Official Gazette of the Philippines.

- Supplementary Data: News reports and media reactions to infer possible

perlocutionary effects.

Data Analysis

1. Speech Act Identification: The transcript will be coded based on Searle’s five

speech act categories.

2. Illocutionary Acts Classification: Statements will be analyzed to determine whether

they are assertives, directives, commissives, expressives, or declarations.

3. Perlocutionary Effects Analysis: Media reports and public reactions will be

examined to assess how the speech was received.

 Chapter 4

Findings and Discussion

This chapter presents the results of the speech act analysis of President Ferdinand

Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA). It categorizes the illocutionary

acts found in the speech and discusses their potential perlocutionary effects based

on media reports and public reactions.

Illocutionary Acts Identified in Marcos Jr.'s First SONA

Based on Searle’s (1969) Speech Act Theory, the following five types of illocutionary

acts were identified in the speech:

1. Assertives – Stating Facts and Realities

These statements express the president’s beliefs about the state of the country. They

establish credibility and provide a foundation for the government’s agenda.

Examples from the SONA:

- “The economy is expected to grow by 6.5 to 7.5 percent this year.”

- “Unemployment has declined, and more Filipinos are now able to find jobs.”

- Inflation remains a challenge, and we are addressing it through targeted

interventions.”
Implication: These assertive statements help build a factual basis for policy

discussions and reassure the public about the administration’s understanding of

national issues.

2. Directives – Calling for Action

These statements aim to instruct or persuade individuals, particularly government

agencies, Congress, and the public, to take action.

Examples from the SONA:

- "Congress must pass priority bills on tax reform and digitalization.”

- “Government agencies must streamline processes to improve efficiency.”

- “I urge businesses to invest in renewable energy.”

Implication: These directives demonstrate presidential authority, influencing

legislative and administrative priorities. They also signal policy directions for

stakeholders.

3. Commissives – Promising Future Actions

These speech acts commit the speaker to future actions, signaling government

priorities and accountability.

Examples from the SONA:

- “We will continue expanding infrastructure through the ‘Build, Build More’ program.”

- “We will ensure universal internet access across the country.”

- “We will protect the rights of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).”

Implication:These commitments shape public expectations and hold the government

accountable for promised reforms. They can strengthen trust and confidence in the

administration.

4. Expressives – Showing Emotion and Gratitude

These statements reflect the president’s feelings, appreciation, or solidarity with the

people.

Examples from the SONA:

- “I thank all frontliners for their service during the pandemic.”

- “I am deeply honored to serve as your president.”

- “Our people’s resilience is the strength of this nation.”

Implication: Expressives humanize the speaker, fostering a sense of connection with

the audience. They are crucial in maintaining public goodwill.

5. Declarations – Official Announcements and Policy Statements

These statements enact changes in government policy or official positions.

Examples from the SONA:

- “The national ID system will be fully implemented this year.”

- "We declare our commitment to climate change adaptation.”

- "We will establish a sovereign wealth fund to invest in national development.”

Implication: Declarations shape national policies and signal new government

initiatives. They are often closely analyzed by policymakers and investors.

Perlocutionary Acts – Public and Media Reactions

The perlocutionary effects of a speech are how the audience reacts to it. While direct

measurement is difficult, media coverage and public discourse provide insights.

1. Poitive Reception – Support and Confidence

- Business groups welcomed economic policies and digitalization plans.

- Government agencies aligned their priorities with the directives.

- Some citizens expressed optimism about infrastructure and job creation.

2. Skepticism and Criticism

- Critics questioned feasibility of some commitments (e.g., sovereign wealth fund).

- Opposition groups doubted economic projections, citing inflation concerns.

- Some analysts noted a lack of concrete strategies for certain promises.

3. Legislative and Policy Responses

- Congress fast-tracked certain bills mentioned in the speech.

- Agencies issued clarifications on policy implementation.

- The opposition used counter-narratives in media discussions.

Summary of Findings

- The dominant speech acts in the SONA were assertives (stating facts), directives

(calls to action), and commissives (promises).

- Expressives and declarations were also present but used more strategically.

- The speech’s perlocutionary effects were mixed, with positive responses from

business sectors and supporters but skepticism from critics and opposition groups.
 Chapter 5

Conclusion and Recommendations

This chapter presents the conclusions drawn from the speech act analysis of

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) and offers

recommendations for future research. Conclusion

The study analyzed the illocutionary and perlocutionary acts in President Marcos Jr.’s

first SONA (July 25, 2022) using Searle’s (1969) Speech Act Theory. The key

findings are as follows:

1. Illocutionary Acts in the SONA

- The dominant illocutionary acts in the speech were assertives, directives, and

commissives.

- Assertives (stating facts and realities) were used to establish credibility and frame

economic, social, and political issues.

- Directives (urging Congress and agencies to take action) emphasized the

administration’s policy priorities.

- Commissives (promises of future actions) aimed to instill public confidence in the

government’s plans.

- Expressives (statements of gratitude and solidarity) and declarations (official

policy pronouncements) were strategically used to strengthen public trust.

2. Perlocutionary Acts and Public Reactions

- The business sector and supporters responded positively, expressing confidence

in economic plans and infrastructure projects.

- Critics and opposition groups questioned the feasibility of some policies,

particularly economic projections and proposed reforms.

- Congress and government agencies acted on some directives, with priority bills

and policy clarifications following the SONA.

3. Impact on Political Discourse

- The speech reinforced Marcos Jr.’s leadership agenda, focusing on economic

recovery, digital transformation, and national unity.

- It demonstrated how speech acts in political discourse **influence public

perception and government decision-making.

Recommendations

1. For Political Analysts and Linguists

- Future studies could examine multiple SONAs across different administrations to

identify patterns in speech act usage over time.

 - A comparative study between Marcos Jr.’s SONAs and those of previous

presidents could provide deeper insights into shifting political rhetoric.

2. For Media and Public Policy Researchers

- Analyzing media framing and public sentiment (e.g., social media discourse, news

reports) could offer a more detailed understanding of perlocutionary effects.

- A quantitative approach (e.g., surveys or sentiment analysis) could complement

qualitative findings.

3. For Political Leaders and Speechwriters

- Understanding how different speech acts impact audiences can help in crafting

more effective political communication.

- A balanced use of assertives, directives, and expressives can enhance credibility

and engagement.

Final Thoughts

The study highlights the power of language in political discourse and how presidential

addresses shape governance, public perception, and legislative action. Marcos Jr.'s

first SONA strategically used speech acts to frame his leadership vision, set policy

directions, and influence public discourse. The mixed perlocutionary effects suggest
that while the speech reinforced economic optimism, it also faced critical scrutiny,

reflecting the complexities of political communication.

This research contributes to discourse analysis, linguistics, and political

communication studies, offering insights into how leaders use language to govern,

persuade, and connect with the public.