Aquino does adlib in 5th SONA

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino made "extemporaneous remarks" in the last part of his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday, Malacañang said.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma said that Aquino turned a bit more emotional when he departed from his prepared speech and did an adlib.

"Hindi kasama 'yun ... I think galing 'yon sa puso," Coloma said in an interview at the Batasang Pampansa complex shortly after the SONA before a joint session of Congress.

In the latter part of his address, Aquino echoed his martyred father, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, whose most quoted statement was "The Filipino is worth dying for."

"Hanggan't buo ang ating pananalig at tiwala, mapapatunayang, 'The Filipino is worth dying for, [and] 'The Filipino is worth living for," the president said.

"The Filipino is definitely worth fighting for," he added.

He also expressed his confidence that the country's progress will continue beyond his term, which will expire in two years.

"Buong-buo ang tiwala ko. Nasa eksena man ako o wala, tutungo ang Pilipino sa dapat niyang patunguhan," Aquino said.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, meanwhile, said that uploading of the transcript of the SONA got delayed due to Aquino's departures.

"May adlib. Transcript [still] being prepared," Valte said on her Twitter account, in response to an inquiry by a netizen.