List of joint sessions of legislatures of the Philippines

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The plenary hall of the Batasang Pambansa Complex, seat of the House of Representatives and venue of joint sessions of Congress since 1987. Batasang Pambansa Plenary Hall.jpg
The plenary hall of the Batasang Pambansa Complex, seat of the House of Representatives and venue of joint sessions of Congress since 1987.
Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida addressing Congress, November 4, 2023 PM Kishida speech to Philippine Congress 6.jpg
Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida addressing Congress, November 4, 2023

The following is a list of joint sessions of legislatures of the Philippines, including the historical Philippine Legislature and its successor, the Congress of the Philippines. Since the establishment of an entirely elected bicameral legislature in 1916, following the creation of the Philippine Senate which replaced the Philippine Commission, joint sessions have been held with the House of Representatives (formerly the Philippine Assembly). American governor-generals and, later, Philippine presidents traditionally delivered addresses to both houses during the opening of legislative sessions. [1]

Contents

Francis Burton Harrison was the first governor-general to deliver a message to the national legislature in 1916, following the enactment of the Jones Law creating the Philippine Senate. No joint sessions were held from 1935 to 1945 after the establishment of the unicameral National Assembly under the 1935 Constitution, and again from 1973 to 1987 after Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and abolished Congress, with legislative powers subsequently exercised by Corazon Aquino under the provisional government following Marcos's deposition.

Legislators elected in 1941 assumed office only on June 9, 1945, after the interruption caused by World War II, with Sergio Osmeña delivering the first State of the Nation Address by a Philippine president before Congress. On six occasions, foreign heads of state or government have also addressed the Senate and the House convened jointly, the first being U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1960.

The most recent joint session of Congress was held on July 28, 2025, during the fourth State of the Nation Address of president Bongbong Marcos. The most recent foreign dignitary to address both houses was Fumio Kishida as Prime Minister of Japan in 2023.

1910s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
4th Legislature October 16, 1916Address Francis Burton Harrison Governor-General of the Philippines Manuel L. Quezon Sergio Osmeña Ayuntamiento de Manila
October 16, 1917Address
October 16, 1918Address
5th Legislature October 16, 1919Address

1920s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
5th Legislature February 25, 1920Address Francis Burton Harrison Governor-General of the Philippines Manuel L. Quezon Sergio Osmeña Ayuntamiento de Manila
October 16, 1920Address
October 17, 1921Address Leonard Wood
6th Legislature October 27, 1922Address Manuel Roxas
8th Legislature July 16, 1928Address Henry L. Stimson Legislative Building, Manila

1930s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
9th Legislature July 16, 1931Address Dwight F. Davis Governor-General of the Philippines Manuel L. Quezon Manuel Roxas Legislative Building, Manila
10th Legislature July 16, 1934Address Frank Murphy Quintin Paredes
November 12, 1935Address John Nance Garner Vice President of the United States [2]
Address Jo Byrns Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

1940s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
1st Congress of the Commonwealth June 9, 1945Address Douglas MacArthur Field Marshal of the Philippine Army Manuel Roxas Jose Zulueta Old Japanese Schoolhouse, Lepanto, Manila
State of the Nation Address Sergio Osmeña President of the Philippines
2nd Congress of the Commonwealth June 3, 1946State of the Nation Address Manuel Roxas José Avelino Eugenio Pérez
1st Congress January 27, 1947State of the Nation Address
January 26, 1948State of the Nation Address
January 24, 1949State of the Nation Address Elpidio Quirino Legislative Building, Manila

1950s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
2nd Congress January 23, 1950 State of the Nation Address Elpidio Quirino [a] President of the Philippines Mariano Jesús Cuenco Eugenio Pérez Legislative Building, Manila
January 23, 1951State of the Nation Address Elpidio Quirino Domingo Veloso [b] Legislative Building, Manila
January 28, 1952State of the Nation Address Quintín Paredes Eugenio Pérez
January 26, 1953State of the Nation Address Eulogio Rodriguez
3rd Congress January 25, 1954State of the Nation Address Ramon Magsaysay Jose Laurel Jr.
January 24, 1955State of the Nation Address Daniel Romualdez [c]
January 23, 1956State of the Nation Address Jose Laurel Jr.
January 28, 1957State of the Nation Address
4th Congress January 27, 1958State of the Nation Address Carlos P. Garcia Daniel Romualdez
January 26, 1959State of the Nation Address

1960s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
4th Congress January 25, 1960State of the Nation Address Carlos P. Garcia President of the Philippines Eulogio Rodriguez Daniel Romualdez Legislative Building, Manila
June 15, 1960Address Dwight D. Eisenhower President of the United States [4]
January 23, 1961State of the Nation Address Carlos P. Garcia President of the Philippines
5th Congress January 22, 1962State of the Nation Address Diosdado Macapagal
January 28, 1963State of the Nation Address Cornelio Villareal
January 27, 1964State of the Nation Address Ferdinand Marcos
January 25, 1965State of the Nation Address
6th Congress January 24, 1966State of the Nation Address Ferdinand Marcos Arturo Tolentino
January 23, 1967State of the Nation Address
January 22, 1968State of the Nation Address Gil Puyat Jose Laurel Jr.
January 27, 1969State of the Nation Address

1970s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
7th Congress January 26, 1970State of the Nation Address Ferdinand Marcos President of the Philippines Gil Puyat Jose Laurel Jr. Legislative Building, Manila
January 25, 1971State of the Nation Address
January 24, 1972State of the Nation Address Cornelio Villareal

1980s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
8th Congress July 27, 1987State of the Nation Address Corazon Aquino President of the Philippines Jovito Salonga Ramon Mitra Jr. Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
July 25, 1988State of the Nation Address
July 24, 1989State of the Nation Address

1990s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
8th Congress July 23, 1990State of the Nation Address Corazon Aquino President of the Philippines Jovito Salonga Ramon Mitra Jr. Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
July 22, 1991State of the Nation Address
May 26–June 16, 1992 Congressional canvass for the 1992 Philippine presidential election None Neptali Gonzales
June 22, 1992Proclamation of president and vice president-elect
9th Congress July 27, 1992State of the Nation Address Fidel V. Ramos President of the Philippines Jose de Venecia Jr.
July 26, 1993State of the Nation Address Edgardo Angara
July 25, 1994State of the Nation Address
10th Congress July 24, 1995State of the Nation Address
July 22, 1996State of the Nation Address Neptali Gonzales
July 28, 1997State of the Nation Address Ernesto Maceda
May 27–28, 1998 Congressional canvass for the 1998 Philippine presidential election None Neptali Gonzales
May 29, 1998Proclamation of president and vice president-elect
11th Congress July 27, 1998State of the Nation Address Joseph Estrada President of the Philippines Marcelo Fernan Manny Villar
July 26, 1999State of the Nation Address Blas Ople

2000s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
11th Congress July 24, 2000State of the Nation Address Joseph Estrada President of the Philippines Franklin Drilon Manny Villar Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
12th Congress July 23, 2001State of the Nation Address Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Jose de Venecia Jr.
July 22, 2002State of the Nation Address
July 28, 2003State of the Nation Address
October 18, 2003Address George W. Bush President of the United States [5]
May 11–June 20, 2004 Congressional canvass for the 2004 Philippine presidential election None
June 20, 2004Proclamation of president and vice president-elect
13th Congress July 26, 2004State of the Nation Address Gloria Macapagal Arroyo President of the Philippines
April 19, 2005Address Pervez Musharraf President of Pakistan [6]
April 27, 2005Address Hu Jintao President of China [7]
July 25, 2005State of the Nation Address Gloria Macapagal Arroyo President of the Philippines
February 6, 2006Address A. P. J. Abdul Kalam President of India [8]
July 24, 2006State of the Nation Address Gloria Macapagal Arroyo President of the Philippines Manny Villar
14th Congress July 23, 2007State of the Nation Address
July 28, 2008State of the Nation Address Prospero Nograles
July 27, 2009State of the Nation Address Juan Ponce Enrile

2010s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
14th Congress May 25–June 9, 2010 Congressional canvass for the 2010 Philippine presidential election None Juan Ponce Enrile Prospero Nograles Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
June 9, 2010Proclamation of president and vice president-elect [9]
15th Congress July 26, 2010 State of the Nation Address Benigno Aquino III President of the Philippines Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
July 25, 2011State of the Nation Address
July 23, 2012State of the Nation Address
16th Congress July 22, 2013State of the Nation Address Franklin Drilon
July 28, 2014 State of the Nation Address
July 27, 2015 State of the Nation Address
May 25–27, 2016 Congressional canvass for the 2016 Philippine presidential election None [10]
May 30, 2016Proclamation of president and vice president-elect [11]
17th Congress July 25, 2016 State of the Nation Address Rodrigo Duterte President of the Philippines Koko Pimentel Pantaleon Alvarez [12]
July 22–23, 2017Extension of the proclamation of martial law None [13]
July 24, 2017 State of the Nation Address Rodrigo Duterte President of the Philippines [14]
December 13, 2017Extension of the proclamation of martial law None [15]
July 23, 2018 State of the Nation Address Rodrigo Duterte President of the Philippines Tito Sotto [16]
December 12, 2018Extension of the proclamation of martial law None Gloria Macapagal Arroyo [17]
18th Congress July 22, 2019 State of the Nation Address Rodrigo Duterte President of the Philippines Alan Peter Cayetano [18]

2020s

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocationRef.
SenateHouse
18th Congress July 27, 2020 State of the Nation Address Rodrigo Duterte President of the Philippines Tito Sotto Alan Peter Cayetano Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City [19]
July 26, 2021 State of the Nation Address Lord Allan Velasco [20]
May 24–25, 2022 Congressional canvass for the 2022 Philippine presidential election None [21]
May 25, 2022Proclamation of president and vice president-elect [22]
19th Congress July 25, 2022 State of the Nation Address Bongbong Marcos President of the Philippines Juan Miguel Zubiri Martin Romualdez [23]
July 24, 2023 State of the Nation Address [24]
November 4, 2023Address Fumio Kishida Prime Minister of Japan [25]
July 22, 2024 State of the Nation Address Bongbong Marcos President of the Philippines Francis Escudero [26]
20th Congress July 28, 2025 State of the Nation Address [27]

Upcoming joint sessions

LegislatureDateOccasionDignitary speakingPositionPresiding officerLocation
SenateHouse
20th Congress July 27, 2026State of the Nation Address Bongbong Marcos President of the Philippines TBDTBD Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
July 26, 2027State of the Nation Address

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Quirino did not personally attend the joint session as he was confined at the at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. The address was delivered through radio broadcast to Congress who assembled at the Legislative Building in Manila. [3]
  2. ↑ Presided as the speaker pro tempore.
  3. ↑ Presided as the speaker pro tempore.

References

  1. ↑ "FilipiKnows: Things Filipinos should know about the SONA". Presidential Communications Office. June 26, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  2. ↑ Annual Report of the Governor General of the Philippine Islands (PDF). Washington: United States Government Printing Office. 1937. p. 4.
  3. ↑ "Did you know: Quirino delivered Sona from hospital bed". INQUIRER.net. July 23, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Address Before a Joint Session of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Remarks by the President to the Philippine Congress". U.S. Department of State. October 18, 2003.
  6. ↑ "Musharraf, Arroyo boost cooperation". Al Jazeera. April 19, 2005. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of the Philippines". Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines. April 28, 2005. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  8. ↑ Porcalla, Delon (February 7, 2006). "Indian president addresses Congress, urges RP to use solar energy". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  9. ↑ Sisante, Jam; Legaspi, Amita (June 9, 2010). "Congress proclaims Aquino as president, Binay as VP". GMA News Online. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  10. ↑ Cruz, Gwen De La (May 26, 2016). "2016 canvassing of votes for president, VP: The basics". Rappler. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  11. ↑ Pasion, Patty (May 30, 2016). "Proclaimed: Duterte skips ceremony; Robredo, daughters in full force". Rappler. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  12. ↑ Ager, Maila (July 25, 2016). "Senate, Congress convene for Duterte's 1st Sona". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  13. ↑ Romero, Paolo. "Congress extends martial law until December 31". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  14. ↑ Morallo, Audrey (July 24, 2017). "Rambling 2-hour SONA: Duterte skips key issues". Philstar.com. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ Westerman, Ashley (December 13, 2017). "Martial Law Extended For Another Year In Southern Philippines". NPR. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  16. ↑ Salaverria, Leila B. (July 25, 2018). "Sotto: House leadership row nearly led to Duterte walkout". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Senate, House discuss martial law extension in joint session". ABS-CBN News. December 12, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  18. ↑ Roxas, Pathricia Ann V. (July 22, 2019). "Congress opens joint session to hear Duterte's 2019 Sona". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  19. ↑ Tamayo, Bernadette E. (July 10, 2020). "Only eight senators to attend SONA". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  20. ↑ Bajo, Anna Felicia (July 26, 2021). "In final SONA, Duterte says drugs, corruption still a problem". GMA News Online. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  21. ↑ Torregoza, Hannah L. (May 23, 2022). "Congress resumes session today". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  22. ↑ Cervantes, Filane Mikee (May 27, 2022). "Marcos, Duterte proclaimed winners in PH's fastest vote count". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  23. ↑ "1st State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr". RTVM. July 25, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  24. ↑ Cervantes, Filane Mikee; Rocamora, Joyce Ann L. (July 24, 2023). "Solons, officials praise PBBM's 'comprehensive' second SONA". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Kishida 'honored' to address PH Congress; says PH-Japan ties 'stronger than ever'". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on March 13, 2025. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  26. ↑ Peralta-Malonzo, Third Anne (July 22, 2024). "Senate, House open 19th Congress' 3rd regular session". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  27. ↑ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (July 28, 2025). "Marcos' Sona opening salvo: Set aside political rift, let's fulfill duty". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
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