Anti-government protesters brave rains on SONA day

The heavy rains brought by the tropical cyclone did not stop anti-government protesters from holding their own "People's SONA" as they called the Marcos administration for action.

"Sa kabila ng kanilang mga banta ng aresto, harassment, pananakot, tayo po ay di natitinag at patuloy na nagsasalita at kumikilos dahil ang panawagan natin ay tunay na pagbabago," said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Raymond Palatino during the program. 

(Despite their threats of arrest, harassment, and fear-mongering, we will not be cowered and we will continue to speak and act, because our call is for real change.) 

"Gusto natin iparating sa lahat na sa ilalalim ng Bagong Pilipinas, walang papel ang maralita, walang papel ang karaniwang Pilipino," he added.

(We want to tell everyone that under the Bagong Pilipinas, the poor and ordinary people do not play a role.)

Bayan president Renato Reyes said that several issues are not being addressed by the present government due to political factors. 

“For the people, top of mind issues are high prices, low wages, unemployment, poverty, corruption, those are the top five issues that need to be addressed,” he told GMA News Online. 

“But sadly are not being adequately addressed because of what you see, the different factions in power are fighting each other right now amid these problems. And they are positioning themselves for 2025 and 2028. 

The protesters, composed of various groups, converged near the University of the Philippines before heading towards Commonwealth Avenue. 

In an earlier program, Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s SONA failed to lay down concrete solutions to the poor Filipinos' woes.

"Ano ang silbi ng SONA kung sangkatlo ng mga Pilipino ay nagugutom? Habang ang budget ng gobyerno ay sangkatlo ay utang panlabas. Walang tumataas na sahod habang tumataas ang presyo ng pagkain, bilihin, at utilitad," she said.

(What’s the purpose of having a SONA if a third of Filipinos are hungry? ... There’s no wage increase despite the rising prices of commodities.) 

"Walang ampat ang krisis mula sa mga nakaraang administrasyon hanggang sa ngayon, sinasagot tayo ng anti-worker, anti-people, anti-poor na economic policies, importasyon, foreign investments, violation of rights to organize, at iba pang human rights violations."

(The crisis continues.  The administration's responses are anti-worker, anti-poor economic policies, importation, foreign investments, violation of rights to organize, and other human rights violations.)

As part of the program, the "People's SONA" presented a skit with impersonators of government personalities. The protesters also performed a parody version of the P-pop hit "Pantropiko," which they dubbed "Despotiko."

Early in the day, the protesters also burned the effigies of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte. —LDF, GMA Integrated News