Marcos supporters brave the rain for SONA 2024, want him to address crime, fulfill promises

Supporters of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. withstood the strong rain that hit Quezon City on Monday to watch his State of the Nation Address (SONA) and air their views on his performance to date.

At a pro-government rally near Sandiganbayan, the supporters huddled under umbrellas, raincoats, and tarpaulins, and were unfazed even when an LED wall onstage was toppled by the winds. 

“Hindi po kami umuuwi hanggang hindi tapos, kahit umulan, kahit bumagyo. Ganyan po kami katindi,” 74-year-old Emelda Julianes told GMA News Online. 

(We are not going home until the end, even if it rains, even if it storms. That's how dedicated we are.)

After the event, several supporters showered praise on the commander in chief.

"Yung incentive sa mga teacher para ganahan sila magturo," one supporter said in Jonathan Andal's report on 24 Oras when asked about what she liked about the SONA.

(The incentives for teachers so that they will be more motivated to teach.)

"'Yung tanggalin na ang mga POGO," said another, referring to Marcos's announcement of a ban on all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) starting today, which received the strongest and most rousing applause and cheers from the SONA audience in the Batasan plenary hall.

"Salamat nailigtas tayong lahat sa China! Atin ito! Atin lahat ito!" declared a third supporter, this time in reference to Marcos's emphatic declaration that the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines.

(Thank you for saving us from China! This is ours! This is all ours!)

Supporters start to gather around Sandiganbayan on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City for a pro-government rally as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to give his third State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22, 2024. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/u8usKqjBYg

— Joviland Rita (@jovilandxrita) July 22, 2024

Promises and commitments

Others, however, leavened their support with their concerns. 

Athena Lim said she was “half-half” satisfied with Marcos's performance, saying some of his campaign promises have yet to be realized.

“Half-half kasi yung dating sinabi niya before the elections, yung iba hindi naman talaga nangyari pa pero marami pa rin namang nangyari other than doon sa hinahantay nating mangyayari pa,” she told GMA News Online.

(Half-half, because some of what he promised before the election have not been accomplished yet, but many have also have been fulfilled, other that the ones we are still waiting for.)

Lim also hopes that the commitments from Marcos's trips abroad will also materialize.

“Maraming siyang meetings sa abroad sa mga different presidents sa iba’t ibang bansa. Ang wish ko is sana matuloy ang mga projects na gusto niya para ma-increase ang ating economy at business sector para magkaroon ng maraming opportunity sa trabaho,” she said. 

(He has many meetings abroad with the presidents of different countries. My wish is that these projects push through to increase our economy and job opportunities.)

Julianes, who said she supports the Marcos family, also called on him to look into the supposedly unfair distribution of government aid, saying it goes to well-off individuals instead of underprivileged people like her. 

“Ang wish ko po sa edad ko pong 74 na nakapasok ako ng pension sa senior. Wala-wala po talaga ako…Isang beses lang ako nabigyan talaga. Wala ako sa payroll ngayon,” she said. 

(My wish at the age of 74 is that I get into the pension for seniors. I really have nothing...only once did I get anything. I'm not on the payroll now.)

“Ang pinagtataka ko po, ang problema po, wala pong natatanggap nang maiigi ang nangangailangan. Yung nakikita ko pong may kaya yung ang nakakatanggap kada payroll,” she added. 

(What I'm puzzled about is that those who are in need do not receive anything. What I see is that those who are well-off are the ones who get money every payroll.)

Luz Feliciano, meanwhile, said that crime is getting worse and called on Marcos to address the problem.

“Yung kriminalidad natin ngayong sumusobra. Sana 'yun man lang ma-ano niya kasi walang mangyayari sa Pilipinas kung puro kriminal ang nandito,” she told GMA News Online.

(Crime is really getting worse. If he could only address that because nothing will happen in the Philippines if it is full or criminals.)

“May kriminal na nga sa loob, may kriminal pa sa labas. Anong mangyayari? Magiging kriminal na rin kami kasi kriminal ang kaharap namin?” she added. 

(There are criminals inside, there are criminals outside. What will happen? Should we become criminals too because criminals are the ones we have to face off against?)

Pro-government rally kicks off near Sandiganbayan to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/a6EvQkLoS4

— Joviland Rita (@jovilandxrita) July 22, 2024

Pro-government rally 

The pro-government rally started 1 p.m., three hours before the SONA started. The large LED screen onstage was toppled by the winds even before the program started, but fortunately nobody was hurt.

Many of the attendees were drenched in the rain despite their umbrellas and rain gear, and ankle-deep floodwaters reached an area near the stage due to the heavy rains. 

Several artists entertained the attendees, with musical numbers from Ara Mina, Rodjun Cruz, Jireh Lim, John Nite, and Juan Caoile, among others. — BM, GMA Integrated News