Let it burn: SONA effigies past and present

Exhibiting effigies of an incumbent president has been a tradition for protesters in every State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the Philippines.

With the upcoming third SONA of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. GMA News Online looks back at past effigies and talk to those who are preparing new ones for Monday's event. 

Form of Expression

The exhibition of effigies in protest became a form of street theater with complex visual narratives such as giant effigy floats, with mechanical parts, animated by activists, and inviting interaction with the audience.

In the Philippines, protesters have been burning effigies since the 1970s.

For Bayan's cultural committee’s Max Santiago, one of his favorites is that of Marcos Sr.

“After noon, nagkaroon ng series ng protesta. Bumuhos ang tao sa lansangan. Yung mga kabataan libo-libo. Yung tinatawag na First Quarter Storm of 1970,” he added.

Aside from this, Santiago said he also liked the “Gloria Manananggal” effigy during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“Noong panahon ni Gloria, may tinatawag na ‘Gloria Manananggal,’ kasagsagan ng human rights violations. Kaya manananggal kasi manananggal ng karapatan at kabuhayan,” he said.

On July 23, 2024, thousands of protesters burned the effigy as Arroyo was set to deliver her SONA. They were standing around the burning huge black and skeletal image of Arroyo.

Santiago also cited the “Rody’s Cube” or the effigy of a huge Rubik’s cube with images of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos Sr., Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and a dog.

On September 21, 2017, protesters stood against Duterte's war against illegal drugs, supposed extrajudicial killings, and military rule in Mindanao.

As it gained international attention, Santiago said one of his favorite effigies is the “Trump Fidget Spinner” on November 13, 2017, which was featured in Jimmy Kimmel’s show in the United States.

“Tapos yung Trump Spinner. Yun naman nagkaroon ng traction overseas noong dumalaw dito si Trump. Kasi na-feature din yun sa ibang bansa, sa Jimmy Kimmel show,” he said.

For Santiago, including effigies in protest actions is important as they are a reflection of freedom of expression in democratic countries.

“Karapatan natin yung freedom of expression, nasa Constitution yan. Kung totoong may demokrasya, dapat may kalayaan tayong magsabi ng ating saloobin,” he said.

“Gusto nating iparating sa paraan na malikhain ang ating mensahe ano ang kailangang baguhin sa mga problema natin sa lipunan. Bahago ng freedom of expression kaya mahalaga ito. Isa siyang public art, yung ating ginagawang effigy,” he added.

SONA 2024

This year, Santiago said two effigies will be displayed during their march and protest along Commonwealth Avenue.

“Isang higanteng Marcos at [Vice President Sara Duterte] na nagsusuntukan, nagbugbugan. Pinapakita dito ang disunity sa pagitan ng Pangulo at Vice President,” Santiago said.

“Pinapakita natin na wala na yung unity na tinatawag, campaign slogan siya.Pansin natin na matindi na ang lamat to the point na hindi na dadalo si Sara Duterte at dineklara niya ang sarili niya bilang designated survivor,” he added.

Bayan doing some final touches of the effigies that will be used for Marcos' third SONA on July 24, 2024.

During the 2022 elections, Marcos and Duterte ran as a tandem with a campaign slogan for unity. 

Duterte left Marcos’ Cabinet and resigned from the posts of Education Secretary and vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

The Vice President recently announced that she will not attend Marcos’ SONA, saying that she has appointed herself as the “designated survivor.”

Through the effigy, Santiago said protesters will expose the opposing allegiances of Marcos for the United States and Duterte for China.

“Meron silang sash na pinapakita yung kanilang allegiances. Si Marcos ay merong US flag na parang sash. Si Sara Duterte naman ay yung Chinese flag na parang sash,” Santiago said.

This effigy will be burned during the rally.

Aside from the Marcos vs Duterte effigy, the protest action will also feature an oversized ball depicting the “Bagong Pilipinas” logo and Marcos. It will be tossed around by the protesters.

“Although hindi ito yung susunugin, may isa ding malaking figure ng bola. Kasi yung isang major na theme kasi ngayon ang binibida ng Marcos administration ay Bagong Pilipinas. So yung bolang yun ay ‘Binobolang Pilipinas’,” Santiago said.

“Di siya susunugin pero doon sa crowd, doon sa mga dadalo, papaikot-ikutin siya sa mismong event, sa protesta, papagulong-gulungin,” he added.

In July last year, the Marcos administration unveiled a new brand of governance and leadership campaign, “Bagong Pilipinas" (New Philippines) in a bid to implement an “all-inclusive plan for economic and social transformation.” —VAL, GMA Integrated News