Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 23) — Various groups held a “People’s Summit” a day before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on Monday.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Southern Tagalog, an alliance of various cause-oriented organizations, led the protest action in Quezon City, where calls for reform were aired by protesters from different sectors nationwide.
“Una ay ang pagsusulong sa ekonomiyang nakasasapat sa sarili laban sa…or malaya sa dayuhang kontrol. Ang ikalawa ay pagsusulong ng tunay na repormang agraryo para sa mga magsasaka,” said Kyle Angelo Salgado, the group’s spokesperson.
[Translation: First is to push for an economy that is sufficient and free from the control of foreigners. Second is to push for genuine agrarian reform for farmers.]
The group also called for the protection of the country’s natural resources, affordable social services, protection of human rights, and end to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and the continuation of peace talks.
The group also wanted the government to fight corruption and establish a “scientific and mass-oriented” educational system.
“Yung panawagan namin, magpatupad ng nakabubuhay na sahod nang sa ganun ay matustusan ang pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan ng mga manggagawa, partikular sa rehiyon ng Timog Katagalugan,” said Mia Antonio, secretary general of Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan-Kilusang Mayo Uno.
[Translation: We call for a living wage so workers can afford their everyday needs, particularly in Southern Tagalog.]
Some protesters made effigies with the theme BBM or “Big Bootlicker Marcos.” Students made objects inspired by the popular toy lato-lato, or clackers, to represent issues in the education sector.
“Nag-draw kami ng inspiration sa lato-lato. So yung dalawang bola — mandatory ROTC [Reserve Officers’ Training Corps] at tuition and other fee increase. Naka-set siya na sunugin bilang symbolic protest namin bilang mga estudyante,” said Mariel Orpiada, national vice chairperson of Panday Sining. “Kumbaga inuulit-ulit kaming binubugbog ng lato-lato ng dalawa,”
[Translation: We drew inspiration from the lato-lato. The two balls represent mandatory ROTC and tuition fee increases. We will burn it as our symbolic protest as students, as youth. It’s like we’re being repeatedly bruised by these two issues.]
Salgado added the effigies represent Marcos and former president Rodrigo Duterte who, they say, are both subservient to the US.
“Sinisimbolo po niya yung pagpapakatuta ni Marcos Jr. at ni Duterte sa US na kung saan US yung nagdadala sa Pilipinas ng mga giyera at iniipit yung ating bansa sa hidwaan nila ng China,” he said.
[Translation: This symbolizes Marcos Jr. and Duterte who are puppets of the US, who allowed the US to bring war to our country, which is caught in the middle of their conflict with China.]The group held protest actions in different parts of Metro Manila on Saturday.
