Metro Manila, Philippines — The number of protesters will surpass last year’s gathering in response to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, a militant group said on Sunday.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) said more activities will be held in a number of venues in the country.
In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, BAYAN Secretary-General Mong Palatino said the rallies target as much as 10,000 protesters.
“We want to surpass the 6,000 people we mobilized last year, and we hope to reach 10,000 this year,” said Palatino.
Based on the group’s schedule, there will be a program for workers in the morning where BAYAN’s Southern Tagalog chapter will join.
The main program has four segments, namely, economic conditions, foreign policy, internal conflicts and reactionary actions, and calls for change.
“Sa ‘Bagong Pilipinas, Pilipino laging naghihirap’ tapos paniningil ‘yan sa Marcos government for the past two years. Sila ay nag-aaway sa kabila ng problema ng mga mamamayan, wala silang pakialam kung Pilipino ay naghihirap o nagugutom ang mga tao,” said Palatino, referring to the administration’s slogan.
[Translation: In the so-called New Philippines, Filipinos continue to suffer. This protest is a way to hold the Marcos government accountable for the past two years. Despite the problems faced by the citizens, they are busy fighting among themselves, showing no concern for the suffering or hunger of the Filipino people.]
BAYAN said it has prepared two effigies for the People’s SONA activities. One is a life-sized beach ball symbolizing the administration’s deception, and an effigy of people fighting, which it calls “Umbagang Pilipinas.”
“This symbolizes their prioritization of foreign interests, constantly aligning with foreign agendas. Solutions like the Maharlika Fund, charter change, and foreign military exercises show that the government is tone-deaf, indifferent, and insensitive to the plight of the nation because they are focused on internal conflicts, power struggles, and maneuvering for influence,” said Palatino.
