Daven Tamayo

SONA protesters to spotlight economic woes, corruption

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA – Protest messages of progressive groups during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday will center on the country&#x27;s current economic woes and corruption scandals, Bayan secretary-general Mong Palatino said Friday, adding that rallies will proceed as planned regardless of the weather.</p><p>Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary-general Mong Palatino said the coalition secured a rally permit from the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety to hold programs along Commonwealth Avenue, where organizers expect up to 20,000 participants. The main convergence area will be in front of St. Peter&#x27;s Chapel from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/23/walang-pasok-july-27-monday-sona-class-suspension-1400"><strong>QC, Manila suspend classes Monday for SONA</strong></a></div><p>Palatino said the protest would serve as the &quot;People&#x27;s SONA,&quot; where various sectors would present their own assessment of the country&#x27;s condition and the Marcos administration&#x27;s performance.</p><p>&quot;Ano ang isyu pang-araw-araw ng ating mga kababayan? Ano ang tunay na kalagayan ng mga ordinaryong Pilipino? &#x27;Yan po ang gusto nating marinig sa People&#x27;s SONA,&quot; said Palatino. </p><p>Members of the Catholic Church are also expected to hold an ecumenical prayer in front of Ever Gotesco at 1 p.m. before joining the protest march.</p><p>&quot;Of course, ang sasabihin ng pangulo ay punong-puno na naman ng palamuti. Pero &#x27;yong katotohanan, tumatangis ang mamamayan,&quot; said Fr. Homar Distajo of the Promotion of Church Peopleʼs Response. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/24/marcos-on-corruption-in-sona-abangan-ang-susunod-na-kabanata-1317"><strong>Marcos on corruption in SONA: ‘Abangan ang susunod na kabanata’ </strong></a> </div><p>Sectoral groups under Bayan said their message would highlight what they described as widespread hunger and poverty, rising fuel prices and electricity rates, the lack of secure jobs, and persistent corruption.</p><p>They argued that these issues reflect the &quot;true state of the nation&quot; under the Marcos administration, while criticizing what they called selective accountability in corruption cases. </p><p>&quot;Malinaw po ang marka ng mga guro kay President Bongbong Marcos – bagsak na bagsak,&quot; said Ruby Bernardo, chairperson of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers.</p><p>&quot;Marcos, Duterte, mahiya naman kayo. May pera pero hindi po &#x27;yan napupunta sa eskwela, nasa maleta,&quot; she added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/marcos-5th-sona-to-be-simple-but-dignified-palace-1557"><strong>Marcos 5th SONA to be &#x27;simple but dignified&#x27;—Palace </strong></a> </div><div><br/></div><div><strong>ANTI-TRUMP EFFIGY </strong></div><p>The rally will also feature a papier-mâché effigy depicting US President Donald Trump as the puppet master controlling Marcos, symbolizing what organizers described as the Philippine government&#x27;s subservience to the United States. </p><p>The effigy is expected to be burned at the end of the program as a symbolic act of protest.</p><p>&quot;Ang ating effigy ay puppet at puppet master – ang dahilan kung bakit mataas ang presyo ng langis at bilihin, dahil giniyera ng US ang Iran at ang impact ng pagiging sunod-sunoran ni Marcos Jr. sa gobyerno ng US,&quot; said Palatino. </p><p>Organizers said SONA-related protest activities will begin Friday and continue throughout the weekend ahead of Monday&#x27;s demonstrations.</p>

<p>Protest messages of progressive groups during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s SONA on Monday will center on the country's current economic woes and corruption scandals, Bayan secretary-general Mong Palatino said Friday, adding that rallies will proceed as planned regardless of the weather.</p>

Protest messages of progressive groups during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s SONA on Monday will center on the country's current economic woes and corruption scandals, Bayan secretary-general Mong Palatino said Friday, adding that rallies will proceed as planned regardless of the weather.