Militant groups under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) staged a rally along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City early Monday morning, July 24, to call on the national government to protect human rights and to institute wage increase for workers prior to President Marcos' second State of the Nation Address (SONA). The organizations, composed of Southern Tagalog, women, farmers, fishermen, artists, and students and other sectors gathered at around 7:30 a.m. on Commonwealth Avenue while some groups assembled at the Quezon Memorial Circle. The Quezon City Police District said that around 6,000 individuals participated in the event.
(Photo by Aaron Homer Dioquino/ MANILA BULLETIN)
“During his second State of the Nation Address, Marcos is expected to tout his one-year accomplishments, playing on the optics of groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies and foreign travels and meetings with world leaders. It is important to take a critical look at the so-called achievements of Marcos Jr.'s administration from the lens of ordinary people who are most affected by his policies. The ruling elite are expected to give multiple standing ovations to Marcos inside the Batasang Pambansa, but ordinary folks feeling the brunt of the crisis have other things in mind,” BAYAN said in a Facebook post.  A program was held along Commonwealth Avenue where the groups aired their sentiments and concerns for the improvement of the lives of Filipinos such as the minimum wage increase, skyrocketing prices of basic goods, hunger, land/ agrarian reform, programs for housing and education, release of political prisoners, support for the violence against women and children campaign, to end harassment, abuse, murder and terrorism, and address other socio-economic issues.

(Photos by Aaron Homer Dioquino/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Jayssie Balugna, Sugar Folks Unity for Genuine Agricultural Reform spokesperson, urged Marcos to reopen the Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Incorporated, a sugar mill in Nasugbu, Batangas whose closure on 2022 affected the livelihood of around 12,000 farmers, smoke planters, and other workers.  He also asked for the national government to provide any intervention  and coordination to help the sugar farmers, especially in Batangas,  when it comes to strengthening the sugar industry in the country, and to end the intimidation and alleged harassment by sugar mill management of the farmers.  Mia Antonio of Pamantik Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) also called on the administration to intervene to stop price increases of basic commodities, push for wage hike for workers, and to stop the red tagging and killing of progressive group leaders.   Before marching towards the Tandang Sora footbridge, the groups from Southern Tagalog burned an effigy of a combat boot featuring the images of the president and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio with the words “Big Bootlicker Marcos.” The group said the effigy symbolizes the oppressive and puppet regime of Marcos Jr., that must be torn down, dismantled, and fully destroyed by the very people that his regime has ravaged.  Another effigy of a coin with the president’s face was burnt during the protest. The Quezon City government and the Quezon City Police District deployed over 7,000 security, emergency, and traffic personnel in different areas in the city especially along Commonwealth Avenue to ensure peace and order during the protests. The protesters were allowed by the city government to assemble near Tandang Sora Overpass while pro administration groups gathered near the building of the Commission on Audit on Commonwealth Avenue. Members of the Philippine National Police and barangay security personnel were also stationed in strategic areas to help the city police and traffic management teams. QCPD said the activity ended at around 1:50 p.m. The president will deliver his second SONA at the Batasang Pambansa at around 4 p.m. on Monday.