Thousands of Filipinos protested in the Philippines and overseas to denounce the “Bagong Pilipinas” of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. which he flaunted in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22. National-democratic groups demonstrated the true condition of the Filipino people in the protest SONA ng bayan (SONA of the people).

Despite the rain, thousands gathered at Commonwealth Avenue on the day of Marcos’ SONA. Farmers, workers, youth, women, jeepney drivers and operators, indigenous peoples, urban poor, teachers, health workers, government employees and other democratic sectors marched.

More than 600 people from Southern Tagalog participated in the protest. Before the SONA, they held a caravan led by the Bayan regional chapter. They started the caravan on July 18 in Laguna and arrived at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman on July 19. The regional delegation launched a series of protests in various agencies in Metro Manila, including a rally in US embassy.

The true state of the nation is one of debilitating economic crisis, rising fascism, surrender of sovereignty, lack of accountability and endless infighting among the ruling elite,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), the group that led the protest, said.

The group said, “there is nothing new in “Bagong Pilipinas” because it is business as usual for the big landlords, foreign big business and corrupt bureaucrat capitalists.” The spending of ₱20 million for preparation, food and other expenses for SONA clearly reflects this.

Bayan also denounced the endless bickering between the Marcos and Duterte factions. “The maneuverings of those in power, who are seeking to remain in power, take place amid rising prices, low wages, widespread poverty, landlessness and unemployment,” it said.

The groups, on the other hand, condemned Marcos for assigning 23,000 police in Metro Manila to deter the protests. The bulk of national-democratic groups were blocked from marching to Batasan Pambansa near the Diliman Doctors Hospital, along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Elsewhere in the country

The local chapters of Bayan led the protests in eight cities and provinces from Luzon to Mindanao.

In Baguio City, activists and groups for the SONA ng Bayan marched on Session Road on July 21. The Tongtongan ti Umili-Cordillera People’s Alliance led the protest in the city. The indigenous Igorots carry their gansa (gong) which they rang along with the march.

In Albay, Bayan-Bicol, together with groups from Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate, bravely continued their protest in Guinobatan in front of posters that red-tagged progressive leaders and groups. After the picket and program, they conducted “operation baklas” where they collectively removed these malicious posters and tarpaulins.

In Camarines Sur, Bayan-Camarines Sur thwarted the attempt of state forces to stop their protest action in Plaza Oragon, Naga City. More than 1,000 people participated in their protest action according to the group.

A multitude of policemen and checkpoints including the one in Barangay Del Rosario tried to block them despite the rain. In the Rinconada area, soldiers guarded the barangays to block the exit of the delegations attending the SONA ng bayan. Report said more people would have participated in the protest had the state forces not blocked it.

In Cebu City, activists and groups under Bayan-Central Visayas marched in Fuente Osmeña towards Metro Colon. They are also accompanied by workers and associations united with Cebuano Mamumuo nga Nagkahiusa alang sa Living or SANA-ALL (Cebuano Workers United for Living) who are demanding a wage increase.

In Bacolod City, Bayan-Negros groups marched to the Fountain of Justice to express their contempt for the Marcos regime. The group emphasized the current series of privatizations in the city that are tormenting ordinary citizens.

In Iloilo City, hundreds of Ilonggo gathered in front of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol led by Bayan-Panay. Among those who attended the action were drivers and jeepney operators who are severely affected by the jeepney phaseout and the anti-poor Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) being implemented by the local city government.

In Capiz, 150 people from various parts of the province gathered at the Roxas City Public Plaza led by Bayan-Capiz. Sectors from the urban poor, youth, women and farmers joined the action.

In Aklan, various sectors came together for the SONA ng bayan in Kalibo led by Bayan-Aklan. Members of Pamalakaya-Aklan and KMP-Aklan attended the protest. They also held a forum that day that discussed the state of the nation’s sovereignty.

In Davao City, about 50 members of Bayan-Southern Mindanao gathered at Freedom Park for the SONA ng bayan protest. Their protest highlighted the Talaingod 18 case, harassment against Lumads and those who support their struggle. Likewise, they announced the ongoing search for labor organizer William Lariosa who was abducted by state forces last February in Bukidnon.

Political prisoners in the country also expressed solidarity with the protest. They held a one-day protest fast to condemn the Marcos regime. They exposed their increasingly aggravated conditions like overcrowded prisons. Among those participating in the fast were political prisoners in Palawan, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and the New Bilibid Prisons, and Metro Manila District Jail in Metro Manila.

Overseas

Though thousands of miles away from the motherland, Filipino migrants expressed their stand against the anti-national and anti-democratic Marcos regime. Filipino migrant groups conducted protests in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia led by Bayan and Migrante chapters.

In Canada, activities and protests were launched in the cities of Alberta, British Colombia, Manitoba, Montreal and Toronto from July 20 to July 21.

In the United States, protests and programs were held in the cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC and Honolulu from July 21 to July 24. Bayan-USA reported that up to 1,100 Filipinos joined in their actions throughout the country. They condemned the US government for supplying arms to the Marcos regime against the Filipino people.

In Europe, various Filipino migrant organizations held activities in Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom from July 19 to July 22. Meanwhile, continuous “online” activities were conducted by groups there from July 21 to July 24.

In Australia, gatherings were held in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. Filipino migrants also held an activity in Auckland, New Zealand.

In Asia, Filipino migrants held activities in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. They also launched an “online” activity among Southeast Asians on July 21.

Some of the protestors went to the offices representing the Philippine Government overseas to express the migrants’ contempt for the government of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.