BRAVING THE ELEMENTS Members of activist groups and protesters continue marching amid heavy rains on Commonwealth Avenue on Monday as President Marcos delivers his State of the Nation Address. —Lyn Rillon MANILA, Philippines — Protesters on Monday afternoon staged what they called the “People’s Sona,” timed with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona), while his supporters also held a rally amid heavy rains dumped by Typhoon “Carina” (international name: Gaemi).
Outside the Commission on Human Rights office in Quezon City, the House Makabayan bloc of party list Representatives France Castro (ACT Teachers), Raoul Manuel (Kabataan) and Arlene Brosas (Gabriela) as well as other protest leaders took their turns on a makeshift stage, criticizing the Marcos administration’s performance two years into his term. READ: Lagman says Marcos’ Sona well-delivered but lacks key details “While [Marcos] paints a rosy picture of the Philippines with his ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ (New Philippines) rebranding, the reality is that women are suffering even more from worsening poverty, hunger and violence,” said Gabriela secretary general Clarice Palce. The protesters began their march around 3 p.
m. but were stopped by police outside Diliman Doctors Hospital on Commonwealth Avenue. Being lawmakers, the Makabayan bloc members were allowed in the halls of the Batasang Pambansa complex, even as they were dressed in their protest attire.
Manuel’s.
