SONA 2005 protest a huge success
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last Monday may have been her last. While Arroyo was delivering her
speech, tens of thousands marched and called for her resignation and/or
ouster. The opposition bloc also filed an impeachment complaint in
Congress in the morning of July 25.
More than 100,000 joined simultaneous protest actions all over the
country. Despite Malacañang's declaration of non-working holiday in
Metro Manila, about 80,000 marched through the Commonwealth Avenue in
Quezon City. This has been the biggest anti-Arroyo rally since the
discovery of her taped conversation with an election official.
Dramatizing their condemnation of the Arroyo regime, protesters burned
a 10 x 13 feet effigy of Arroyo as "tuko" or gecko. Tuko is a
reptile known for its tight grip. Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general
of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) said, "Tenaciously, Arroyo clings
on to power despite the overwhelming distrust of the public with her
leadership."
Failed SONA
In reaction to Arroyo's speech, Reyes said the country is facing the
highest unemployment rate since the eve of the downfall of Marcos in
1985. The annual unemployment rate in 2004 reached 11.8 percent.
"Many of the jobs she created were at best temporary employment,
which include jobs in construction work for infrastructure. The number
of underemployed has also increased to 26.1 percent, which is also a
historic high."
Inflation is also the highest in the last ten years, reaching 8.5
percent this year, according to the group. This was even before the
implementation of the Expanded Value Added Tax. Arroyo's target of
balancing the national budget was described as "illusory" because
the total public debt has risen to almost P6 trillion.
"It would take a mighty performance worthy of a FAMAS nomination to
swing the tide of public opinion in her favor. It would also take a
great deal of honesty on
the part of the president to gain the sympathy of the nation.
Unfortunately for Mrs. Arroyo, she is neither a good actress or an
honest leader," said Bayan chairperson Dr. Carol Araullo.
Bayan believes that if Arroyo continues to fall short of the standards
of honesty and
accountability, this could move middle forces and some conservative
anti-Arroyo elements to rethink their strategy in removing Mrs. Arroyo.
Bayan's Araullo said that if Mrs. Arroyo would muzzle the impeachment
complaint and instead push for charter change, this would "infuriate
the people."
"If she junks the impeachment and pushes for cha-cha, then that is
the clearest proof that this administration has no intention of
resolving the political crisis. She would be giving the green light for
more protest actions against her regime," she said.
"Even those groups that are anti-Arroyo but are not keen on people
power will have to rethink their position. They would have to take a
tougher stance against the regime. They would have to face the
political reality that this president just won't go quietly," she
said.
The BAYAN contingent which delivered the biggest SONA mobilization,
marched from the University Avenue of the University of the Philippines
in Diliman to Ever Gotesco in Commonwealth Avenue. About 5,000
protesters from Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon held a
camp out the night before Arroyo's SONA. The Sunday's countdown and
cultural night included performances from The Jerks, The Wuds, Brownman
Revival.
Police blockades
Despite the repeated assurance of the Philippine National Police (PNP)
officials that they would respect the people's right to free assembly,
the contingents from Tarlac and Quezon provinces were repeatedly
blocked. Two buses of protesters were stopped by elements of the 415th
PNP Provincial Mobile Group in Candelaria, Quezon.
Meanwhile, four buses of protesters, mostly from Hacienda Luisita, were
barred in Bamban, Tarlac on Sunday afternoon. Determined to join the
rally, they maneuvered their way to Manila and managed to join the camp
out at UP Diliman at 3 a.m.
Most creative
Before marching to Commonwealth Avenue, anti-Arroyo jingles were
played. There have been at least three collections of songs against
Arroyo. Composed and performed by different cultural organizations.
One of the favorites and easiest to recall is the "Oust GMA" to the
tune of YMCA by Anakpawis. Protesters did "anti-Arroyo morning
exercises" using the song.
Other cities
Protests were held in other key cities and provinces. At least 25,000
joined protest actions in different cities all over Mindanao. In Davao
City alone, 10,000 protesters gathered at Rizal Park.
In Metro Baguio and Vigan City, hundreds of students walked out of
their classes to join the protests. The regional networks of the Gloria
Step Down Movement (GSM) also organized protests in Legazpi City,
Tacloban City and Cebu City.
Overseas
Filipinos abroad also participated in discussions and protest actions
in Hongkong, Canada, U.S., Australia, Netherlands, Italy and
Switzerland.