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Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Protesters cry for Arroyo's ouster
MANILA -- As early as 6 a.m. and despite the typhoon warning, militant groups from different sectors took to the streets their protests in the wake of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (Sona) Monday.
Women's organization Gabriela and the labor group Migrante led children as young as 12 years old, together with their parents and other youth in calling for the ouster of Arroyo.
Full text of Arroyo’s 2008 Sona
They also desire for the P125 across-the-board nationwide wage hike and the lowering of the prices of commodities.
Protesters demanded as well the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law and the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).
Effigies portraying Arroyo on a plane carried by a crane and a black effigy shaped like a bat reading "Gloria, VAT Ibasura" signified their desire to topple the President from her post, in connection to the high value-added tax imposed on commodities.
A drawing air-sprayed on the street reading "Walang Pagkain, Nakamamatay (No Food, It Can Kill)," signified the protesters' hardship in dealing with the high prices of food, particularly rice.
In an opening to what was dubbed as the "Sona ng Mamamayan," Vincent Crisostomo, leader of the League of Filipino Students, emphasized that the real Sona was on the streets and that Filipinos are fed up of poverty brought about by the Arroyo administration.
The groups applauded the people who were present in the rally for their participation.
"The real Sona is right here on the streets. Our countrymen say, 'we are fed up with the crisis, we are fed up with the poverty'...On this day, let us give ourselves a hand for gathering in the streets," Crisostomo cried out.
Sister Maryjohn Manansal, honorary chairperson of Gabriela, said what the government is doing to the country can be likened to a "den of thieves," referring to the corruption committed by government officials.
She said the Filipinos are "made to look like fools" because of this corruption.
Anakpawis, through a song, also voiced out the same protests.
Despite the very strong wind and rain between 8 to 9 a.m., people flocked to the streets and filled it up at about 11 a.m.
Teams from the Philippine National Police (PNP), particularly the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) team, armed with their shields and sticks, were ready for any untoward incident that may take place.
Also present were other groups such as Kilusang Mayo Uno, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), Bayan Muna and youth groups like the Liga ng Kabataang Moro.
The rallies were held at a safe distance from the Batasang Pambansa where the President delivered her Sona.
Tight security at Batasan
With important government officials expected to arrive at the Batasang Pambansa, the military and the police were stationed outside the gates and at every building of the Complex.
Media, in particular, only had limited access to the Plenary Hall -- where the Sona was to be made -- itself, signified by the color sticker posted on the identification cards.
Pacquiao graces Sona
People's Champ Manny Pacquiao, together with Environment Secretary and former Manila mayor Lito Atienza, and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson, received cheers from the people at the House of Representatives gallery.
Pacquiao, who was complemented on his barong and told that he already looked like a congressman, replied, "Now is the time to listen to what the President has to say."
Atienza echoed Pacquiao by saying, "Let us listen to our President, we need to listen to (her speech), (so that we will know) what we can do to help our country. Our President needs our help."
"This (Sona) is part of our system before we open the new Congress, we listen to the message of our President", he added.
The champion boxer was also asked on how he is preparing for his role as the flag-bearer in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He said: "It's a great honor for us Filipinos...I thank our beloved President (for the opportunity)."
He was also asked in jest if he was going to speak in the Sona, with Pacquiao replying, "No, no, we will listen (to our President)."
"Let us help our President, and let us help each other (in order) for us to be united. It is only us who will be affected, so I call on our countrymen to give importance to loving each other," he added.
Reactions on Sona
Representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquiel, who was already out of the Hall before the President's speech ended, gave her opinions on the "government-assisted" citizens who were invited to the event.
"I appreciate that these citizens attended the Sona in our House and their efforts to lift themselves from their status as people", Hontiveros started.
She said she does not like the fact that the President is using "their heroism, their industriousness, their being always hopeful...like that child who saved his relatives from the flood in Aklan, what right does she have to cite that as the reason for giving a rehabilitation fund to Western Visayas?"
Baraquiel also stressed that the present administration really needs to have typhoon rehabilitation, especially for an archipelago like the Philippines, which is vulnerable to calamities.
She said one thing good about the Sona of the President is that the people are still alive to listen to her, and to measure for themselves if the she is really speaking the truth, and (in that way), they can form their opinions on their issues.
Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero voiced his disagreement that ordinary citizens are used as "peryahan" because it is the primary duty of the government to help its people and the government does not need to emphasize on these acts of assistance.
Escudero also said the first step to solving a problem is to admit that there is a problem.
"How can we know that there is a problem, when our President does not admit that there's a problem?" he added.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, on the other hand, said the President has matured as a leader.
She commended the President for making "a very strong speech" on the extension of the Agrarian Reform program.
"I think that after so many years in the presidency, she has matured as a leader...she just went ahead with her agenda and all the statements are quantifiable so we can't tell if she is telling the truth," she said.
Santiago added that as a professor, she is giving the President a grade of 1.5 on her speech.
Senator Loren Legarda however declined to give the President a grade, saying "a speech can easily be read and a video can just be edited."
She added that what should be focused on are the poor people outside the gates of the Congress who are suffering from poverty and who are looking to the President to assist them. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (July 29, 2008 issue)
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Arroyo: Expanded VAT stays