2025 July 28

Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines

Text and Photos by Galileo de Guzman Castillo

 

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – On Monday, July 28, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is scheduled to present a comprehensive overview of his administration’s key accomplishments and achievements, as well as the plans and priorities of the government in the last three years under the current regime. Marcos, Jr., halfway through his six-year term, is also in legacy mode and seeks to temper his administration’s plummeting satisfaction rating amidst an escalating political feud.

 

Against the backdrop of the recently concluded Philippine Midterm Elections in May (in which most of the administration-backed candidates lost), the recent Supreme Court ruling that declared the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional, and a recent spate of storms and massive flooding that hit the country (that put a spotlight on budget priorities and grand corruption), Marcos, Jr.—who is also battling a looming lame duck status—will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Ahead of Marcos, Jr.’s fourth SONA, hundreds of activists, Indigenous people, peasants, fisherfolk, women, students, and the youth under the banner of In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND)—a grassroots movement of more than 70 individual and organizational members based in the Philippines and internationally—marched along the Commonwealth Avenue to deliver the Peoples’ SONA—the true State of the Nation through the perspectives, experiences, and lived realities of peoples and communities.

On the streets, several sectoral groups, civil society organizations, and peoples’ movements in various struggles called for real solutions to the multiple crises of poverty, hunger, inflation, corruption, climate crisis—and demanded accountability, justice, and peace. iDEFEND also issued the following statement (in Filipino) and analysis of the three years of the Marcos-Duterte administration: “Igiit ang gobyernong may pananagutan!” (Insist on an accountable government!) “Labanan ang krisis sa kabuhayan at karapatan!” (Struggle against the crisis on livelihoods and rights!): https://idefend.ph/news/statements/igiit-ang-gobyernong-may-pananagutan-labanan-ang-krisis-sa-kabuhayan-karapatan

 

Jaybee Garganera, Alyansa Tigil Mina (Alliance Against Mining):

“Ito na ang pang-apat na SONA [ni Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.] at napakanipis ng pagbanggit at pagpapahalaga sa kalikasan pero napakakapal ng kaniyang pagbabantay at pagsuporta sa mga interes ng mga korporasyon na sumisira sa kalikasan. Nagsama-sama ang mga dinastiya, ang mga minero, ang mga korporasyon para sirain ang kalikasan sa ngalan ng kita. Dismayado ang mga komunidad dahil patuloy na nagbubulagbulagan at nagbibingi-bingihan ang administrasyong Marcos.”

“This is the fourth SONA [of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.] but there is very little mention and respect for the environment, and in contrast, there is a lot of support for the interests of corporations that destroy the environment. The dynasties, the mining companies, and the corporations have come together to destroy the environment in the name of profit. The communities are frustrated because the Marcos administration continues to turn a blind eye and turn a deaf ear on their demands.”

 

Jor Viray, Lilak (Purple Action for Indigenous Women’s Rights):

“Paulit-ulit nating naririnig ang Bagong Pilipinas – isang lumang sistema na may baong lumang dahas. Kung kaya’t nandito ang halos 60 katutubong kababaihan kasama ang Lilak, upang ikwento ang tunay na State of the Nation—ay State of Calamity. Ang lupaing ninuno ng mga katutubo ay patuloy na kinakamkam, mga gubat nilang sagrado kinakalbo ng mina, ang karapatan nilang mabuhay ng payapa at may dignidad, binabaha ng banta ng red-tagging, militarisasyon, at karahasan.”

“We hear over and over again about the ‘New Philippines’ – an old system that brings with it old violence. That is why almost 60 indigenous women are here, including Lilak, to tell the true State of the Nation—a State of Calamity. The ancestral domains and lands of the indigenous people are continuously being seized, their sacred forests are being deforested, their right to live in peace and dignity is being threatened by red-tagging, militarization, and violence.”

 

Rachel Tahay, Indigenous woman from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM):

“Narito po kami upang ipaabot sa gobyerno ang tuloy-tuloy na pagpasok ng mga mapanirang minahan sa aming mga lupaing ninuno. Alam po natin kapag ito ay nasa ating mga lugar ay maaapektuhan ang ating mga kabuhayan, lalo na ang mga kababaihan na siyang nag-aaruga sa kanilang mga pamilya.”

“We are here to inform the government about the continued entry of destructive mining into our ancestral domains and lands. We know that when these are in our areas, our livelihoods will be affected, especially those of women who are the ones who take care of their families.”

 

Joshua Peralta, Youth for Nationalism and Democracy:

“Nakakalungkot isipin na ang laki-laking pondo ang inilalaan ng pamahalaan para sa kanyang giyera, para sa kanyang militar—272 billion pesos—para gawing world class armed forces ang Pilipinas. Pero bakit mismo ang mga kabataan—na siyang tagapagtaguyod at tagapagmana ng ating lipunan, at ang itinakda ng konstitusyon na maging bahagi ng nation-building ay patuloy na binabarat, tinitipid, at binabawasan ng badyet?”

“It deplorable that the government allocates huge funds for its war, for its military – 272 billion pesos—to make the Philippines a world class armed force. But why are the youth – who are the promoters and inheritors of our society, who are set by the Constitution to be part of nation-building—constantly being short-changed, and suffering from austerity and budget cuts?”

 

Paolo Ladrido, Dakila – Metro Manila & Rizal (Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism):

“Dakila stands with the Filipino people in calling out President Marcos, Jr.’s continued inability to meet the standard of delivering real meaningful change. Sa madaling salita: bitin. Malaking pangako pero kulang na kulang sa totoong ginhawa para sa mga Pilipino (In short: the government has fallen short on its promises. Big on rhetoric but far short of genuine change for Filipinos.)

 

Joseph Purugganan, Focus on the Global South:

“Ngunit sa gitna ng krisis at kalamidad, sa gitna ng unos, ay sisikat din ang araw. Sa liwanag ay makikitang muli ng taong bayan ng buong linaw kung paanong ang ating interes ay hindi isinusulong ng mga dinastiya, at ng mga korap na pulitika, at lalong hindi ng maka-korporasyong mga polisiyang pang-ekonomiya. Nasa ating kamay, hindi sa kanila, ang ating lakas upang isulong ang ating kinabukasan.”

“But in the midst of crisis and calamity, in the midst of the storm, the sun will also rise. And in the light, the people will once again see with full clarity how our interests are not advanced by dynasties, and corrupt politics, and especially not by pro-corporate economic policies. Our future lies in our own strength to advance—in our own hands and not theirs.”

 

DJ Janier, Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (Movement for National Democracy):

“Pinagmamalaki [ni Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.] ang isang pambihirang deal sa Estados Unidos. Ang hindi niya sinasabi diumano ang kapalit ng taripang ibinaba. Ang kapalit ay ang seguridad at soberanya ng bansa. Tayo ngayon ay nagkakanlong na ng doseng base militar na ginagamit ng kano at iba pang mga tropang kaalyado ng kano at balak pang magkaroon ng Subic Ammunition Depot, ng shipbuilding facility sa Davao region, at ship refueling [facility] sa Palawan.”

“[Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.] boasts about an extraordinary deal with the United States. What he doesn’t mention is the price tag for the supposed lowered tariffs. The price tag is the country’s security and sovereignty. We are now sheltering a dozen military bases used by the United States and other US-allied troops—and are also planning to build an Ammunition Depot in Subic, a shipbuilding facility in the Davao region, and ship refueling [facility] in Palawan.”

 

Edel Hernandez, Medical Action Group:

“Ngayon ay zero ang budget natin sa Philhealth, na tulong sa ating mahihirap. Tayo ngayon ay may mataas na bilang na ayuda, dahil pinapaasa tayo sa tulong. Tayo ay tinanggalan na ng sapat na pondo, kasama ang pagkawala ng 60 bilyong piso na pondo ng Philhealth, na inilipat ng Department of Finance na sobrang pondo raw.”

“Now our budget for Philhealth, which is much needed insurance for those who are in need, is zero. We now have a high number of aid recipients, because we are made to rely on aid. We have been deprived of sufficient funds, including the loss of 60 billion pesos in Philhealth funds, which the Department of Finance transferred as they claimed surplus funds.”

 

Jelen Paclarin, Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau:

“Sumisigaw tayo ng hustisya para sa mga biktima ng war on drugs ni [Rodrigo] Duterte at higit sa lahat, sumisigaw tayo ng hustisya para litisin si Sara Duterte. Tayo ay nalulungkot sa ginawang desisyon ng Supreme Court—sa kanilang pag-overreach—sa paggawa ng desisyon na lampas sa kanilang trabaho o sa nakatokang trabaho sa kanila na ibinigay ng konstitusyon. Mas inuna nila ang technicality sa kaso ni Sara Duterte kaysa sa interes ng mamamayan.”

“We cry out for justice for the victims of [Rodrigo] Duterte’s war on drugs and above all, we cry out for justice to hold Sara Duterte to account. We are saddened by the Supreme Court’s decision—their judicial overreach—in issuing a ruling that went beyond their mandate under the Constitution. They prioritized technicalities in the Sara Duterte case over the interests of the people.”

 

Romeo Roxas, Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng Mangingisda – Pilipinas (Progressive Alliance of Fisherfolk in the Philippines):

“Narito po ako ngayon upang ipahayag kung gaano kalaki ang epekto ng reklamasyon dito sa Bulacan at sa buong Metro Manila—na nagdudulot ng baha—ginagawa nilang kalupaan ang karagatan, kung saan kumukuha ng isda ang mga mangingisda, na nagdadala ng pagkain sa ating hapagkainan. Salamat sa mga magsasaka na naririto ngayon – katuwang sila ng mga mangingisda sa pagbibigay ng pagkain sa ating lipunan. Napakalaki ng ating mga lupain. Napakalawak at napakaraming pulo ng ating bansa. Kayang-kaya nating magkaroon ng soberanya sa pagkain.”

“I am here today to express how big the negative impact of reclamation is here in Bulacan and throughout Metro Manila. Reclamation has caused massive flooding as its proponents turn the ocean into land, the ocean where fisherfolk catch fish to bring food to our table. Thank you to the farmers who are here today—in solidarity with us fisherpeople in providing food to our society. Our lands are so vast. Our country is so vast and has so many islands. We can certainly achieve food sovereignty.”

 

Arjay Barrios, Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.:

“Kami ay nananawagan sa administrasyong ito na bigyang pananagutan ang mga minahan na lubhang nakasira sa ating kalikasan. Nananawagan po kami na bigyang pansin ang ating mga environmental defenders na nakakaranas ng red tagging, threats, at harassment. Nananawagan din po kami na suportahan ang pagpasa ng Rights of Nature Bill and Alternative Minerals Management Bill upang maprotektahan hindi lamang ang karapatan ng tao, kundi na rin ang karapatan ng kalikasan.”

“We call on this administration to hold accountable the mining companies that have severely damaged our environment. We demand that the government pay serious attention to our environmental defenders who are experiencing red-tagging, threats, and harassment. We call on the government to support the passage of the Rights of Nature Bill and Alternative Minerals Management Bill to not only protect human rights but also the rights of nature.”

 

Noel, Community Organizers Multiversity (CO Multiversity):

“Ang gusto naming maralita ay isang pabahay na may maaasahan kaming seguridad dito, na kami’y makakain, at magkakaroon ng maayos na paninirahan, maayos na buhay. Isang pabahay na maglilingkod sa aming mahihirap. Hindi pabahay para sa mga sangkatutak na mga politiko at kontraktor na gagatasan lamang ang mga mahihirap. Mula pa sa panahon ng matandang Marcos kami ay nakikibaka, ngayon sa batang Marcos ay patuloy pa rin kaming makikibaka.”

“What we, poor people, want is a housing that we can count on, one that is secure, one where we can eat, and one where we can have a decent place to live and where we can have a decent life. A housing that will genuinely serve the poor. Not housing for a bunch of politicians and contractors who will only take advantage of the poor. We have been struggling since the time of the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., we continue struggling today under the regime of his son Marcos, Jr.”

 

Jhun Pascua, Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid (National Union of Patriotic Peasants):

“Ngayon natin nararanasan na ang mga taga-likha ng pagkain ay siya ngayo’y walang makain. Problema sa pagkain, problema sa lupa, at pandarahas sa kanayunan ang palaging nararanasan ng ating mga magbubukid sa kasalukuyan. Sa halip na lutasin ng ating gobyerno ang malalim na ugat ng suliranin sa ating pagkain, ang kanyang mga binibigay para sa mga magsasaka ay mga programa [tulad ng Rice Tariffication Law / Rice Trade Liberalization] na mas lalo’t higit na nagsasadlak sa kahirapan at kagutuman ng mga magbubukid.”

“Today, we are witnessing and experiencing the tragedy of food producers—who are now ironically the ones who have nothing to eat. Food crisis, land crisis, and violence in the countryside are what our peasants are constantly experiencing today. But instead of solving the deep roots of our food crisis, what our government is ‘providing’ for the peasants are programs [like the Rice Tariffication Law / Rice Trade Liberalization] that further plunge them into poverty and hunger.”

 

Judy Pasimio, In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement:

“Lupaing ninuno, depensahan, ipaglaban! Dinastiya at pagmimina, tutulan, wakasan! Sigaw ng mga nanay, itigil ang korapsyon! Pass the Rights of Nature Bill! Reklamasyon, huwag payagan! Kalikasan, ipaglaban! Karapatang pantao, ipaglaban! Sa loob ng tatlong taon ni Bongbong Marcos Jr., nakita na natin at narinig—sa mga pahayag ngayong umaga—na wala siyang interes na harapin at tugunan ang mga pangangailangan at kapakanan ng mga mamamayan.”

“Defend and fight for our ancestral domains and lands! End and oppose dynasties and mining! Mothers’ demand a stop to corruption! Pass the Rights of Nature Bill! Do not allow reclamation! Defend and fight for nature! Defend and fight for human rights! In the three years of Bongbong Marcos Jr., we have time and time again seen and heard—including in the statements this morning—that he has no interest in addressing the needs and welfare of the people.”

 

 

Message from Raphael Baladad, Focus on the Global South:

 

I am Togs Baladad of Focus on the Global South. We expect Bong Bong Marcos (BBM) to once again emphasize in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) the important role of corporations as partners and main drivers of the country’s development. But on the other hand,  it is also quite clear that the interests of  basic sectors like farmers, fishers and indigenous people’s, who continue to face  so-called “development aggression” continue to be ignored and marginalized. Furthermore,  corporations are becoming more powerful and influential under this adminstration, dictating and pushing for policies that benefit their interests.

We demand an end to corporate bias and capture of policies and call for the strengthening of mechanisms for people’s participation and decision-making on the economy  at different levels. We are also calling on Congress to strengthen regulations and mechanisms on corporate accountability to ensure that those responsible for environmental harms and human rights violations are made liable for these crimes.