Protesters arrive in Tandang Sora in front of St. Peter Chapel as part of the 鈥楶eople鈥檚 Sona鈥� march on Monday, July 24. (Photo by Zacarian Sarao)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Protest against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.鈥檚 State of the Nation address (Sona) drew at least 10,000 people in Metro Manila, said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Monday.
Bayan secretary-general Mong Palatino told that the total so far covers all protesters who participated in the march and those who joined early morning activities.
鈥�10,000. For all the activities since early morning,鈥� said Palatino.
Before converging along Commonwealth Ave. and marching towards Tandang Sora, several progressive groups conducted early morning programs, including a 鈥渮umba protest鈥� held by a teachers鈥� group and a United Labor forum on legislated wage increase in Quezon Memorial Circle at around 7:00 a.m.
Meanwhile, some 2,000 more people were counted in regional protests 鈥� held in Iloilo City, Kalibo, Roxas City, Capiz, Cebu City, Davao City, Naga City, and Baguio City 鈥� bringing the total estimate nationwide to 12,000.
The groups in Quezon City marched along Commonwealth Avenue from technoHub to Tandang Sora around 10:30 a.m.
It featured leaders of various people鈥檚 organizations leading the march sharing a united call: 鈥淒agdag na sahod, kabuhayan, at pagkain sa mesa! Itigil ang karahasan! Kapakanan ng masa, hindi Maharlika!鈥�
(Extra wages, livelihood, and food on the table! Stop the violence! The welfare of the masses, not Maharlika!)
has also requested crowd estimates from police but has yet to receive a response.