Rally in Bacolod City

Coinciding with President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Congress as well as the rallies held Monday in Metro Manila, protest actions were also held in many parts of the country.

More or less 10,000 students, teachers, members of civil society groups and the diocese of Bacolod, activists and other private citizens joined the rally Monday afternoon at the Bacolod City Public Plaza. The protest activity was spearheaded by leaders of the Catholic church in the city.

The church leaders called for a strong people power to bring to the attention of the Arroyo administration their strong opposition against Charter change and constituent assembly.

Thousands marched from the Provincial Capitol Lagoon and the Sacred Heart Seminary to the public plaza early afternoon. Cause-oriented groups and the church leaders expressed worry that Congress would open talks on Charter change during Mrs. Arroyo's SONA.

Even the strong downpour did not stop participants from attending the rally and show their support to the objectives of the protest activity. According to them, they would rather go wet than listen to the president’s SONA which according to them is loaded with promises and false hopes.

In the Bicol region, hundreds of students of Ateneo de Naga University walked out of their campus and were met by other members of activist groups as they joined and held a prayer rally at Plaza Quezon. At the rally, they denounced what they said were unfulfilled promises of the Arroyo administration.

Jaris Vida, secretary general of the Bayan Muna chapter in the area said that the protest is callng to Mrs. Arroyo to forego Charter change. The activist leader said they believe the move is “anti-poor and counterproductive to the general welfare of the country.

Vida also said that the groups would remain vigilant for a “possible declaration of martial law” during Arroyo’s SONA. He added they would be ready should it be declared.

Activist groups in Legazpi also held a similar rally where they burned an effigy of an octopus. The octopus had a face of President Arroyo as well as an image of Malacañang Palace.

The protestors brought the effigy to the Albay provincial capitol and continue their activity in front of Camp Gen. Simeon Ola.

The activists gave a failing grade or a “5” rating to Mrs. Arroyo for allegedly having failed to deliver on her promised programs. They said that Mrs. Arroyo would just be delivering a new set of “empty promises” on her 9th SONA.

They burned the effigy before they ended the protest action.

A protest rally launched by activist groups was also held in Cagayan de Oro City where protestors called for the junking of proposals to change the Constitution and also for Mrs. Arroyo to step down from office.

About a hundred policemen were deployed by city officials to prevent any untoward incident from happening during the protest action.

At least five hundred protestors from different organizations joined a protest rally in Iloilo City as President Arroyo delivered her SONA.

As early as Sunday morning, members of the activist groups from the town of Miag-ao have walked at least 40 kilometers to Iloilo city. Another group of protesters, along with indigenous peoples from Central Panay, also walked from Janiuay to Iloilo city.

Monday morning, the two groups of protesters arrived in the city and held a protest action this Iloilo provincial capitol grounds till afternoon. The protesters said they hoped that the president would state in her SONA the real situation of the country under her administration.

Earlier, the Ilonggo's Movement against Arroyo's Charter Change has challenged Mrs. Arroyo to step down from Malacañang at the end of her term and not to run for any government position in the 2010 election.

At least five hundred protestors from different organizations joined a protest rally in Iloilo City as President Arroyo delivered her SONA.

As early as Sunday morning, members of the activist groups from the town of Miag-ao have walked at least 40 kilometers to Iloilo city. Another group of protesters, along with indigenous peoples from Central Panay, also walked from Janiuay to Iloilo city.

Monday morning, the two groups of protesters arrived in the city and held a protest action this Iloilo provincial capitol grounds till early afternoon. The protesters said they hoped that the president would state in her SONA the real situation of the country under her administration.

Earlier, the Ilonggo's Movement against Arroyo's Charter Change has challenged Mrs. Arroyo to step down from Malacañang at the end of her term and not to run for any government position in the 2010 election.

Before the start of Arroyo’s SONA however, the protestors reportedly had to shorten their program due to a very strong downpour. With reports from Kate Delovieres and Erick Baldo, ABS-CBN News Bicol; Maricel Butardo, ABS-CBN Cagayan de Oro; Jennifer Garcia and Maria Ausente, ABS-CBN Iloilo