News Release
July 18, 2008

Youth enjoins public to 'rise up' vs. price hikes, join People's SONA

DAVAO CITY--Member organizations, student councils and campus publications under youth alliance Youth ACT Now! (Youth for Accountability and Truth Now!) and i.defy in Davao city hold nationwide Youth Action Day.

The said youth action will be the second coordinated nationwide activity of different youth and student groups after their successful Youth Action Day last July 10.

The group here rallied in front of the University of Mindanao Bolton campus with a mounted freedom wall that enjoined the youth and Dabawenyos to express if the people felt the "kaunlaran" Malacanang is expected to highlight in July 28th's SONA

"In today's protest we would like to show that with the soaring prices of rice, oil, tuition and school fees and other basic commodities, Arroyo's SONA will again be full of empty promises, moreso lies and imagined economic improvements," said Karlos Manlupig, spokesperson of Anakbayan Southern Mindanao.

Class walkouts vs. price hikes

Students from UP, PUP, UST, Adamson, FEU, De La Salle, College of St. Benilde, Lyceum, Letran, PLM, Trinity University, PCU, GAUF, St. Scholastica, Mapua, UP Manila, Jose Rizal University, TIP, PSBA, Ateneo de Manila, Miriam College, Sta. Isabel, PNU, St. Paul University, Arellano University, EARIST and MLQU will be sending their contingents today's youth rally.

Multi-sectoral youth

The student protesters will be joined by organizations led by the National Union of Students of the Philippines, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Student Christian Movement, Kabataang Pinoy, League of Filipino Students, Anakbayan, KARATULA, Gabriela-youth, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, League of Students for the Environment, Youth Revolt, Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan, peasant group NNARA-youth and Bayan Muna-youth, as well as out-of-school youth from urban poor communities.

Rise up!

The youth protesters will be holding simultaneous walkout protests in their respective schools and areas by lunch time today before converging in Plaza Miranda for a 'festival of protest' with the theme, 'Kabataan at bayan, mag-aklas! (Youth and people, rise up!)'.

The youth protesters will reiterate their demands to scrap the VAT on oil and petroleum products and repeal the Oil Deregulation Law. They will also appeal for higher wages for their parents and enjoin the public to hold the Arroyo administration accountable for corruption and state neglect.

The main program will feature rap acts, graffiti artists and rock bands. First Quarter Storm veterans will also share the stage with student and youth leaders.

From Plaza Miranda, the youth protesters will march towards Mendiola Bridge.

The Youth Action Day will culminate with a torch parade towards Mehan Garden in Manila where a rock concert will ensue.

Nationwide

Students from schools and universities in Southern Tagalog are also expected to come to Manila to join the protests.

Protest actions and activities are also set in Metro Baguio, Negros and Cebu.

More and bigger youth protests are expected to snowball in time for the People's SONA on July 28. ###


For reference:

NISA OPALLA KARLOS JUAN MANLUPIG
Spokesperson, i.defy Spokesperson, Anakbayan Southern Mindanao
09298629893 09108124204