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People's SONA 2009 in Baguio City

July 27, 2009

Video of SONA 2009 by Pinoy Weekly and May Day Productions

Photos courtesy of Noel Godinez


Institute for Research on Education and Development 125D Chico Street, Project 2, Quezon City iread@yahoo.com July 27, 2009 Reference: Diana Directo, Spokesperson Metro Manila Youth Reject Charter Change A survey involving 2000 youth respondents in Metro Manila, revealed that 96.25% of the youth are not in favor of Charter Change that would extend the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Those who participated in the survey are students, professionals and out-of-school youth from different schools, communities, and companies. It would be remembered that during the last session of the members of the House of Representatives, the matter of forming a Constitutional Assembly was approved of hastily. "This (Constitutional Assembly) has been subject to varied speculations from all sectors of the society, and the data that has been gathered serves as proof of the youth's disapproval," Diana Directo, Spokesperson of IREAD said. 85.83% of the respondents believe that Charter Change is not beneficial to national development while 14.17% believe otherwise. 22.16% would accept Charter Change if the President steps down. On the other hand, 77.57% would not approve of it given that condition. The survey was conducted by the Institute for Research on Education and Development (IREAD), a non-stock, non-profit, independent youth institution whose primary objective is to consolidate existing and future macro and micro data on sectoral, national and global developments and concerns affecting the youth. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had her last State of the Nation Address last July 27, 2009, the ninth year of her administration which has been studded with criticism and controversies, and this also marks the start of another phase of Charter Change discussions in the House of Representatives. In the wake of the recent events, IREAD has conducted this survey to gather the youth's opinion on the Charter Change. The survey also aims to determine the youth's general outlook and future probable courses of action. Directo indicated the importance of knowing the pulse of the youth. “Cliché as it may seem, history has proven that the youth has always been the catalyst for change.” “Some respondents even wrote comments on the survey forms. It is a proof that young people are aware of what's happening. They are concerned about national development. Many are still interested in making changes especially on matters that directly affect them,” she pointed out. A surprising feedback came from a 13-year old high school student. He said, “Charter change will only serve GMA's interests. I do not agree with Charter Change and I also oppose term extension for GMA. Her efforts to improve the situation of the youth sector are not good enough.” “According to the data that we have gathered, an overwhelming majority of 85.63% believe that Macapagal-Arroyo's nine-year administration was not helpful to the youth sector. Only 14.13% think otherwise,” Directo said.#










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			Nasa ibaba ang dalawang minutong talumpati ni Roland Tolentino, tagapagsalita ng Pagbabago, People's Movement for Change at Dean ng UP College of Mass Communication, sa nakaraang SONA ng Mamamayan sa Commonwealth. Angkinin ang Pagbabago! Talumpati sa SONA 2009 Sino sa atin ang gusto ng tunay na pagbabago? Walang pagbabago kung 70% ng mamamayan--mas marami ang ayaw na—ang di na naniniwala kay Arroyo. Walang pagbabago kung ikasiyam nang inuulit-ulit ang dispalsipikadong talumpati sa Konggreso, na parang ang tatanga nating lahat. Walang pagbabago kung may tulad ng labingtatlong taong Marinela na nagpapatiwakal, nagbigti kaysa humingi ng pam-project sa eskwelahan sa amang kakakurampot lang ang kita. Walang pagbabago kung may tulad pa rin ni Melissa Roxas, dinampot, tinortyur, pinakawalan ng militar, pero pinagbibintangan pa rin na mga NPA ang may kagagawan. Walang pagbabago kung ang bagong panahon sa bansa ay di na tag-ulan o tag-araw kundi ang klima ng taggutom o climate of hunger, na isang beses na lamang nakakakain ang mga pamilya sa bawat araw. Walang pagbabago hanggang nananatili si Arroyo sa kapangyarihan. Mamamayan ang mapagpasya, bayan ang huhusga. Kailangang matiyak na mawala si Arroyo sa susunod na taon. May pagbabago dahil may tulad ni Melissa Roxas na kahit may ligalig, handang harapin ang mga nagpahirap sa kanya sa detensyon, at ipaglaban ang kanyang karapatan at iba pang nabiktima ang kanilang karapatang pantao. May pagbabago dahil may tulad ng mga unyonista ng Triumph International na ipapasara ang pabrika sa Taguig, na patuloy na ipinaglalaban ang kanilang mga karapatan. May pagbabago dahil nandito tayo ngayon taon-taon, daan-daang kumilos para sa tunay na SONA ng bayan. Angkinin natin ang pagbabago. Karapatan nating baguhin ang opisyal at gobyerno tungo sa tunay na maglilingkod sa interes ng mamamayan. Kailangan nating itatag ang pagbabagong aakda ng kinabukasang ikakabuti ng lahat: reporma sa lupa, edukasyon, trabaho, katarungan, pambansang industrialisasyon, makabayang kultura. Sa natitirang 345 araw ni Arroyo, tiyakin natin na siya at ang kanyang mga alipores ay mawala. Itatag ang goberyno ng mamamayan. Itatag natin ang ating pambansang kinabukasan.









NEWS RELEASE July 27, 2009 For Reference: REP. LIZA LARGOZA MAZA 0920-9134540 Francis Uyanguren (Public Information Officer) 0915-9329407 GMA’S SONA, A LEGACY OF POVERTY- LIZA MAZA “We will neither participate in weaving Con-Ass nor listen to her windbags of deception. The real state of the nation, with most Filipinos suffering from poverty, will never be discussed within the red carpet hallways of Batasan nor will it be exemplified by Mrs. Arroyo’s own list of so called achievements and legacy.” Thus said Assistant Minority leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Liza Maza today as she joined progressive partylist Reps. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela, Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño, and Neri Javier Colmenares, Anakpawis Reps. Rafael Mariano and Joel Maglunsod, and Kabataan partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino in boycotting GMA’s ninth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA) and instead rallied against Arroyo’s plot for term extension in a nationwide protest. “Things are just getting bad to worse under Arroyo’s rule. For the past nine years, the Filipino people have severely suffered. And while conditions worsen, ordinary people are made to carry the burden of Arroyo’s so called economic fundamentals in the form of more taxes and fees,” Maza said. Citing reports from the National Statistics Office (NSO) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Gabriela solon said that since 2001, the jobs crisis has been unabated from 8.34 million to more than 15.6 million Filipinos currently suffering from unemployment and underemployment contrary to Gloria’s claim that she has generated 1.5 million jobs. “There are at least 269 workers losing their jobs per day and this condition explains the exodus of OFWs forced to work in those foreign lands,” Maza stressed. According to Maza, the rising unemployment has been intensified by skyrocketing prices of commodities and utilities. For instance, the price of LPG has increased from P192 in January 2001 to P472 in June 2009, price of rice has doubled from P17.51 per kilo in 2001 to at least P30 per kilo at present, and the price of diesel has tripled from P12.62 per liter to at least P33 per liter now. Maza also emphasized the widening gap between the minimum wage and the daily cost of living. While the minimum waged is nailed down to P382 per day, the daily cost of living has increased from P509 in 2001 to P917 at present, leaving the workers with at least P535 deficit in their daily budget. “Mrs. Arroyo will surely be leaving a legacy of a swelling foreign debt that will be passed on to every Filipino, while she has enriched herself abundantly, with a declared wealth in 2008 of P144 Million from P67 Million in 2001,” Maza said. While Arroyo prides herself on her so called economic resiliency amidst the global financial crisis, Maza refuted this by exposing PGMA’s accumulated foreign debt that has reached more than $26 Billion at present from $20.3 Billion in 2001. “If PGMA would want to salvage at least an ounce of dignity, she better decide to terminate plans for charter change through Con-Ass and all other aggressive measures to further hold on power. Impudently pushing for these self-serving measures will only lead to more ruin and would fan the flames of her own legacy of poverty, not to mention her being the most isolated and unpopular leader of our land,” Maza concluded.### -- Gabriela Women's Party National Headquarters 118 Scout Rallos, Brgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City Telefax: (632) 9295342 Email: gabrielawomensparty@gmail.com Website: www.gabrielawomensparty.net Office of Gabriela Rep. Liza Largoza Maza Rm 309 South Wing Bldg., House of Representatives, Quezon City Telefax: (632) 9316268 Email: lizalmaza@yahoo.com Office of Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan Rm. 601 South Wing Bldg. House of Representatives, Quezon City Telefax: (632) 9315586 E-mail: repluzilagan@gmail.com __._,_.___











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