Invitation to People's SONA

 

"Woe to those who enact evil statutes, and to those who continually record unjust decisions, so as to deprive the needy of justice, and rob the poor of My people of their rights... Now what will you do in the day of punishment, and in the devastation which will come from afar?" (Isaiah 10:1-3)

 

Everyday, Filipinos are overburdened by the consequences of government's enactment of evil statutes and unjust decisions.

 

SONA 2008: A LITANY OF ARROYO'S UNFULFILLED PROMISES

 

Food in every table. Poverty reduction. Job generation. Strong Republic. First-World country within 20 years… and so on…

 

These were the grand promises of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that have been highlighted in her speeches at the opening of Congress in the last seven years. This coming July 28, a rehash of these promises is expected in GMA's 8^th State of the Nation Address (SONA).

 

Contrary to the government's campaign banner "Ramdam ang Kaunlaran," the most basic needs of the people are largely inaccessible. Filipinos standing in long lines for a few kilos of rice have become a familiar sight. Instead of 'dramatically reduced poverty,' the poor are poorer and even middle class Filipinos are more economically insecure.

 

In the face of people's protests over high prices, Arroyo found the perfect excuse, "While the high price of oil is a global issue outside the control of the government, we have nevertheless taken and will continue to take actions to reduce the pain on our people of these high prices." In the first place, it is the duty of government to ensure food security and regulate prices especially of vital industries like oil. Arroyo's adherence to import liberalization and oil deregulation has forsaken such duty. While global monopoly control over vital resources and industries is certainly our cause for condemnation, the Arroyo government is no less accountable for the unjust hikes in food and fuel prices under its all-out deregulation and liberalization schemes.   

 

With her latest trip to the US, Arroyo and her minions left a nation struck with tragedy to engage in business meetings purportedly to further expand foreign investments in and trade with the Philippines and to add new jobs. Addressing Filipino migrant workers, Arroyo claimed, "Not a day goes by that my administration is not fighting for the interests of our OFWs somewhere in the world." In reality, thousands of OFWs suffering problems and facing death rows have been neglected by this government which has profited the most from billions of OFW remittances.

 

After Arroyo's Labor day announcement of P20 wage hike for Metro Manila workers and directive for regional wage boards to fast-track regional wage hikes, no real hike was implemented. The underpaid and overworked Filipinos remain at the margins with ever decreasing real incomes vis-à-vis soaring prices of basic commodities and public utilities.   

 

After 20 years of failure to break up land monopoly and truly liberate farmers from feudal bondage, Arroyo and the landlord-dominated Congress insist on extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) instead of the alternative Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB). This government is also consistent in offering our mineral-rich lands, including ancestral domain of indigenous peoples, for the large-scale plunder of mining transnationals.    

 

The government claimed that it is doing its best to address the human rights crisis during the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review on the Philippines. In reality, state-sponsored rights violations continue with impunity. Justice has not been rendered to the hundreds of victims of extra-judicial killings, many of whom were vocal critics of government corruption, human rights defenders and advocates of genuine land reform, just wages and trade union rights, and other fundamental socio-economic rights.

 

More lies will be woven by the office of the President to cover up Arroyo's accountability on the country's ever worsening economic and political crisis. But the people will not be deceived by these perennial lies and cover up after cover up.  

 

Call to Action

 

While Arroyo projects herself as a leader anointed by God, in reality she consistently ignores the cries of anawim, the poor of Yahweh, for affordable food, land, decent wages, education and basic social services to ensure dignity for every Filipino.

 

As we offer prayers to deliver the Filipino people from this evil presidency, we must also offer our presence in the people's concerted efforts to resist and topple the source of all evil statutes and unjust decisions that enslave them. If we are to be faithful to the mission to follow Christ, we must go out of the comforts of the churches, convents, seminaries and retreat houses. We are called to live with the poor and journey with them in reclaiming the fullness of life that has been denied them by the corrupt government.

 

While Arroyo's SONA speech will be loudly applauded by her allies in Congress, let us join the multitude of Filipinos in protest centers nationwide to denounce government's false claims of economic progress and political stability. Let us hold the Arroyo regime accountable for every hungry child, landless farmer, exploited worker, displaced communities and hundreds of disappeared, imprisoned and killed, and millions of victims of systemic corruption, economic injustice and political repression. 

 

On July 28, let us collectively express outrage at the ever worsening conditions under the anti-poor, corrupt, fascist and puppet Arroyo regime. Let us all raise our voices for truth, justice and genuine change and for the ouster of the biggest thief of all thieves. 

 

OUST THE CORRUPT US - ARROYO REGIME!

 

JOIN THE PEOPLE'S SONA

9:00 am, Monday - July 28, 2008

Assembly: along Commonwealth Avenue, across Puregold – Luzon