People’s SONA denounces ‘worsened poverty, widespread joblessness’ in PH

People’s SONA denounces ‘worsened poverty, widespread joblessness’ in PH

Filipino-Canadian groups in Vancouver hold a protest rally in time for the State of the Nation Address of President Marcos. They said life has worsened in the past two years under the Marcos administration.
Photos: Nestor P. Burgos Jr.

By Nestor P. Burgor Jr.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – Filipino-Canadian groups held protest actions here on Sunday (Monday in Manila) in time for the State of the Nation Address of President Marcos.

Displaying placards and streamers, around 120 protesters led by the British Columbia chapter of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)assembled at the Metrotown Skytrain Station in Burnaby City where they held a “People’s Sona”.

Speakers from various groups, including non-Filipino solidarity organizations, took turns denouncing the Marcos administration for what they said was worsened poverty, soaring of cost of basic commodities and widespread joblessness.

“Millions of Filipinos are struggling to meet their daily needs. Life has drastically worsened after two years under the Marcos administration,” said Jaela Villegas, vice chair of Bayan Canada.

Villegas said Filipinos are also struggling to help their families in the Philippines.

“We need to send more money and other assistance to our families because we know that prices of food and groceries, school fees and other necessities have become unaffordable,” she said.

Protest participants also danced and sang to show their protest. They displayed a makeshift banca, to depict the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea, but called an end to the intervention of both China and the United States.

“We are made a pawn between the struggle for power and selfish interests of two powerful countries and the Marcos administration is kowtowing to the United States and conniving to heighten tensions and justify an  armed confrontation with China,” Villegas said.

The protesters also condemned the Marcos administration for the continued implementation of the Philippine labour-export policy which they said continues to drive Filipinos to go abroad due to the lack of job opportunities in the country. The policy was implemented in 1974 during the administration of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the namesake and father of the President.

“After 50 years of the Labour Export Policy…12 million Filipinos are now abroad, and nearly 7,000 leave the country daily to find work in other countries,” said Mylene Rosario, a member of the migrant workers group Migrante BC.

Rosario, a restaurant worker, said life for most overseas workers is difficult and many experience abuse, exploitation and prolonged separation from their families.

“We are hoping that there will be jobs in the Philippines so no one will be forced to go out of the country to find work,” she told reporters at the sidelines of the protest rally.

Participants displayed photographs of activists killed and arrested during the Duterte and Marcos administrations.

“Human rights violations have been unabated for the past two years and no justice has been given to those killed in the previous administration,” Villegas said.

Similar protest actions were held in the provinces of Alberta and Manitoba and the cities of Toronto and Ottawa in Ontario, and in Montreal City in Quebec.

Photographs of activists and human rights defenders killed and arrested during the Duterte and Marcos administrations are displayed at the protest rally.