SONA Protesters tell Aquino: No more excuses

Hundreds gather to protest President Aquino’s 5th State of the Nation Address. 
They say the time for giving him a chance is over.
Pia Ranada reports.

The rally during this year’s State of the Nation Address takes on a new sense of urgency.
It’s President Aquino’s second to the last SONA given during his 4th year in power.
Protesters say their patience is wearing thin.

RENATO REYES JR, SECRETARY-GENERAL, BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN: The time for excuses is over. Now is the time for accountability. Kailangan may managot. (Someone has to be punished.)

Hundreds of protesters come in a spectrum of colors, representing the kaleidoscope of issues they want to raise.
From land reform, to corruption, to poverty.

PIA RANADA, REPORTING: Protesters wonder if his last years will bring change for all Filipinos. The rally is dotted by creative metaphors symbolizing their discontent. We see red ribbons in place of Aquino’s yellow ribbons. Protesters were burning effigies depicting Aquino as the pork barrel king.

Those who believed in him say they’ve been let down.
Comedienne Mae Paner takes the stage in a terno she wore when she still believed in Aquino.

MAE PANER, COMEDIAN: Ano ang nangyari mula noon? Walang tunay na pagbabago. Akala natin magbabago para sa ikabubuti, yun pala ang dulo ng tuwid na daan ay bangin. (What happened since then? There was no real change. We thought things would change for the better but it turns out the end of the straight path is a pit.)

As the president finishes his speech, the police push back the protestors with water from hoses.
Every year protesters push back the barrier that separates them from Congress.
This year they fail.
Pia Ranada, Rappler, Manila.

– Rappler.com

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