Roxas boycotts GMA's SONA, joins street protests

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today called on all Filipinos to look ahead into the future, instead of dwelling on the past as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was expected to do in her last State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Ang pag-uusapan doon sa SONA ay tungkol sa nakaraan. Isang nakaraang inimbento lang at nilagyan ng palamuti. Isang nakaraan kung saan pinaghati-hatian nila ang kayamanan ng ating bansa (Gloria’s SONA is about the past. An invented and adorned past. A past where they split among themselves our country’s riches),” he said in a speech at the assembly of TindigNation in front of the Commission of Human Rights, prior to the multi-sectoral group marching to Batasan.

“Nandito tayo para panindigan ang ating malalim na paniniwala. Na tayo ay isang marangal na lahi. Tayo ay nararapat na magkaroon ng tuwid at tapat na gobyerno na siyang tutulong sa atin (We are here to stand up for our beliefs. That we are a dignified people. That we deserve better governance),” he stressed.

Stressing today’s SONA will be Mrs. Arroyo’s last, the Visayan senator said Filipinos should now begin preparing for the future, "because our destiny is now in our hands."

"Ang tunay na SONA, nasa puso nating lahat. Ang kinabukasan natin, wala roon sa loob ng gusali na puno ng mga pulitiko. Ang kinabukasan natin, narito sa labas, nakabilad sa araw, nagmamartsa sa kalye (The real SONA is in our hearts because our future is not inside that building full of politicians. Our future is here outside, exposed under the scorching sun, marching in the streets)," he said.

"Kasama ninyo ako na naniniwala na ang pag-asa natin ay nasa ating kamay. Huwag po tayong matatakot. Sama-sama po tayo. Lalaban po tayo (I am with you in declaring that hope is in our hands. Do not be afraid. We will fight together)," he stressed.