‘Portrait of Peace’, not burning effigy, in Duterte Sona
Rallyists march with their murals instead of burning effigies to show their support for President Rodrigo Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address. RAFFY LERMA/Philippine Daily Inquirer
Militant groups on Monday paraded a six-panel mural as they marched to Batasan Hills on Monday to rally in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address (Sona).
This marked the first time Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), the biggest nationwide alliance of militant organizations, did not use a burning effigy as the centerpiece of its Sona rally, aptly themed “Mamamayan, Magkaisa para sa Makabayan at Demokratikong Pagbabago.”
Titled “Portraits of Peace,” the six-piece mural depicts the main themes of the People’s Agenda for Change, a 15-point agenda which Bayan submitted last June 29 to Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo for President Duterte’s review.
These themes include national industrialization, land reform and agricultural development, progressive social policy, sovereignty, human rights and people’s governance.
READ: Militants present 15-point program for Duterte’s first 100 days
“The mural aims to visualize the people’s aspirations for a better society,” Bayan said in a press statement.
“Together they form the picture of the people’s hope for genuine change and a just and lasting peace,” Bayan said.
The mural is a collaboration by artists from Sining Bugkos, Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan (Karatula), Tambisan sa Sining, Ugat Lahi Artists Collective and Sining Kadamay.
Each panel stands 5.5 feet wide and nine feet tall, and also served as a set design for the rallyists’ program throughout the day.
Aside from the murals, members of Bayan’s Southern Tagalog delegation went to Batasan Hills earlier bearing three giant doves made from white cloth, and a Mary Magnificat statue. These served as symbols for their support for the resumption of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front. Jaehwa Bernardo, INQUIRER.net trainee/IDL/rga
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