MANILA – Groups across the Philippines are gearing up for what they promised to be one of the biggest nationwide protests against the Arroyo administration and its efforts to amend the Constitution.

From Makati City, where the rally in the capital will be held, to General Santos City, in Mindanao, Filipinos are making final arrangements for the protest tomorrow, June 10, according to the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), the umbrella organization of people’s organizations.

And Bayan says Wednesday’s mobilizations will just be the beginning. “There will be no let-up in protests,” said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr.

Wednesday’s protests, Reyes said in a statement, is just the “opening salvo” in a series of protests leading up to the Sona, or the State of the Nation Address by Arroyo scheduled in Congress next month.

“The Sona would be a major political battleground insofar as pushing the Con-Ass is concerned. We hope to mobilize what could be the biggest Sona protest in Arroyo’s eight years in office,” Reyes said.

Carol Araullo, Bayan’s chairperson, called on Filipinos to go out in the streets on Wednesday. “Let us not be fooled into complacency by this regime. The threat of charter change and Arroyo staying in power is now more real than ever,” Araullo said.

Araullo said Arroyo’s denials that she would not seek to rule beyond 2010, when her term ends, is “meaningless,” pointing out that Arroyo had lied about her intentions in the past, most notably her promise, made in 2002, not to run for office in 2004.

Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano said Filipinos should protest charter change because “convening the con-ass next month is Ms Arroyo’s last and final push in her bid to achieve political immunity.” Mariano was referring to the constituent assembly, a way for Congress to amend the Constitution.

Last week, Arroyo’s allies in Congress railroaded a resolution that constituted the Lower House as a constituent assembly, much to the consternation of senators, opposition legislators and many Filipinos.

“All roads lead to Ayala Avenue and other urban centers in the country on Wednesday,” Mariano said. “We call on all our regional and provincial chapters to launch simultaneous protests in major urban centers nationwide.”

Already, preparations are underway. The Ayala rally, which will be held at the intersection of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, will feature a 15-minute interfaith service, a comedy skit between characters “Juana Change” and “Pacquito Yu”, the recitation of the Bagong Panatang Makabayan written by National Artist Bienvendio Lumbera, and a photo mosaic of all the legislators who voted or supported House Resolution 1109. Senators have also been invited to attend the protest.

The rally program will be directed by multi-awarded film maker Carlitos Siguion Reyna. It will also feature performances by bands and stage personalities. The program is expected to start at 5 pm up to 8 pm, although protesters are expected to be in Makati as early as 12 noon.

In Baguio, a march rally has been scheduled. It will be led by Tungtungan Ti Umili-Cordillera People’s Alliance and to be participated in by the Catholic bishop of Baguio City, women religious congregations, city officials and local personalities.

In the Southern Tagalong region, protests have been scheduled in Calamba City, Lucena City, Batangas (Batangas City, Nasugbu), Cavite (Bacoor, Dasmariñas and Silang), and in Antipolo City in Rizal province.

In the Bicol region, mobilizations are expected in Sorsogon, where a torch march will start at 5 pm; Naga City, where a march rally and program at Plaza Quinze Martires will take place from 10 am to 3 pm. The rallies will be led by Bayan-Camarines Sur.

In Legazpi City, Bayan-Albay will lead a picket at the Department of Agrarian Reform and at the congressional office of Rep. Al Francis Bichara. This will be followed by a march rally and program in front of the Albay capitol. Also joining the protest action are the Social Action Center in Legazpi City, NGOs and people’s organizations in Albay under the ALPRODEV as well as Bayan member organizations.

In the Visayas, march rallies have been scheduled in Cebu City, to be led by Bayan and other allied groups, as well as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter, and Jesus Is Lord movement and other religious groups. Ricado Cardinal Vidal is expected to join the protest.

Also in Cebu, protesters will converge at 9 am on Wednesday at the Fuente Osmeña. They will then march through Gaisano Metro Colon en route to the Malacañang sa Sugbo, Arroyo’s office in Cebu.

In Tagbilaran City, a rally will be led by Bayan-Bohol and opposition parties and others groups.

In Bacolod City, Bayan-Negros will march beginning 10 am Wednesday. The rally will be attended by Bishop vicente Navarra.

In Iloilo City, the Iloilo Movement Against Arroyo’s Charter Change and Bayan-Panay will spearhead the protest.

In Mindanao, protest marches and rallies have been scheduled in General Santos City at 5 pm.

In Cagayan de Oro City, the rally will start at 9 am up to 2 pm at the Divisoria. This will be led by the People’s March Against Charter Change and Bayan-North Central Mindanao, together with the churches, the academe and members of the opposition parties.

Similar protest actions have been planned for Iligan City, Bukidnon and Davao City.

In the Caraga region, groups have planned protests in Butuan City and Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte; Bayugan City and San Francisco in Agusan del Sur, and Surigao City.

Bulatlat will cover the nationwide protests throughout the day, using real-time and live updates on its website. Read this story for details. (Bulatlat.com / With reports from Ronalyn V. Olea in Manila and Ritche T. Salgado in Cebu City.)

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