Kabataan rep wears protest attire vs. political dynasties, corruption
For her first time attending SONA, Co used the skirt she wore during her University of the Philippines Law graduation, with the volunteer artists painting over it. They are Gaia Mauricio of Panday Sining, a youth cultural organization, and Albert Raqueño, a fresh graduate of UP Fine Arts.
The dress features a young Filipina rising from devastating floods to break the seat of power being fought over by local elites propped up by foreign powers, such as the United States and China.
According to a press statement from Kabataan Party-list, the painting is a message of the youth's anger regarding the Philippines' states of calamity, but it also challenges the youth to go beyond resilience and to strike at the political roots of the worsening crisis.
"The youth must rise above the aftermath of disaster, despite still being submerged in floodwaters of social crisis that has swept away basic rights such as education, food security, and other basic needs, and even fundamental principles like justice and accountability," the statement read.
The party-list calls on the new generation to "turn their grief into a fight to end political dynasties and bureaucrat capitalism that turn the government into an instrument for the profit of local elites and their foreign backers."
"Kayo po na nakaupo, tanawin niyo ang tunay na kalagayan ng kabataang Pilipino. Sa mga kapwa ko kabataan, panahon na upang buong tapang na wakasan ang agawan ng upuan ng iilang nagmomonopolyo ng kapangyarihan," Co said. —Nika Roque/Hermes Joy Tunac/MGP, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
China's sea actions are attempts to scare, ‘make an example' of PH —expert
People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warship 164 and China Coast Guard (CCG) ship 3104 are seen in hot pursuit of the Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Suluan, in the waters near Bajo de Masinloc, West Philippine Sea, before they collided into each other, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. RAFFY TIMA/ GMA Integrated News Recent hostile actions from the Chinese navy and coast guard ships at the Bajo de Masinloc seemed to be deliberate attempts to 'make an example' out of Philippine vessels, according to maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal said. In a Balitanghali interview on Tuesday, Batongbacal said that believes China was testing remarks by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. regarding the activation of the mutual defense treaty with the US should someone from the Philippines die due to hostilities in the West Philippine Sea. 'Isa yan sa mga malamang tinitignan nila kung totoo nga tine-testing nila. Pero mas malaki pang intensyon nila ay talagang takutin tayo dahil nga kung sakaling may napatay silang Pilipino, sa tingin nila ay aatras tayo at hindi na tayo lalapit diyan,' he said. (That's probably one of the things they're most likely looking at, and testing if it was true. But their bigger intention is to really scare us, because if they do end up killing a Filipino, they think we will back off and avoid that area.) A China Coast Guard vessel and a Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel collided into each other while in pursuit of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel off Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on Monday. Batongbacal said there was an implication in the PLAN vessel's actions that ended up backfiring on their fellow Chinese vessel. 'Ang nangyari ay yung sarili nilang Coast Guard vessel ang nadisgrasya tuloy. Kung sakaling nasagasaan yung barko, palagay ko mahahati pa nga yun at siguradong lulubog. Sa tingin ko alam naman siguro nila yung implikasyon na yun,' he said. (What happened is that their own Coast Guard vessel ended up getting damaged. If the [smaller PCG] vessel ended up being rammed, I think it would have broken apart and would definitely have sunk. I think they are aware of that implication.) 'Ang tingin ko parang talagang deliberate na agresyon yung ginagawa nila para nga takutin tayo, at siguro ang plano nila ay gawing example yung ating mga kababayan dun sa BRP Suluan kung sakali,' he added. (I think the aggression they're doing seems deliberate to scare us, and I think their plan had been to make an example of our countrymen on the BRP Suluan.) Batongbacal reiterated that China still insists the Philippines is behind hostilities at the West Philippine Sea, which he claimed is ironic as China had deployed vessels far beyond their territories. 'Malinaw naman dito kung sino ang gumagawa ng gulo, sino ang mas malayo sa kaninong lugar. Sila ito halos 1,000 kilometers lagpas na siguro silang malayo sa kanilang lugar tapos sila itong nangaharang at nag-attempt na managasa ng ating mga barko… Hindi talaga kapani-paniwala yung sinasabi nila na tayo ang gumagawa ng gulo. Malinaw na talagang sila ang may kasalanan dito,' he said. (It is clear who is stirring conflict, as they are the ones far from their territory. They are the ones almost 1,000 kilometers past their territories yet they are the ones obstructing and attempting to ram our ships…Their claim that the Philippines is the one causing conflict is really not believable. It is clear that they are at fault here.) Batongbacal said that the presence of the PLAN must be carefully observed and checked if it will become permanent. 'So far naman, satisfied po tayo na tama naman ang ginagawa natin na ina-assert lang natin ang ating karapatan. Mapayapa naman ang ginagawa natin. Hindi tayo nang babangga, hindi tayo nagbabanta sa pamagitan ng mga kanyon o mga water cannon at iba pang paraan,' he added. (So far, we are satisfied that we are doing the right thing as we are only asserting our rights. What we are doing is peaceful. We did not crash into them, we did not threaten them with cannons or water cannons and other ways.) Beijing continues to claim most of the South China Sea, including territories claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines' claims over the South China Sea. However, China refused to acknowledge this decision. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
Airport workers, others seek SC help vs. NAIA concession agreement
Partido Lakas ng Masa national president Leody de Guzman with Atty. Kit Belmonte during the filing of a petition asking the Supreme Court to declare the NAIA PPP Project as unconstitutional. Photo by Joahna Lei Casilao, GMA Integrated News Airport workers, civic organizations, and non-government groups on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to declare the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project as unconstitutional due to the increase of airport-related fees. Through the PPP project, the management of the airport was transferred to the San Miguel-led New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC). In their 37-page petition, they also asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction to prevent the respondents from enforcing the Manila International Airport Authority Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2024, which granted NNIC charge and collect airport-related fees. The petitioners also asked the SC to declare the said MIAA administrative order unconstitutional, illegal, void, and of no effect. 'Kapag hindi na nakaya ng kanilang mga kumpanya ang mga upa diyan, magbabawas ng tao diyan. 'Yan ang cause and effect niyan,' petitioner and Pagkakaisa ng mga Users, Stakeholders, at Obrero ng NAIA or PUSO ng NAIA head secretariat Romeo Sauler said. (When their companies can no longer afford the rent there, they will reduce their workforce there. That is the cause and effect of it.) Sauler believes that even the public will be affected by the project. 'Definitely,' he said. MRO providers 'Saan babawiin ng mga airline companies or mga MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul services) provider 'yang kanilang babayad sa upa. Di ba? So kami, ang sa amin, hindi lang ito para sa mga manggagawa o negosyo na nasa paligid ng airport kung hindi sa mamamayang Pilipino in general,' he added. (Where will the airline companies or MRO providers recover what they pay for rent? So for us, this is not just for the workers or businesses around the airport but for the Filipino people in general.) Terminal fee According to the petitioners, the domestic passenger service charge or terminal fee is expected to increase from P200 to 390 while the international passenger service charge is expected to increase from P550 to P950. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
PH chose to help China despite latest WPS incident — Palace
China Coast Guard vessel 3104, which was chasing the BRP Suluan of the Philippine Coast Guard near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, collides with People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) ship 164 of China on Monday, August 11, 2025. Screenshot from PCG video Malacañang pointed out Tuesday out that Philippine forces chose to help Chinese personnel despite the recent harassment near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). ''Unang-una po, mapapakita natin kung gaano ba ka-strong leader ang ating Pangulo pagdating po sa ganiyang issue. Unang-una po sa nagbanggaan na dalawang Chinese vessels, makikita ninyo po kung papaano ba mamuno ang ating Pangulo dahil kahit na tayo iyong hinahabol ng Chinese vessels ang Philippine Coast Guard, pero ninais pa rin nilang tumulong at magbigay ng ayuda or medical assistance kung kinakailangan ng mga nakasakay sa Chinese vessels na nagbanggaan,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a briefing. (First of all, we can showcase how strong of a leader our President is. When the two Chinese vessels had a collision, the PCG chose to extend assistance even though our own vessel was targeted by the Chinese forces.) ''So, diyan natin makikita na kahit na pakiramdam natin ay tayo iyong naha-harass pero makakatulong pa rin ang mga Pilipino sa oras ng kagipitan,'' the Palace official added. (We can see that even though we are harassed, we can still extend help in times of need.) The flagpole of the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) BRP Suluan was bent after getting hit by a warship of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China during the incident on Monday. The PCG vessel sustained the damage when PLAN 164 had a collision with China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104 as the two Chinese ships chased the Philippine vessel. The PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) were on a mission to distribute aid to local fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) as part of the Kadiwa program. Following the collision, the PCG said it immediately offered support, including assistance with man-overboard recovery and medical aid for any injured CCG crew members. On the other hand, the MRRV 9701 safely escorted the Filipino fishermen to a secure location, the PCG added. Castro reiterated the statement of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. that the Philippine forces would never back out despite the latest harassment from China. ''Sinabi rin ng Pangulo na wala siyang ibibigay na panibagong instruction kundi mananatili pa rin ang pagprotekta sa karapatan ng Pilipinas, sa teritoryo at sa sovereign rights at maritime rights ng Pilipinas,'' Marcos said. (The President said he would not issue a new directive as protecting the Philippines sovereign and maritime rights would remain.) ''At mananatili po tayo doon kung ano po iyong dating ginagawa, patuloy pa rin pong gagawin ng Philippine Coast Guard [ang] pagtulong sa mga mangingisda at pagprotekta sa ating maritime rights,'' he added. (We will continue what we are doing and the Philippine Coast Guard will also continue helping our fishermen and protecting our maritime rights.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
