People's SONA 2026: Artworks, effigies spotlight protest issues

Towering effigies, colorful banners, and symbolic artworks took center stage at the People’s State of the Nation Address on Monday as thousands of protesters marched along Commonwealth Avenue for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address.

Various progressive organizations converged near the Batasang Pambansa Complex carrying placards and oversized installations that organizers said reflected the issues they wanted the administration to address.

Among the most prominent was a giant caricature of United States President Donald Trump, which protesters carried through the streets alongside banners rejecting Pax Silica, a US-led initiative aimed at strengthening artificial intelligence supply chains.

Several placards read “Reject Pax Silica” and “Pax Silica ni Trump, ibasura!” while protesters chanted against what they described as increasing foreign influence in the country.

Another towering effigy featured caricatures mounted on top of oversized books bearing words such as “kurikulum,” “kontraktwalisasyon,” and “kanluran,” reflecting protesters’ criticism of issues affecting the education sector.

Teacher groups marched behind the installation carrying shield-shaped placards with messages including “Defend Academic Freedom,” “Hands Off Our Teachers,” and “Itaguyod ang Makabayang Edukasyon.”

Other sectors also highlighted their advocacies through banners and artworks.

Farmer groups called for genuine land reform, with placards reading “Hacienda Luisita ibigay sa magsasaka,” while Indigenous Peoples advocates carried signs expressing support for Aeta communities.

Labor organizations pushed for wage increases, displaying banners calling for a ₱1,200 national minimum wage, while women’s organizations marched in coordinated pink shirts carrying streamers calling for better social services and livelihoods.

Several protest signs also urged the government to address corruption, rising prices, human rights concerns, and environmental issues.

The annual protest effigy has long been a fixture of the People’s SONA, with artists and activists using satire and symbolism to convey political messages and amplify the demands of different sectors.

Aside from the visual installations, Monday’s protest featured speeches, cultural performances, and marches involving students, workers, farmers, teachers, transport groups, women’s organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and other progressive groups.

Many of the installations are traditionally dismantled or burned at the end of the rally, a symbolic act that organizers say represents their rejection of the issues highlighted during the protest. —LDF, GMA News