Hundreds of protesters gather for Marcos' SONA

MANILA, Philippines – Hundreds of protesters began gathering in Quezon City hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). Inquirer.net reporter John Eric Mendoza provides live updates from the rally, where various progressive groups voiced their demands on key national issues. READ: Sona 2026 Live Updates: President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address The SONA is a crucial event where the President outlines the state of the nation and his administration's future plans. The gathering of protesters ahead of the address is a common feature of Philippine democracy, allowing civil society groups to voice their concerns and demands. The protest is expected to highlight pressing national concerns, potentially including economic disparities, poverty, security, and issues related to the West Philippine Sea. For a nation with a large overseas Filipino worker population, domestic economic development and job creation are also consistently critical topics. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo