Bayan-led rally features 12-foot tall GMA effigy

Today's rally led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) is the latest in a week-long series of demonstrations against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Coinciding with the president's ninth State of the Nation Address, the rally is expected to pull in 15,000-25,000 people, with other activist groups joining in as the day progresses.

Protesters began gathering as early as 6am at Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, although the formal beginning of the rally wasn't until 9am. As of 9:30am, the street was closed to make room for the demonstrators to march towards Batasang Pambansa.

The program was scheduled to start by 11am on a stage set up on the highway near Gotesco mall, but scuffles among the demonstrators were reported. It is as yet unknown which groups were involved.

One of the highlights of the rally will be the burning of a 12-foot tall effigy of the president right before the delivery of the SONA at 4pm. The papier-mache effigy, made by artists from the militant group Ugat Lahi, features the president as an ugly decaying corpse atop a throne on a bulldozer.

“The bulldozer symbolizes Charter change, that she wants to maintain power through Cha-cha ... She wants to derail rights, everything that we are fighting for,” said Iggy Rodriguez, one of the makers. “Hopefully, it will be her last effigy.”