Under the banner call, ‘Kabuhayan, Karapatan at Kasarinlan, Hindi Chacha ng Dayuhan at Iilan!’, GABRIELA National Alliance of Women orchestrated this year’s most significant protest action of Filipino women to denounce the Marcos Jr. administration’s fervent push for Charter Change.

Last Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed Resolution of Both Houses #7 at the Committee level, aiming to amend the ‘economic provisions’ of the 1987 Constitution.

“Granting 100% foreign ownership in the country is not the remedy for the pressing issues afflicting the nation, such as rampant corruption, the absence of national industries, limited access to education, and low wages,” remarked GABRIELA Secretary General Clarice Palce.

“Despite allocating meager budgets to basic social services and neglecting our local industries, the government has the audacity to downplay its shortcomings, attributing them to certain restrictions in the Constitution. However, in reality, the root cause lies in their own greed and disregard for the needs of the Filipino people,” Palce added.

During the program, GABRIELA presented an art installation symbolizing President Marcos Jr.’s “gift” to Filipino women: A box filled with snakes, representing the horrors of Charter Change—100% foreign ownership, increased foreign military bases in the country, and term extensions for public officials—all wrapped in a U.S. flag.

“Ang panawagan ng kababaihan ay kabuhayan, karapatan, at kasarinlan, hindi Charter Change para sa dayuhan at iilan. We refuse to be bystanders in the face of such blatant disregard for our nation’s sovereignty and the welfare of our people. GABRIELA stands firm in our commitment to resist and oppose any attempt to undermine the rights and dignity of Filipinos,” Palce concluded.