“Ang dami nating hinayaan at pinalipas… pero umaasa akong matatapos na ang panahon ng ating pananahimik at hindi pag-imik. Hindi tayo pwedeng maging pipi at bingi sa mga abuso sa ating bayan at mga kababayan,” siblings Ria and Arjo Atayde said.
Through a lengthy statement, celebrity siblings Ria and Arjo called on Filipinos to stay vigilant in these times. The two voiced out their concerns online on the same day when President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, 2020, Monday.
Ria and Arjo posted quote cards on their respective social media accounts with the title “GISING NA GINAGAGO NA TAYO.”
They used the hashtags #ItoAngSONAKo and #SONAngaling which were also used by other celebrities.
The statement started, “Sa lahat ng nangyayari, nagiging mas mahirap ang kumapit sa pag-asa. Sa lumipas na apat na taon, ang dami nating pinagdaanang opresyon sa ating bansa — mula sa pagpatay sa mga mamamayan hanggang sa kawalan ng kakayahang humarap sa krisis at pandemya.”
Ria and Arjo stressed that with the different abuses happening in the country, Filipinos should not stay silent and oblivious.
“Ang dami nating hinayaan at pinalipas… pero umaasa akong matatapos na ang panahon ng ating pananahimik at hindi pag-imik. Hindi tayo pwedeng maging pipi at bingi sa mga abuso sa ating bayan at mga kababayan.”
They also urged everyone to speak up against the government when needed as it is a right and a responsibility of every Filipino.
“Tayo ay, bago ang lahat, mga Pilipino. Karapatan at tungkulin natin ang panagutin ang mga pinunong ating hinalal. Hindi natin pwedeng hayaang unahin nila ang kanilang pag-unlad habang ang ating mga kapwa Pilipino ay nagdurusa.
“Lumaban ka sa kahit anong paraang komportable para sa’yo. Pero pakiusap, manatiling mapagmatyag at wag magbulag-bulagan.
At the end of the statement, Ria and Arjo called for unity to uplift the lives of every Filipino.
“Alam kong marami sa atin ay mas maginhawa ang kalagayan kumpara sa iba, pero tayo ay iisang bansa. Ang kinabukasan natin ay kinabukasan nila. Kung ang Pilipinas ay lulubog, kasama tayong lahat na malulunod. (Pero baka hindi silang mga VIP — uubusin na nga lahat ng lifevests, magpapa-special rescue pa. Na buwis natin ang ipambabayad.)”
#ItoAngSONAKo #SONAngaling pic.twitter.com/nI2L4kfRq2
— Ria Atayde (@RiaAtayde) July 27, 2020
— Arjo Atayde (@AtaydeArjo) July 27, 2020
The country is currently battling with the deadly COVID-19 virus which has already infected more than 85,000 people and has even surpassed China. President Rodrigo Duterte failed to discuss the government’s plans on effectively eradicating the fatal virus in the country during the SONA.
This angered many as the government had no surge of urgency. The unemployment rate in the country is currently in an all-time high record due to the economic backlash brought by COVID-19. This was worsened by the recent shutdown of ABS-CBN which left thousands of Filipinos jobless.
