IN PHOTOS: Art means uprising at the SONA 2019 protests

STANDING BY. A syokoy Duterte effigy is set to be burned at the United People's SONA held at Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on July 22. Photo by Samantha Bagayas/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) was held on Monday, July 22. At the same time, various groups took to the streets to voice out their opposition to Duterte’s administration.

Protesters got creative, making protest artwork that called attention to various political and social issues. A lot of the pieces were centered on the issue of soveriegnty in the West Philippine Sea, and the administration’s relationship with China.

The issue of sovereignty came to a head in June, when the Philippine fishing boat Gem-Ver was sank by a Chinese vessel in the West Philippine Sea, endangering the lives of the 22 fishermen on board. In response, the government downplayed the incident, and at doubt on the account of the Filipino fishermen.

For instance, artist collective UGATLahi made an an effigy depicting Duterte as a syokoy, a Philippine mythological sea creature. The effigy shows the Duterte-syokoy touting a gun, a bag of money, and the Chinese flag, and was made to represent Duterte selling out the West Philippine Sea.

It was later burned at the United People’s SONA, a gathering of various opposition groups who expressed their stance against the administration.

A Duterte effigy was burned here at the United People’s SONA. As the effigy continues to burn, various protesters run around the blazing figure while they wave their flags. #SONA2019 @MovePH pic.twitter.com/e8GSS7UNNR

— Samantha Bagayas (@SamanthaBagayas) July 22, 2019

Other protest materials also called attention to the extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration.

Here’s a look at the other pieces of political art spotted at protests across the country:

BLOODY. A tombstone effigy symbolizes extrajudicial killings under 3 years of Duterte's rule. Photo by Enrico Berdos/Rappler

RESISTANCE. Protesters belonging to the group Socialista burns a replica of a Chinese warhead as they stage a picket on Commonwealth Avenue near the Batasan where President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to deliver his fourth SONA. Photo by Maria Tan/Rappler

UPRISING. Relatives of farmers killed by extrajudicial killings pose for the cameras as they call for the cease of militarization in the provinces. Photo by Enrico Berdos/Rappler

OPPOSITION. Different protest groups from Karapatan, Resbak, the One Voice Church groups and the LGBTQ community come together in protest along Commonwealth Avenue on July 22. Photo by Jire Carreon/Rappler

SOVEREIGNTY. Many rallyists spoke out against the Duterte administration's response to the sinking of the Filipino fishing boat Gem-Ver by a Chinese vessel in the West Philippine Sea. Photo by Jire Carreon/Rappler

SPEAK OUT. Rallyists create a sea-themed tableau to express their stance on the issue of Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. Photo by Jire Carreon/Rappler

PROTEST. Before President Duterte delivered his fourth SONA, militant groups in Baguio City march along Central District on July 22 as they protest against the dueterte administration. Photo by Mau Victa/Rappler

– Rappler.com