Under clear skies, Filipinos marched towards the EDSA People Power Monument and Luneta Park in Manila for the massive rally organized this Sunday, September 21, to express collective outrage against widespread corruption in government.
In Manila, crowd has been building up at the famous park with an estimated 13,000 rallyists so far as of 9:15 a.m., according to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) People are also gathering at the Liwasang Bonifacio to participate in the mass demonstrations.
From Quezon City, multisectoral groups from and within the University of the Philippines (UP) started to march towards Luneta to also take part in the ongoing “Baha sa Luneta: Aksyon na Laban sa Korapsyon” protest.
Clad in maroon, they gathered in front of the Oblation statue before heading to the historic Manila landmark. They condemned state-led human rights violations and the government’s misuse of billions of public funds in infrastructure projects.
UP President Angelo Jimenez addressed the community before mobilizing the rallyists. He lauded the participation of both students and faculty in the fight against corruption and the commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law.
Jimenez said today’s demonstrations made him look back to his younger years when he joined the first EDSA People Power movement that saw the Philippines transition from decades of martial rule to a return of democracy.
“I am happy because I was your age at the time of EDSA,” Jimenez told the students, referring to the first people power revolution. He called for continuous formation of coalitions to effectively create a movement against government corruption.
“Let us demonstrate that activism is very much alive, that the struggle (for good governance) is alive in the university,” he added.
Early images from all rally sites showed people peacefully gathering with security forces on standby to ensure public safety. Protesters brought streamers and placards bearing messages of appeals for good governance and responsible leadership.
Some organized what appeared to be mini-concert scenes, featuring bands playing popular songs with some of their lyrics changed to contain themes and elements of the protests, much to the delight of the crowd, which are mostly Gen Z.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has committed its readiness to ensure peace and order at all rally sites nationwide.
“We are 100% ready, fully committed to balancing security with citizens’ rights. Our personnel are prepared to respond quickly, ensuring that everyone can exercise their right to assemble peacefully without compromising public safety,” said PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr.
