Today’s Million People March redux at Ayala is the sixth major protest action of Filipinos seeking the abolition of the pork barrel system.
There appears to be no let up in the protests and the various organizations, networks, coalitions and alliances are slowly overcoming differences, fears and intrigue towards bigger, bolder and common actions. And true to form as the world’s social media capital, Filipinos are seizing the Internet as a platform for organizing and coordination on a national and global scale.
1. The first Million People March (MPM) on Aug. 26, 2013
Taking advantage of the long holiday and providing citizens with their first opportunity to vent their ire on the pork barrel scam, the MPM successfully mobilized more than a hundred thousand people, many from the middle class and the ranks of professionals, and contingents from cause-oriented groups.
It was also the first major protest action spearheaded by netizens.
Lending their voices too were the rallies and marches held in major cities across the Philippines. Overseas Filipinos also staged protest actions in their workplaces, Philippine consulates and embassies and even the Ritz-Carlton in Los Angeles where the Napoleses reportedly own ill-gotten property.
Although marchers did not reach one million, the event served notice to the Aquino administration that citizens were seriously looking at the issue and seeking major reforms.
Days prior to the march, the normally confident Aquino administration looked so insecure that the President himself had to make a claim that he is also for the abolition of PDAF.
On the day of the protest, high government officials even had the audacity to claim that the marchers and Malacanang were on the same side.
A group of netizens called for a prayer rally at the historic EDSA Shrine.
Despite controversies leading to the day of the protest, EDSA Tayo attracted thousands, including former NEDA secretary Winnie Monsod and former national treasurer Leonor Briones.
On the same day, students from UP, Miriam College and Ateneo de Manila converged for Katipunan Kontra Korupsyon. The presidents of the three major schools also released a joint statement on the misuse of public funds.
3. #ForwardMarch on Sept. 13
Individuals and organizations belonging to the newly-formed #AbolishPork Movement returned to Luneta for a gathering that featured interfaith prayers and a concert, with the bulk of marchers coming from colleges and universities in Metro Manila. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines endorsed it. Protestants gathered at the United Methodist Church at the corner of Taft and Kalaw to hear former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, while Catholics belonging to AMRSP assembled at San Agustin Church. Both faith-based contingents marched to Luneta to lead the interfaith prayers. A concert capped #ForwardMarch.
Fr. Joe Dizon, one of the leaders of the movement, said the Aquino administration should act decisively and swiftly to abolish the pork barrel system and for the President to give up his own pork. Otherwise, citizens would take a look at other options like civil disobedience.
4. Zero Remittance Day on Sept. 19
Angered by the corruption issues engulfing the government back home, Overseas Filipino Workers waged a symbolic Zero Remittance Day as their participation in the “abolish pork” protests.
300 OFW groups in more than two dozen countries joined the protest.
OFW organizations have been mainstays of protests since Aug. 26.
The #AbolishPork Movement mobilized anew at Luneta on the day the country marked the 41st anniversary of the proclamation of martial law.
It was a very creative rally with the Ryan Cayabyab Singers, Monique Wilson, Darryl Shy, and National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera performing before the crowd.
A march to Mendiola capped Never Porkget, which drew parallels between the kleptomania of the Marcos dictatorship and the current pork barrel scams under President Aquino.
6. Million People March @ Ayala on Oct. 4
This march could also be called the Unity March, as it is the result of cooperation and collaboration among organizers of the previous protest actions: 1) the #ScrapPork Network comprised of the organizers of the first Million Peo
ple March of Aug. 26; 2) the EDSA Tayo group; and 3) the #AbolishPork Movement which organized the Sept. 13 Forward March and Sept. 21 Never Porkget.
The march ensues as Malacanang tries to explain the newly-discovered presidential pork barrel fund called DAP and after President Aquino dared critics to try to impeach him.
This will be the first time that the “abolish pork” protests are held in the country’s financial capital. Formerly known as Ugarte Field, the area that is now known as Ayala Triangle has served as a regular rally venue since martial law and symbolizes political involvement and action of the middle class and Big Business in the country.
Prospects
The internet and social media would continue to play a pivotal role as a tool for organizing and coordinating protest actions whether in the Philippines or abroad.
The blossoming of alliances and coalitions – whether sectoral, multisectoral, inter-faith, etc. – bodes well to their common cause of compelling the Aquino administration to abolish the pork barrel. Despite attempts to drive an anti-Left wedge and sow intrigues among the different groups to split them, the consecutive, parallel and coordinated protests appear to gain momentum and have kept the defenders of the pork barrel on a permanent defensive stance.