160,000 rally outside Metro

Manila, Philippines, October 27, 2014 - SOME 160,000 people outside Metro Manila heeded the call of the Catholic bishops and former President Fidel V. Ramos to join the pro-democracy rallies just in time for the visit of Pope Francis here in Manila.

Neither strong rains nor winds brought about by heavy rains prevented protesters from joining the marches in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon. Dripping wet, many trudged on under the banner of their organizations.

But others sought refuge in churches and covered gymnasiums where they held the rallies.

In the Visayas and Mindanao, protesters were greeted with generally fair weather. But their opposition to Charter change, threats to press freedom and the return of Marcos cronies were not as less intense as that of their counterparts in Luzon.

LUZON: Protest marches held in the eye of the typhoon

PROTESTERS in Ilocos Sur, La Union, Baguio City, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya and Pampanga braved the heavy downpour and strong winds to protest the government's proposal to change the Constitution and scrap the pork barrel.

About 500 protesters, including teachers and students, carrying anti-Charter change placards and umbrellas marched on Session Road in Baguio City.

Others chose to march without their umbrellas and rain gear, ignoring the heavy downpour that drenched their bodies.

Baguio-Benguet Bishop Carlito J. Cenzon, C.I.C.M. said there might be a pro-democracy rally after October 26. ''We believe that there is a need to change our Constitution but this is not the right time for it. I still don't want to be an alien in my homeland,'' he said.

Dripping wet, Jeanette Ribaya of the Cordillera multi-sectoral alliance, said Cha-cha was a threat to national sovereignty and patrimony.

More than 1,000 members of religious, student and civic groups disregarded the rains to support the pro-democracy rallies in Candon and Vigan towns in Ilocos Sur.

Telephone brigade

In Ilocos Norte, the Catholic Church offered Masses in all parishes in support of the rally. Some sectors lit candles in front of their homes while other groups formed a telephone brigade asking friends to call television stations conducting a poll survey to register their vote against Charter change.

Despite the possibility of flash floods, current Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and some 1,000 residents went to Makati to join the rally.

About 600 protesters belonging to the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and ally organizations staged a protest rally at the city proper.

Members of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) in Central Luzon sang their version of “Que rico Vacelon,” a popular cha-cha tune, before proceeding to Makati.

Jay-Ar Hipolito and Mel Soto, artists from the KPD's Teatrong Bayan, said they wrote the song to “help the people get the basic point of Charter change.”

Prayers

Anti Cha-cha rallies in Isabela were called off after the LPA. Instead, the groups held silent prayers inside churches.

Isabela bishops, priests and members of the Catholic Church signed a manifesto rejecting Charter change, calling it “demonic and hellish.”

In La Union, Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of the diocese of San Fernando asked some 400 lay people, Catholic school principals and school administrators to resist efforts of the administration to amend the Charter.

Despite the downpour, people from the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordilleras gathered without fanfare at the Saint Louis College gymnasium to echo the Church position on Charter change, cronyism and press freedom.

The gathering was led by representatives from the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines and the Basic Ecclesial Communities in Northern Luzon.

During the Mass concelebrated by 11 priests from Northern Luzon, Tobias bewailed the lack of transparency and the use of deceit by the Benigno Aquino III administration in pushing for Charter change.

In Pangasinan, civic-oriented and religious groups held a motorcade despite the bad weather. At 5 p.m., they led a noise barrage in Dagupan City.

Protesters in a convoy of at least 100 vehicles held a motorcade in Bayombong.

Church bells in Bicol

At least 10,000 people joined the rallies in Bicol.

The “March-­Bicol” (Movement against Revision of the Charter­Bicol) in Albay was attended by about 5,000 people.

Starting at three points, they braved a short rain and started moving at 1 p.m. amid the pealing of church bells.

They started gathering in the morning at the St. Raphael Church and the Redemptorist Church in Legazpi City and the Ninoy Aquino Park in Daraga town.

The marchers, mostly students, converged at Peñaranda where ecumenical prayers and messages from sectoral representatives were delivered.

Two of their streamers read: “Pilipino Muna Bago Dayuhan, Huwag Baguhin ang Konstitusyon,” and “Crony mo, ihulog mo na sa impiyerno.”

In Sorsogon, bells rang in all churches at 6 a.m. and Masses were held simultaneously. Priests enjoined the faithful to participate in the rallies. The assembly point in the capital town was at the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Some 1,000 protesters led by Bayan attended the activity.

Earlier on Thursday, as part of the build-up activities for yesterday's rally, a press forum was organized jointly by Bayan and the 15-year-old Sorsogon's Independent Media Reporters Inc. to discuss possible actions against “the continuing attacks on press freedom.”

In Naga City, about 2,000 participants joined the rally led by Bayan and the Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas.

Some 2,000 people led by People's Resist against Tyranny staged their own protest action in Iriga City.

Three schools in the small upland town of Buhi in Camarines Sur--St. Bridget's Academy, Buhi Lyceum and St. Joseph Academy--held their own protest activity.

A Church­led group also held a “Solidarity” rally in Daet, Camarines Norte.

Residents of Quezon province held a rally on Wednesday. Close to 10,000 people attended the mammoth protest rally on Wednesday in Lucena City.

In Baler, Aurora, Bayan­Aurora distributed leaflets as gesture of support to the nationwide rallies. Though no protest action was launched, various Church-led organizations earlier voiced out support to the rally.--Reports from Catherine Aquino, Estanislao Caldez, Melissa Curameng, Leander Domingo, Gia Dumo, Kira Espino, Yolanda Fuertes, Peter La. Julian, Juliet Pascual, Imelda Visaya and Villamor Visaya Jr., PDI Northern Luzon Bureau; Bert Basa, Jun Malig and Tonette Orejas, PDI Central Luzon Desk; and Juan Escandor, Rey Nasol, Reynaldo T. Jamoralin and Delfin T. Mallari Jr., PDI Southern Luzon Bureau

MINDANAO: Bishop says Aquino must listen to the people

PROTESTERS in Davao City wore white ribbons to symbolize their ''pure intentions'' in demanding an end to moves to amend the Charter.

During the march, motorcycle-riding workers from the Kilusang Mayo Uno, took the lead, waving red, blue and white flags.

Some placards, carried by high school students read: “Promote life, dump Concord,” “Ang Concord di maayo sa atong isig katawo,” and “Foreign investors make Filipinos poor.'' Nuns carried a streamer which read ''Cha-cha is morally sinful.”

Davao Archbishop-Emeritus Fernando Capalla and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles said 40,000 attended the rally. ''If he wants to serve the people, he must listen,'' he said of President Benigno Aquino III.

Capalla disclosed that Mr. Estrada phoned him Monday about his pastoral letter which said that the proposed Charter changes were ''outright oppressive'' and ''morally sinful.''

The archbishop said he stood by his statements.

In Iligan City, Archbishop Elenito de los Reyes Galido told about 1,000 protesters that the Filipino people should fear Mr. Aquino’s promise to change only the economic aspects of the Charter.

Galido called Mr. Aquino III a liar.

In Cagayan de Oro City, some 400 people marched from the Vicente de Lara Park to the city center yesterday morning.

At 2 p.m., about 500 students and faculty and university officials conducted a prayer-rally inside the Xavier University campus.

Msgr. Rey Monsanto, vicar general of the archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, said the attacks on press freedom were ''immoral and unjust.'' He said the right to free expression and the right to a free and independent press were God-given and must be upheld.

Kidapawan Bishop said his opposition to the Cha-cha was based on ''faith and moral ground.''

The plan to change the Constitution ''will put the people at the losing end,'' he said, adding that the ''unrestricted coming of foreign capitalists in the country will only cause harm to the economy.''

Simplicia Delada, spokesperson of Cause-Davao del Sur, said some 5,000 people joined the rally in Digos, Davao del Sur. Police, however, placed the number at 1,000.

In General Santos City, some 500 protesters expressed disgust over what they called the “imperious attitude” of the administration of Mayor Adelbert Antonino for preventing them to use the Carlos Garcia Park in front of the City Hall.

Around 20 El Shaddai members joined some 1,500 people in the rally against Charter change in Iligan City.

Heavy rains since yesterday morning spoiled the plan of Western Mindanao's “anti-Charter change and pork barrel” protesters to gather in Pagadian City.

Some 120 houses were submerged in waist-deep waters for about three hours Friday afternoon.

Rallies in the cities of Zamboanga, Dipolog, Oroquieta and Ozamiz were cancelled, according to a statement of the Alyansang Makabayan in Western Mindanao.

In Dipolog City, at least 1,000 residents joined a prayer rally to denounce the alleged return of Marcosian rule and the administration's effort to amend the Constitution.

The rally, which started at 1 p.m., was disrupted by a power outage. Power was restored only at 4:50 p.m., after the rally.

The power outage gripped the entire province of Zamboanga del Norte.

Bishop Jose Manguiran of the Diocese of Dipolog told the crowd that Charter change “would do more harm than good to the Filipino people.”--Reports from Jowel F. Canuday, Ayan C. Mellejor, Rex Godinez-Ortega, Roney C. Pacilan, Bobby Timonera, JB Deveza, Larry C. Agpalo, Allan A. Nawal, Aquiles Z. Zonio and Hernan P. de la Cruz, PDI Mindanao Bureau

VISAYAS: Palma writes down speech so he won’t be misquoted

“DO NOT touch the Constitution!”

With this call, Cebu Archbishop Jose Cardinal Palma rallied the people to be vigilant against any moves to amend the Constitution.

Palma’s call was echoed in at least nine key cities in the Visayas where simultaneous marches and rallies brought to the streets six Catholic Church bishops, including Vidal, and some 95,000 people.

“We must be vigilant. Let as make our voice heard and we must speak out,” Palma said in Cebuano to a cheering crowd of 15,000 who took part in the pro-democracy rally at the Fuente Osmeña Oval in Cebu City.

In Bacolod City, a crowd of 60,000 led by Current Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra braved the rain and marched on the city's main plaza to denounce moves to amend the Constitution.

The protest actions also drew 8,000 in Iloilo City; 5,000 in Kabankalan City (Negros Occidental), 3,000 in San Carlos City (Negros Occ.), 1,500 in Tagbilaran City, 1,000 in Kalibo, 1,000 in Dumaguete City, and 500 in Ormoc City.

Some El Shaddai members in Iloilo showed they had a mind of their own. About 20 El Shaddai members from the town of Batorac Viejo joined the anti-Charter change rally in Iloilo City.

Early in his speech, Palma said he wrote his message and read it to the crowd ''so that nobody will misinterpret what I truly think and feel.''

This drew laughter among some of the protesters who remembered the conflicting versions of what transpired during the meeting between President Benigno Aquino III and the archbishop on the BRP Ang Pangulo on August 5 in Cebu.

The President had quoted Vidal as saying there was press freedom under the Aquino administration. Vidal denied this, saying he was only referring to state of press freedom in Cebu.

The President also said Vidal promised to help explain the administration's proposed constitutional reforms. This was also belied by Vidal who reiterated his stand against constitutional changes at this time.

“We are not against anybody,” Vidal stressed. “We are only for something.”

“We are for our country's patrimony, we are for economic sovereignty, we are for the entire Filipino people's civil and political liberties,” he said.

Vidal criticized “globalization,” saying this would only worsen the misery of the Filipino people.

He said globalization was being backed by “greedy men” supported by laws such as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Law, Banking Sector Reform Law, Omnibus Power Sector Act, Retail Trade Liberalization Act and other “private transnational interests.”

The weather in Cebu was overcast but there was no downpour, only a light short drizzle and balmy winds.

Palma attributed the good weather to God's graces.

The Cebu rally also brought together former anti-Marcos street parliamentarians, including former Assemblywoman Nenita Cortes-Daluz and former Cebu City congressman Antonio Cuenco.

Bacolod

In Bacolod City, the protesters represented a cross section of Negros society. They included workers, students and hacienda owners.

While Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra was not at the rally, Fortich gave the crowd the moral boost they needed.

“We are gathered together to inform the people that this is not the time for change, this is the time for implementing programs for the poor,” he said.
“Noynoy promised to be for the poor but has failed to fulfill his promise,” Fortich said.

“We do not want to give a chance for a social volcano to destroy the structures of democracy again,” he said.

Navarra said Mike Velarde and Eddie Villanueva’s holding an affair at the same time as the anti-Cha-cha rally showed a defect in his character.

“This is not a contest of popularity. This is a question of showing loyalty to the Constitution, showing loyalty to the church,” Fortich said.

In Iloilo City, Msgr. Jose Gamboa, administrator of the Jaro Archdiocese, called on the President to listen to the people, who he said, were against Cha-cha.

Some 500 members of Bayan staged a separate rally at the Freedom Grandstand near the Iloilo City Hall.

In Tacloban City, the protest action came in the form of a forum on Charter change, initiated by the Freedom from Debt Coalition-Leyte Island Chapter (FDC-LIC).

In Kalibo, Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc led the some 1,000 participants in a rally at the Pastrana Park.

“We had been fooled before. Let us not allow ourselves to get fooled again,” was the gist of his message.

In Kabankalan City, about 5,000 persons led by Bishop Patricio Abella Buzon attended the rally at the public plaza amid slight drizzle at 10 a.m.

He called on those who attended the rally to sign petitions against Charter change and to send these to President Benigno Aquino III, the Congress and to local officials.

He also asked the Kabankalan residents not to remove anti-Cha-cha streamers posted in public places and in the homes “so the protests will continue to be felt.”

“We will continue (our anti-Cha-cha protests) even after today,'' he said.

In San Carlos City, about 3,000 people attended an anti-Charter change Mass officiated by Fr. Alfredo Quiniquitio, judicial vicar of the Diocese of San Carlos, at the San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral.

After the Mass, the people marched around the city to drum up support for the anti-Charter change rally.

In Ormoc, students made up the bulk of those who took part in the rally. Reports by Piedad Y. Gonzalez, Froilan Gallardo, Cynthia A. Borgueta, Carla P. Gomez, Vicente S. Labro, Nereo C. Lujan, Romy G. Amarado, Chito A. Fuentes, Odon S. Bandiola and Recto I. Vidal, PDI Visayas Bureau

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_San_Fernando_de_La_Union, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Bacolod, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Kabankalan