Manila, Philippines, August 18, 2014 (INQUIRER) - COME if you believe.
With this exhortation, organizers invited all sectors of society to the August 23 to 24 and October 25-26 Rally for Democracy in Makati City and register their opposition to the constitutional amendments proposed and national issues by the Aquino administration.
Former Sen. Rene Saguisag, chair of the Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism (Mabini), announced that the lawyers' group had decided to join the rally.
The other groups that have vowed to see action in the rally include the Kilosbayan led by former Senate President Jovito Salonga, the religious such as the Church People's Initiative Against Cha-cha, Tyranny and Cronyism, the Promotion of Church People's Response, students such as members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, artists led by the Kontra-Busal, and gays represented by Progay Philippines.
''You do not need to be invited,'' convenors of the protest rally said in an advisory. ''Come if you believe.''
Saguisag said in a statement that on Friday night, the seven trustees of Mabini decided to join the Makati rally.
He said the Mabini officers and members agreed to meet and assemble ''in front of the fire station near the corner of Ayala Avenue and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue.''
''In the end, it is a question of individual choice,'' said Saguisag. ''Basta ang hindi sumama o makisama, maitim ang buto.
''How many will show up on Aug. 23-24 and October 19-20?'' he said. ''One man in the right is a majority.''
Salonga's Kilosbayan yesterday made its own decision to join after an overwhelming vote. Only one member voted against the decision, according to Kilosbayan member Quintin Doromal.
It is the first time since the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution that Kilosbayan is joining a protest action.
The members called the decision a ''patriotic political action.''
They said their group was endorsing the three issues raised by the Aug. 20 and October 19 rally organizers--protest against constitutional change at this time, against cronyism and against threats to press freedom.
Good governance
Lawyer Chito Gascon, who represented the youth in the 1986 Constitutional Commission, said in a breakfast forum at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City that it was ''good governance, not Charter change, that will bring about economic reforms.''
Gascon, a member of the organizing committee of the Aug. 20 and October 19 rally, will marshall the rally participants who will gather at the corner of Buendia and Ayala avenues.
One guest at the Sulo Hotel forum said public officials should be ''punished not only for their sin of commission but for their sin of omission as well.''
When the guest noted that Vice President Jejomar Binay was ''nowhere'' at this crucial time, rally convenor Noel Tolentino said Macapagal had been giving them support, however ''invisible.''
He admitted that the rally organizers had been missing the support of other officials.
Remember Edsa
People who are joining the Rally for Democracy must feel the same sense of urgency that they did during the 1986 Edsa Revolution, Ibon Facts and Figures executive director Tony Tujan told a crowd of about 1,000 in a forum in Bacolod City on Friday.
''Every right-minded Filipino should stop any effort at Charter change at this time because all its intentions are clearly anti-Filipino,'' Tujan said.
The Bacolod forum was sponsored by the Church People's Initiative Against Cha-cha, Tyranny and Cronyism. The same group will spearhead the anti-Cha-cha rally in Bacolod on Aug. 20, September 21 and October 19.
Artists and gays, too, are set to take part in the Makati rally.
The artists, led by Kontra-Busal, and the gays, represented by the Progressive Gays Organization of the Philippines (Progay), are members of People Resist, a broad alliance of organizations and individuals formed in 1997.
The Kontra-Busal and Progay groups will assemble in front of Rustan's department store along Ayala Avenue.
A People Resist statement said religious people headed by the Promotion for Church People's Response (PCPR) will launch an activity called the Church Against Rising Tyranny (Christ) on Aug. 17 and October 21.
On the same date, health professionals will launch the Health Alliance Against Tyranny and Charter Change (Hatac Na), said People's Resist.
On Aug. 16 and October 20, 3 days before the visit of Pope Francis, People Resist will hang black ribbons in designated areas in Quezon City, Pasay City and Caloocan City.
On Aug. 18 and October 22, 1 day before the visit of Pope Francis, at exactly 6 p.m., People Resist will hold a 30-minute noise barrage in three major ''noise centers'' in Metro Manila: Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City, Monumento in Caloocan City and Pasay City.
Mask appeal
Yesterday, artists and writers gathered at Vinzon's Hall at the University of the Philippines in Diliman to stage ''Mask Action,'' sponsored by Kontra-Busal. More than 80 artists and writers designed and created anti-Charter change masks.
The masks were made from materials like found objects, paper, abaca fiber, acrylic paint, paper cups, etc.
''We will wear these anti-Cha-cha and anti-tyranny masks in the Aug. 20 rally,'' said Kontra-Busal spokesperson Chickoy Pura of the rock band Jerks and the group Musicians for Peace.
Bomen Guillermo of the Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center said in the same UP gathering that his group's fight against ''any attempted restoration of fascist dictatorship'' is in the ''great tradition of Jose Rizal, Aurelio Tolentino, Amado V. Hernandez, Lino Brocka, Ismael Bernal and many more artists and writers before us.''
In yesterday's Kapihan sa CyPress in Quezon City, Progay secretary general Oscar Atadero said his group, together with the Lesbians in Baguio for National Democracy (Lesbond), the Gays United to Wipe Out American Military Presence in the Philippines (Guwapo), and the Gays Opposed to Charter Change (Gotcha), would rally gays to join the protest rallies in major cities in the Philippines.
Fasting, prayers
The religious sector in Lucena City will lead the people in Quezon province in fasting and prayers from Aug. 20 to 24 and October 19 to 22.
The activity will coincide with the celebration of Quezon Day in the province, according to Fr. Raul Enriquez, chair of the Social Concern Commission of the Lucena diocese.
It will start with the simultaneous pealing of church bells in all parishes in the diocese, praying of the rosary and Panalangin Para sa Lipunan (Prayer for the People) on Aug. 15-17 and October 19 to 21.
On Aug. 18 and October 22, a grand ecumenical assembly will be held on the grounds of the St. Ferdinand Cathedral in Lucena City.
The four-day event will end with a march to the monument of President Manuel L. Quezon in the city's outskirts.
Religious and students
The Reject Charter Change Movement in Cebu said no amount of ''coercion'' or ''divisive tactics'' could stop the people from rejecting Mrs. Aquino's Cha-cha efforts.
In Davao City, the Davao Archdiocese said it would mobilize priests, nuns, lay members, students and other religious congregations for the Aug. 20 rally.
Student councils and members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) will hold simultaneous education forums on Cha-cha and press freedom in at least eight colleges and universities on Aug. 16 and 18.
CEGP Davao City chair Beng Hernandez said students would light candles in the eight schools before marching to Freedom Park in that city for a rally. With reports from Delfin T. Mallari, Southern Luzon Bureau; Carla P. Gomez and Frauline Ma. Sinson, PDI Visayas Bureau; Jowel F. Canuday, PDI Mindanao Bureau; AFP
With this exhortation, organizers invited all sectors of society to the August 23 to 24 and October 25-26 Rally for Democracy in Makati City and register their opposition to the constitutional amendments proposed and national issues by the Aquino administration.
Former Sen. Rene Saguisag, chair of the Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity and Nationalism (Mabini), announced that the lawyers' group had decided to join the rally.
The other groups that have vowed to see action in the rally include the Kilosbayan led by former Senate President Jovito Salonga, the religious such as the Church People's Initiative Against Cha-cha, Tyranny and Cronyism, the Promotion of Church People's Response, students such as members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, artists led by the Kontra-Busal, and gays represented by Progay Philippines.
''You do not need to be invited,'' convenors of the protest rally said in an advisory. ''Come if you believe.''
Saguisag said in a statement that on Friday night, the seven trustees of Mabini decided to join the Makati rally.
He said the Mabini officers and members agreed to meet and assemble ''in front of the fire station near the corner of Ayala Avenue and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue.''
''In the end, it is a question of individual choice,'' said Saguisag. ''Basta ang hindi sumama o makisama, maitim ang buto.
''How many will show up on Aug. 23-24 and October 19-20?'' he said. ''One man in the right is a majority.''
Salonga's Kilosbayan yesterday made its own decision to join after an overwhelming vote. Only one member voted against the decision, according to Kilosbayan member Quintin Doromal.
It is the first time since the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution that Kilosbayan is joining a protest action.
The members called the decision a ''patriotic political action.''
They said their group was endorsing the three issues raised by the Aug. 20 and October 19 rally organizers--protest against constitutional change at this time, against cronyism and against threats to press freedom.
Good governance
Lawyer Chito Gascon, who represented the youth in the 1986 Constitutional Commission, said in a breakfast forum at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City that it was ''good governance, not Charter change, that will bring about economic reforms.''
Gascon, a member of the organizing committee of the Aug. 20 and October 19 rally, will marshall the rally participants who will gather at the corner of Buendia and Ayala avenues.
One guest at the Sulo Hotel forum said public officials should be ''punished not only for their sin of commission but for their sin of omission as well.''
When the guest noted that Vice President Jejomar Binay was ''nowhere'' at this crucial time, rally convenor Noel Tolentino said Macapagal had been giving them support, however ''invisible.''
He admitted that the rally organizers had been missing the support of other officials.
Remember Edsa
People who are joining the Rally for Democracy must feel the same sense of urgency that they did during the 1986 Edsa Revolution, Ibon Facts and Figures executive director Tony Tujan told a crowd of about 1,000 in a forum in Bacolod City on Friday.
''Every right-minded Filipino should stop any effort at Charter change at this time because all its intentions are clearly anti-Filipino,'' Tujan said.
The Bacolod forum was sponsored by the Church People's Initiative Against Cha-cha, Tyranny and Cronyism. The same group will spearhead the anti-Cha-cha rally in Bacolod on Aug. 20, September 21 and October 19.
Tujan noted that the El Shaddai had been regularly holding its rallies at night. ''Now for the first time they are holding it during the day,'' he said.''I think there really is an intention to weaken the political impact of the nationwide protest movement against Cha-cha,'' he added.Tujan urged the reported 3 million members of El Shaddai to attend the pro-democracy rally first before going to their gathering at Rizal Park."Even the El Shaddai people should realize that now is the time to be truly Christian and Filipino by joining the anti-Cha-cha rallies," he said.
El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International founder and servant-leader Bro. Mike Velarde is celebrating his 75th birthday on Aug. 20, while Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide founder, president and spiritual director Bishop Bro. Eddie Villanueva is celebrating his 81st birthday on October 6.
National Democratic Front executive committee member Luis Jalandoni said President Benigno Aquino III was trying to use Velarde and Villanueva's "grand annual birthday celebration party" as a ''political weapon'' to counter the anti-political rally.Artists, gays
Artists and gays, too, are set to take part in the Makati rally.
The artists, led by Kontra-Busal, and the gays, represented by the Progressive Gays Organization of the Philippines (Progay), are members of People Resist, a broad alliance of organizations and individuals formed in 1997.
The Kontra-Busal and Progay groups will assemble in front of Rustan's department store along Ayala Avenue.
A People Resist statement said religious people headed by the Promotion for Church People's Response (PCPR) will launch an activity called the Church Against Rising Tyranny (Christ) on Aug. 17 and October 21.
On the same date, health professionals will launch the Health Alliance Against Tyranny and Charter Change (Hatac Na), said People's Resist.
On Aug. 16 and October 20, 3 days before the visit of Pope Francis, People Resist will hang black ribbons in designated areas in Quezon City, Pasay City and Caloocan City.
On Aug. 18 and October 22, 1 day before the visit of Pope Francis, at exactly 6 p.m., People Resist will hold a 30-minute noise barrage in three major ''noise centers'' in Metro Manila: Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City, Monumento in Caloocan City and Pasay City.
Mask appeal
Yesterday, artists and writers gathered at Vinzon's Hall at the University of the Philippines in Diliman to stage ''Mask Action,'' sponsored by Kontra-Busal. More than 80 artists and writers designed and created anti-Charter change masks.
The masks were made from materials like found objects, paper, abaca fiber, acrylic paint, paper cups, etc.
''We will wear these anti-Cha-cha and anti-tyranny masks in the Aug. 20 rally,'' said Kontra-Busal spokesperson Chickoy Pura of the rock band Jerks and the group Musicians for Peace.
Bomen Guillermo of the Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center said in the same UP gathering that his group's fight against ''any attempted restoration of fascist dictatorship'' is in the ''great tradition of Jose Rizal, Aurelio Tolentino, Amado V. Hernandez, Lino Brocka, Ismael Bernal and many more artists and writers before us.''
In yesterday's Kapihan sa CyPress in Quezon City, Progay secretary general Oscar Atadero said his group, together with the Lesbians in Baguio for National Democracy (Lesbond), the Gays United to Wipe Out American Military Presence in the Philippines (Guwapo), and the Gays Opposed to Charter Change (Gotcha), would rally gays to join the protest rallies in major cities in the Philippines.
Fasting, prayers
The religious sector in Lucena City will lead the people in Quezon province in fasting and prayers from Aug. 20 to 24 and October 19 to 22.
The activity will coincide with the celebration of Quezon Day in the province, according to Fr. Raul Enriquez, chair of the Social Concern Commission of the Lucena diocese.
It will start with the simultaneous pealing of church bells in all parishes in the diocese, praying of the rosary and Panalangin Para sa Lipunan (Prayer for the People) on Aug. 15-17 and October 19 to 21.
On Aug. 18 and October 22, a grand ecumenical assembly will be held on the grounds of the St. Ferdinand Cathedral in Lucena City.
The four-day event will end with a march to the monument of President Manuel L. Quezon in the city's outskirts.
Religious and students
The Reject Charter Change Movement in Cebu said no amount of ''coercion'' or ''divisive tactics'' could stop the people from rejecting Mrs. Aquino's Cha-cha efforts.
In Davao City, the Davao Archdiocese said it would mobilize priests, nuns, lay members, students and other religious congregations for the Aug. 20 rally.
Student councils and members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) will hold simultaneous education forums on Cha-cha and press freedom in at least eight colleges and universities on Aug. 16 and 18.
CEGP Davao City chair Beng Hernandez said students would light candles in the eight schools before marching to Freedom Park in that city for a rally. With reports from Delfin T. Mallari, Southern Luzon Bureau; Carla P. Gomez and Frauline Ma. Sinson, PDI Visayas Bureau; Jowel F. Canuday, PDI Mindanao Bureau; AFP
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