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
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