So there was another rally.

March 3, 2008

For Filipinos, it’s just one of those things that happens on an almost daily basis in the Philippines.  Obviously, not a lot of people care enough to join these things otherwise the entire country would grind to a halt.  It’s just one of those days when you hope against all hope that classes are suspended or your boss sends you home early.  If you’re not lucky, you’ll spend hours walking the streets looking for a ride and then some more stranded in gridlock.  It’s just one of days.

 

We probably have as many rallies during the year as we have tropical storms and typhoons.  Oddly enough, they don’t seem to ever occur at the same time.  Much luck to the rallyists.  I guess, if you’re planning a wedding, you should schedule it during the election season, or better yet during proclamation.

 

So last Friday there was an Interfaith Anti-Arroyo Rally at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue.  I don’t really know what they mean about "interfaith" because I definitely didn’t seen any distict non-Christian representation there.  I guess they wanted to emphasize that Catholics, Christians, Muslims and people of other religious orders were joined together in protesting the regime of President Arroyo.  Well, in that case, then they should’ve called it the Non-Denominated Anti-Arroyo Rally.

 

A good number of people showed up, possibly in the hundred thousands with many more supposedly blocked by police and military from entering Metro Manila.

 

 

 

I guess you could call this a good number.

 

It looked bad enough from the 11th floor, but it was worse on the ground.  People were jostling for prime real estate, hoping to get a glimpse of their favorite politico-celebs.  On the street, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from a Beyonce concert.

 

 

It’s okay to fart because the body odor drowns it out 

 

These rallies allow people to show of their angst and creativity in very interesting ways.  The following photos show some of the most catchy displays.

 

Gloria Arroyo as President Evil.  Surely there must be some sort of copyright infringement here.  But I have to admit, this was really funny.

 

No frills and straight to the point.

 

 

These guys were obviously hoping for some sort of aerial coverage.  Are those bilaos?

 

Truth? What about it?

 

The message couldn’t be clearer in this placard.

 

These rallies, for the most part, are showbiz spectacles where you can see some of the freshest celebrities in town.  For example, Jun Lozada, former government official and possible crony turned star witness and martyr.  The Philippines really has a thing for star witnesses, especially the booby-starlet kind, but pays no mind to real evidence.  All you need to do is bathe yourself in the limelight of public opinion and you’re words are as good as gold.

 

Lozada

 

And of course, our embattled Former President Erap Estrada couldn’t resist being, once again, in the spotlight, welcomed onto the stage by no less than the People Power 1 version of GMA, Cory "Yellow" Aquino.  Alas, politicians know no friends and no enemies.  I guess he’s hoping to maybe get back at little at PGMA for his humiliation, wowing none other than the same group of people that ousted him in the first place.  What a dumb bunch of yokels and hicks.  Or maybe they were just as surprised as I was that he was there.

 

 

Erap in Fire Brigade red jacket and shoes.  The yellow smudge on the upper left hand corner of the second picture is Cory, I think.

 

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim was also there.  Not sure what his part was, but I’m certain it has something to do with bud, Erap.

 

 

But, these politico-celebs pale in comparison to the real celebrities. V for Vendetta managed to take time off from plotting against the soon-to-be dystopian United Kingdom and shared with us his most memorable quotable quote.  I never imagined the very verbose, vivaciousand vociferous vigilante would have such bad spelling. Hmm.

 

 

The great thing about rallies is that you get a great composition of Filipinos, and even foreigners, from all walks of life.  It’s like a zoo, only better.  There were students, journalists, workers, doctors, children, old people, young people, etc.

 

This guy was game for a pose. 

 

Foreigners.  I think they’re just tourists who were lost.  Maybe they thought it was a concert.

 

Not sure what message he’s trying to communicate. 

 

As usual, it was a big deal for the media that La Salle and Ateneo students attended the event, as if it were some sort of validation from the Illustrados of society.  Ironically, a few batches ago, these were the very students that joined the rally to oust Erap.

 

Creative but pink? 

 

Even the old and disable wanted to be in on it. 

 

Many vendors saw this as an opportunity to make a few bucks.

 

The Philippines is already fed up with these protestations and impeachments, or so they say.  Another People Power is not going to happen and, even if it does, it’s probably not going to work.  We had several opportunities in the past to make sweeping changes in politics but couldn’t follow through.  We are a society of complainers who, if they don’t see results or don’t get what they want, will take to the streets in vehement protest but no further.  Maybe we don’t really want to be part of the process, or we’re just too busy with our lives but it’s apparent that nothing’s going to happen if after demanding change, we go back to the comforts of our home, watch TV and wait for the good graces to fall on our laps.

 

Ninoy, could he have led the change?