ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Whistle-blower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. managed to speak to the youth of Iloilo even if he could not be physically present.

Lozada, speaking through a phone patch to youth groups holding a protest concert here on Friday night, called on them to remain vigilant and to be relentless in their fight against corruption.

“Don’t stop. There are many anomalies happening in our government. Not one has been resolved. We do not know the truth in even just one of these anomalies,” he said.

Frenzy

Lozada’s surprise statement at the height of the concert on the grounds of the provincial capitol sent the more than 400 protesters, mostly university students, into a frenzy.

The protesters clapped and cheered, at times drowning out Lozada’s speech, as he congratulated them for being part of the protest movement calling for truth and justice in connection with the government’s National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with China’s ZTE Corp.

He asked the help of the youth to push the government to reveal the truth behind the scrapped deal. “I hope that I can rely on you not to stop until the truth on the NBN-ZTE deal will be known.”

Video clips

Lozada announced that he would be coming to Iloilo on March 14 to speak on the NBN-ZTE issue.

Video clips showing caricatures mocking President Macapagal-Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and Commission on Higher Education Chair Romulo Neri were flashed on a giant screen beside the stage. The protesters jeered.

The concert, organized by the Youth for Accountability and Truth (Y Act), was joined by student councils, publications and other organizations from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, University of San Agustin, Central Philippine University, West Visayas State University, and Western Visayas College of Science and Technology.

The concert was also attended by members of Anakbayan, Kabataan Party, League of Filipino Students, National Union of Students of the Philippines, Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral at Kabataang Kababaihan, and the Kristiyanong Kabataan Para sa Bayan, the youth arm of the Jesus Is Lord movement.

Local and school-based rock and folk bands performed, with a mixture of militant and religious songs calling for justice. The concert lasted until past 9 p.m.

The protesters earlier held a torch parade in the main streets. Many of them called for the resignation of Ms Arroyo.

“Some students decided to dance and party in protest instead of hanging out in bars and restaurants, especially since this is a weekend,” said Rizza Joy Mapa, Y Act convenor.

Not limited to Manila

Mapa said the rock concert debunked claims of Ms Arroyo’s allies that the protest actions calling for her resignation were only concentrated in Makati and Manila cities. “The youth are being roused nationwide by the greed and callousness of those holding the highest positions in our country,” he told the Inquirer.

“The youth should fight not only for the future but for today,” said Joy Tababa of the Kristiyanong Kabataan Para sa Bayan

“Our country has suffered so much and for so long already because of corruption and injustice,” she said.

First timers

While activists groups were present, many of those who spoke and attended the protest were first timers, several of whom apologized for stuttering when they spoke before other protesters.

Francis Diocson, 19, said that in the past, he was contented with just watching rallies. “Now, it is not enough to be watching from the sidelines and just reading the pamphlets being given by activists. We have to be involved,” he said.

February, a 19-year old sophomore at the West Visayas State University, said it was inspiring to hear Lozada’s voice. “If he mustered courage to speak out and fight for what is right, why can’t we?” she said.