Video by INQUIRER.net’s RYAN LEAGOGO
MANILA, Philippines—Songs, flags and a burnt effigy were all in the center of Mendiola as one militant group called for fairness and the abolishment of imperialism in the Philippine government.
Militant group Kilusang Mayo Uno, together with other groups such as Gabriela, Migrante, Ugat Lahi, Piston, Anakbayan and International League of People’s Struggles, marched from Liwasang Bonifacio to the hallowed grounds of activism to voice out the impunity of the Philippine government and the constant presence of the United States government in the country.
“The government has not given anything to the people,” Bayan Muna Representative Saturnino Ocampo said while members of the militant groups shouted anti-government sentiments.
“What the government should do is to find a way to improve the industry and agriculture sectors to provide decent job for its people.”
Ocampo added that the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer is not enough to alleviate property as it is only a temporary solution.
“What’s important is that to give people the employment opportunities.”
PHOTO BY RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
He pointed out that the government should look to improve the industrial and agricultural sector that could be tapped for better employment opportunities.
Despite the demonstration, Ocampo admitted that President Benigno Aquino III would not do any for the benefit of the workers.
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If the thought of Labor Day rallies evoke thoughts of hundreds of activists tearing through police barricades and going toe-to-toe with the cops, KMU had another kind of protest coming.
Setting up a few meters from the Mendiola Peace Arch, and a 600-strong police force behind it, KMU held song and dance numbers and got a serenade from Broadway singer-turned activist Monique Wilson.
“Art and activism should go together because art is where we can express our anger, frustrations, and demands,” Wilson said before she sang Freddie Aguilar’s “Bayan Ko” to the almost 3,500 militants.
“We should be creative on our protests, and that is how our progressive groups are, that is how Filipinos are, we are very creative.”
She added that with their “entertaining” rally, Aquino should take note of their demands and actually listen to their ire.
“He should stop pretending that he listens to our cries, he should actually listen,” Wilson said.
Though a rather peaceful event, KMU still burnt an 11-foot effigy of Aquino that Crisanto de Leon of Ugat Lahi made for the rally.
De Leon’s effigy feature the president as a robot with a protester dressed as Uncle Sam controlling Aquino with a huge remote control.
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