MANILA, Philippines — Participants began arriving at Luneta Park on Sunday, September 21, hours before the “Baha sa Luneta” rally.
The main program is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., featuring prayers and messages from faith leaders, youth representatives, and civic organizations. Lawmakers and celebrities were also expected to join the action.
By 7 a.m., groups of faith leaders, youth, students, and residents of flood-prone communities were seen gathering near the Rizal Monument, setting up banners, tying white ribbons, and preparing sound systems. Organizers encouraged attendees to wear white as a symbol of unity and prayerful protest.
Parallel mobilizations also took place across Metro Manila. At the University of the Philippines Diliman, the campus community gathered at Quezon Hall to mark the Martial Law anniversary, with plans to merge later in the day with mass protests at Luneta and EDSA.
Students from UP Manila and other colleges along Taft Avenue marched under the banner of “ONE TAFT” to join the Luneta rally. They carried placards condemning the alleged diversion of billions of pesos in flood-control funds by contractors, lawmakers, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Sectoral groups from Southern Tagalog also marched along Kalaw Avenue, while contingents from Liwasang Bonifacio proceeded to Luneta chanting, “Ang mga kurakot, dapat managot” and “Never Again to Martial Law.”
Protest organizers said that no contractors or politicians linked to the anomalies were involved in the Luneta program, which was designed to focus on citizen voices, civic groups, and faith leaders.
The rally, expected to draw tens of thousands, coincides with the 53rd anniversary of Martial Law. Organizers described it as a moral and civic stand demanding accountability for alleged multi-trillion peso corruption in anomalous flood-control and infrastructure projects.
Convened by the Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (TAMA NA), the Luneta protest has drawn support from Greenpeace, Makabayan, Gabriela, Partido Lakas Masa, Kilusang Mayo Uno, and various civil society and church groups.
