Marking the upcoming 54th Martial Law anniversary, youth groups and organizations led the Walk for Truth and Justice today, Sept. 20, at Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City, carrying the theme, “Gen Z, one year after the Trillion-Peso March: Finish the fight vs. corruption, end dynasties.”
Akbayan Youth, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), and Youth Against Kurakot (YAK) spearheaded the protest, with several representative groups from colleges and universities around the metro showing their support. Participants assembled at La Salle Green Hills and chanted through the streets of Ortigas Avenue to the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, or EDSA Shrine.
The program started with opening remarks from Fr. Robert Reyes from the Clergy of Good Governance, recalling his personal experience during the martial law era. “Huwag po tayong magsasawa [sa pakikibaka]. Nakatutuwa po ngayon, mas marami ang [mga] bata [kaysa] sa [mga] matanda,” he said in acknowledgment of the overwhelming population of youth protesters.
Quoting Jose Rizal, Fr. Reyes further emphasized the role of the youth as catalysts of change, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.”
Akbayan Party president Rafaela David noted in her speech that their message goes beyond convicting individuals and calls for systemic change. “Klaro sa atin na malaki ang ninakaw sa taumbayan [...] alam natin [na] sistema rin ang ating kinakalaban,” she remarked.
The calls for accountability from political figures and corruption cases, and the immediate passage of a genuine anti-political dynasty law were the highlights of the protest. Additionally, various group representatives came forward to assert their advocacies and demands, from the labor sector’s call for higher wages and lower prices to the education sector’s plea to halt budget cuts for state universities.
Christine Catalan from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) chapter of Akbayan Youth, stood against the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), advocating for it to be pushed through this November. “Karapatan natin ‘yun bilang mga lider na estudyante…We hold on to the belief na tayo [mga kabataan] ang magbabago ng mga polisiya [at] ng mga bulok na sistema ng pamahalaan.”
“For the Filipino youth, huwag kayong matakot. Huwag kayong matakot na lumalaban at makibaka. Hindi tayo papayag na palagi na lang ganito,” she added.
The protest carried on with a special participation and speech from actor Elijah Canlas, who plays Edgar “Edjop” Jopson in EDJOP, the film set in the Martial Law era, released on Sept. 16.
In an exclusive interview with The Benildean, Akbayan Youth National Chairperson and YAK Lead Convenor, Khylla Meneses, emphasized that the commemoration should not be confined to a single date, but should instead serve as an everyday reminder of the country’s history and the need to ensure that it does not repeat.
“Anumang araw ay pwedeng gunitain ang Martial Law…lalo na ngayon na may isang Marcos na naman na nakaupo sa administrasyon. Dapat nga araw-araw gawin ‘yung pagkilos na ito para talagang maipanawagan natin na hindi mababaha ang katotohanan…” she stated.
The Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot (KPKK) will hold another rally tomorrow, Sept. 21, at Liwasang Bonifacio to pay tribute to the 54th Martial Law anniversary, alongside the first anniversary of the Baha sa Luneta rally and Trillion Peso March.
The fight against corruption extends beyond a single rally, carried forward by a new generation determined to pave the way for a better system.
