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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider 'Grand Mañanita' Freedom Day protest at UP

'Grand Mañanita' Freedom Day protest at UP

Published Jun 12, 2020 12:00 am
By Joseph Almer Pedrajas  Hundreds of people, mostly youth, defied not only the quarantine protocols but also the gloomy weather as they marched through the streets of Quezon City before convening at the University of the Philippines - Diliman campus to stage what they called the “Grand Mañanita” protest on Friday, to commemorate the Philippines’ 122nd Independence Day. Protesters wearing face masks and shields carry anti-terror bill placards as they march at a university campus in Manila on June 12, 2020. - Lawmkers earlier this month passed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which allows warrantless arrests, weeks of detention without charge and other measures that critics fear could be used to crack down on peaceful government opponents. (Photo by Miggy Hilario / AFP) Protesters wearing face masks and shields carry anti-terror bill placards as they march at a university campus in Manila on June 12, 2020. - Lawmakers earlier this month passed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which allows warrantless arrests, weeks of detention without charge and other measures that critics fear could be used to crack down on peaceful government opponents. (Photo by Miggy Hilario / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN) Various progressive groups called for the abolition of the anti-terror bill, equal implementation of the law and intensified efforts to contain and mitigate the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), among other issues. "There is nothing more urgent now than focusing on protecting the health and well-being of the people. Address the backlogs on testing, tracing and validation of cases, ensure support for relief and subsidies, and uphold freedom and democracy," said Rep. Sarah Elago of Kabataan Partylist, which was one of the progressive groups that participated in the gathering. The protest followed a birthday party theme, with attendees holding balloons and artistic placards, which bore their messages of dissent, as well as wearing party hats and colorful costumes. Several people were also giving away food. A karaoke was even set up and several "protest" cakes poured in. Max Santiago of UgatLahi said that, as an expression of resistance, he wore a head gear of Voltes V, a popular Japanese anime character. "Noong 80s, yung naging simbolo ng resistance, kasi yun ang pinatanggal ni Marcos eh. Ito, parang binabalikan natin. Ito yung tamang paggamit . We're just recalling it. And this is the right avenue]," Santiago said. One of the cakes served at Sinas' birthday was also designed as Voltes V. “Grand Mañanita” is a mimicry of the birthday celebration of Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, who drew flak after allowing scores of his men to celebrate his birthday amid prohibition of mass gathering. He defended the event, saying it was a “mañanita” or early morning celebration. Protesters visibly observed social distancing through standing at white X-marks along University Avenue and wore face masks as protection against the threat of COVID-19. The gathering at UP started by 10 a.m. and ended before 12 noon, with the patriotic song "Bayan Ko" being performed twice. The protest turned out generally peaceful, with no arrests made, unlike in a similar protest rally held in UP Cebu last week. Quezon City Police Director Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo issued a warning earlier in the day that they would be forced to make arrests if protesters would not disperse. Police put up a checkpoint before entering the UP campus and refused entry to some who wanted to attend the gathering. "Dati naman wala sila dito sa paligid ng UP eh. Ngayon, bigla sila nandyan. Syempre, baka may nadiscourage na pumunta. Pero ako naman, wala naman silang hinuli, so okay naman. Kung wala namang ginawa yung pulis, edi okay ," Lawyer Neri Colmenares said in an interview. Among other known personalities who attended the protest included: activist leader Renato Reyes, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada and performance actress and activist Mae Paner. "We have to speak out now. Because if we don't speak out now baka dumating ang oras na we will not be able to speak out. We draw the line now," Reyes told the Manila Bulletin. Paner, who cut short her hair, dressed up as Sinas, who was wearing an orange shirt during his birthday celebration, and addressed the crowd, mimicking the Metro Manila police chief. Paner said, she was "glad" to see that "many of the youth" joined the protest "to express their love for the country." "If there's any one thing that makes me feel really proud and very hopeful for the future is seeing na marami ang youth, the future is theirs today...it makes me believe that there is hope," she added.
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