MANILA, Philippines – On Sunday, September 21, Filipino celebrities weren’t noticed on display screen the place they often are.
The day noticed two main protests unfold in Metro Manila: the Baha sa Luneta in Luneta Park, Manila, and the Trillion Peso March on the EDSA Individuals Energy Monument in Quezon Metropolis.
Most of the most well-known actors and actresses took to the streets for each rallies — utilizing their platforms to take a stand towards corruption after the flood management scandal sparked righteous outrage among the many public.
Vice Ganda
Maybe essentially the most resounding presence was that of Vice Ganda, who delivered a strong speech on stage on the Trillion Peso March — hurling expletives on the politicians who proceed to pocket the taxes tens of millions of Filipinos work arduous to pay.
The actor-host was acknowledged as one of many high taxpaying Filipino media personalities in March.
Vice Ganda stored issues fully unfiltered, reasoning that these politicians have by no means been form to Filipinos, so why ought to she, on this occasion, be form?
The It’s Showtime host initially referred to as for the imprisonment of corrupt politicians, however determined that it wasn’t sufficient.
“Ikulong ang mga magnanakaw. Para sa akin, hindi nga sapat ang kulong e. Dapat patayin ang mga korap na magnanakaw! Ibalik ang demise penalty para sa mga korap!” Vice Ganda exclaimed as she referred to as for lawmakers to reimpliment the demise penalty only for the thieves masquerading as public servants.
(Jail all thieves. For me, imprisonment isn’t even sufficient. These corrupt thieves needs to be killed! Convey again the demise penalty for the corrupt!)
Vice Ganda then challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos — to throw the entire corrupt politicians in jail if he needs to repair his legacy, not as a result of she idolizes him, however as a result of it’s the Filipinos who pay his salaries.
The Praybeyt Benjamin star was joined on stage by different celebrities like Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Gabbi Garcia, Khalil Ramos, Ion Perez, Iza Calzado, Donny Pangilinan, Darren Espanto, and Catriona Grey, who was additionally named one of many high superstar taxpayers.
Jodi Sta. Maria
The Baha sa Luneta protest marked Jodi Sta. Maria’s first time to affix a rally.
Talking on stage on the occasion, the actress emphasised that it doesn’t matter what sector you’re from, what establishment you’re from, or what college you graduated from, what issues is that you’re a Filipino who deserves to pay attention to the nationwide state of affairs, and the place your taxes are actually going.
“Para sa akin, importante na could managot. Hindi puwedeng wala e, kasi ilang beses na ‘to nangyari. Ilang rebolusyon na ang pinagdaanan natin simula nu’ng unang EDSA, EDSA dos, [at] EDSA tres,” Sta. Maria mentioned.
(For me, it’s essential that somebody will get held accountable. We are able to’t enable in any other case, as a result of this has occurred quite a few instances earlier than. We’ve gone by means of a number of revolutions, ranging from the primary EDSA, EDSA dos, [and] EDSA tres.)
Sta. Maria’s speech was a name for Filipinos to maintain working collectively to repair the damaged system that has allowed thievery within the authorities to thrive.
“Dapat ‘wag tayong tumigil. Collectively, could magagawa po tayo. Hindi ito kilos ng iisang tao lamang. We’ve got to work as a rustic, tayong lahat, as a folks. Kailangan pong kumilos tayo. Kailangan po na marinig ang boses natin, na gusto nating baguhin ang sistema,” she mentioned.
(We shouldn’t cease. Collectively, we are able to do one thing. This isn’t the job of only one individual. We’ve got to work as a rustic, all of us, as a folks. We have to transfer. We have to be heard talking up about how we wish to change the system.)
Angel Aquino
Talking on the identical stage, Angel Aquino additionally inspired the general public to be vigilant towards corruption.
Aquino shared that she had been talking out towards corruption within the Philippines since she was a child, however issues appear to have solely gotten worse.
“Parang mas ‘in our face’ nila ginagawa ‘yung pagnanakaw nila, ‘yung paglulustay nila sa mga pera natin. Taxpayer din po ako. Mayroon akong dalawang anak na tinataguyod. Could pamilya akong tinataguyod. Masakit para sa akin na sa kanila (politiko) napupunta ang pera natin,” she mentioned.
(It feels just like the theft and their squandering of our cash are extra “in our face” now. I’m additionally a taxpayer. I’ve two children that I’m supporting. I’m supporting my household. It hurts that our cash goes to those politicians.)
Aquino ended her speech with a name for justice for the Filipino folks.
Tessie Tomas
Tessie Tomas shared the identical stage as Sta. Maria and Aquino, talking from the attitude of a UP graduate who witnessed a rally of this reduce within the ’70s.
“Tingin ko lang po, sa aking humble opinion, bumaba lahat ng nasa puwesto! Ibalik ang kapangyarihan sa Pilipinas!” Tomas exclaimed, giving a particular point out to the federal government officers holding positions from the presidency as much as the senate.
(I believe, in my humble opinion, that each one authorities officers ought to step down from their positions. Convey energy again to the Filipino folks!)
Tomas additionally requested that Filipinos be allowed to have a “peaceable snap election.”
Elijah Canlas
Actor Elijah Canlas took the stage on the EDSA Individuals Energy Monument to attest that it’s the Filipinos’ proper to know the place their cash goes.
Canlas spoke about how the taxes Filipinos work arduous to pay merely get pocketed by senators concerned in receiving kickbacks, the DPWH officers, politicians, and congressmen who gamble them away in casinos, and the “nepo infants” who get to flaunt their wealth on social media.
“Samantalang ang karaniwang Pinoy, anong nangyayari? Naiiwang nagdurusa sa baha, at kawalan ng hanapbuhay. Papayag ba tayo doon? (All of the whereas, the common Filipino is left affected by floods, and shedding their jobs. Are we going to permit that to occur?)” Canlas yells as the group responds with a convincing “Hindi! (No!)”
Maris Racal
Maris Racal joined the Luneta Park rally, selecting to talk towards the grave misuse of Filipino taxpayers’ cash.
“Sana iparamdam ‘nyo sa amin ang mga guarantees ‘nyo nu’ng tumatakbo kayo. Sa tuwing bumibili kayo ng mga bagong mansyon, sana maiisip ‘nyo kami,” she declared right into a megaphone, addressing the thieves in congress.
(I want you can all enable us to really feel the whole lot you promised once you have been all simply working in your positions. Each time you purchase a brand new mansion, I hope you consider us.)
The actress was additionally noticed holding up an indication that learn, “Lahat ng korap, dapat managot! (The corrupt should be held accountable!)”
Andrea Brillantes
Andrea Brillantes was additionally current on the Luneta Park rally, documenting her expertise in a TikTok video because the 22-year-old actress walked the streets with fellow protesters and listened to their requires justice.
Brillantes later shared segments of the rally on her Instagram web page, together with a photograph of her holding up the identical signal Racal was seen with: “Lahat ng korap, dapat managot! (The corrupt should be held accountable!)”
“Hindi madali, pero importante. Nandito tayo. Walang makakalimot! At sana, wag lang po hanggang social media,” she captioned her publish.
(Not straightforward, however essential. We’re right here. Nobody will overlook! And I hope [our protests] aren’t simply on social media.)
Kaila Estrada
Kaila Estrada joined the Trillion Peso March on the EDSA Individuals Energy Monument in Quezon Metropolis, holding up an indication that claims, “Pera ng bayan, ibalik sa bayan (Return the nation’s cash to the nation).”
Estrada posted images and movies from the rally on her Instagram web page, sharing that she bore witness to the energy of the Filipino folks as they referred to as for justice.
“Hindi tayo titigil hangga’t could mali, at hindi tayo titigil hangga’t could dapat ipaglaban. Bayan natin ‘to,” she wrote.
(We gained’t cease so long as there’s one thing incorrect, and we gained’t cease so long as there’s one thing we have to combat for. That is our nation.)
Superstar runners
There have been additionally celebrities who selected to voice out their considerations in other ways, like Dingdong Dantes, Kim Atienza, Benjamin Alves, Kim Molina, and Jerald Napoles.
The actors, together with a number of different celebrities, joined a run towards corruption in Ayala, Makati Metropolis, carrying black shirts with calls to finish corruption printed onto them.
Among the many different celebrities who have been noticed within the rallies embody Anne Curtis, Catriona Grey, Nadine Lustre, Julia Barretto, Marjorie Barretto, Leon Barretto, Erwan Heussaff, and Gardo Versoza. – Rappler.com
