Walk for Democracy participants march to the Philippine Center to highlight their opposition to the Marcos-Duterte tandem | Photo by Marion Aguas
NEW YORK – An estimated 700 people representing a diverse coalition of over ten organizations took on the streets on Sunday, March 27, for Walk for Democracy. Organizers said the event was broad opposition to the Marcos-Duterte tandem and a “show of our resolute unity to send a strong message that we demand a clean and honest election in the Philippines on May 2022.”
Endorsing organizations included 1Sambayan USA – Northeast, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan USA – Northeast, Filipino Migrants for Leni Kiko, Global Filipinos for Leni, Malaya Movement NJ Chapter, Malaya Movement NY Chapter, Solid Leni Kiko Global, Team Leni Robredo Pinoys NYC, United Filipinos for Leni North America, and Young Global Filipinos for Leni.
Supporters of presidential candidate Leni Robredo and teammate Senator Kiko Pangilinan assembled at Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan before marching to the Philippine Center, home of the Philippine Consulate General in New York and other government offices, on 5th Avenue.
Jillian Robredo, youngest daughter of incumbent vice president Leni Robredo, also addressed the crowd. “Alam ko pong mahirap maging malayo sa Pilipinas kapag ang daming nangyayari. Pero nakakabilib po na sa inyong lahat na nandito kayo ngayon, standing up for democracy kahit napakalayo natin,” she said. “Pinapakita natin kahit 8,000 miles away tayo sa Pilipinas na may pakialam pa rin tayo sa anong nagyayari sa atin, sa ating bayan.” (I know it’s hard to be far from the Philippines when so much is happening [there]. But I believe in you all who are here today standing up for democracy even if we are far away. We are demonstrating that even though we are 8,000 miles away from the Philippines, we still care about what’s happening back home, in our nation.)”
“Nandirito po tayong lahat (We are all here) because we would like to better the social, economic, and political conditions back in our homeland, the Philippines…In the dark era of disinformation, fake news, and manufactured truths, we would like to call on the Commission on Elections of the Philippines…to have honest, clean, orderly, peaceful, and credible elections that we as a people can trust,” Frankie Pangilinan, daughter of senator Pangilinan, said. “This is a democracy, and we will defend it. But freedom and democracy are not…hindi po yan minamana (these are not inherited). Pinaglalabanan po yan. (They must be fought for.) It’s a continuous fight, walang katapusan po ang laban. (The fight never ends.).”
Several groups expressed their objection to traditional dirty politics and chanted “tama na sobra na! (Enough is enough!)” to the corrupt political dynasties that dominate Philippine politics, especially the Marcos-Duterte faction,” in front of the Philippine Center. Loida Nicolas Lewis of Global Filipinos for Leni Kiko and other speakers urged participants to contact their relatives in the Philippines to encourage them to vote for progressive party lists and senatorial candidates over the next 35 days of the campaign period.
Adrian Bonifacio of BAYAN USA cited alleged red-tagging tactics by President Duterte’s administration against the political opposition and human rights defenders. He called on Filipinos across the globe to unite against growing fascism in the Philippines. “Ang ating pagkakaisa ang kinatatakutan nila Marcos at Duterte dahil alam na alam nila kung gaano ito kalakas. Kaya naglunsad ang gobyerno ng all out offensive, para takutin tayo, para paghiwalayin tayo. (Our unity is what Marcos and Duterte are afraid of because they know well how strong it is. That is why the government launched an all-out offensive [to attack us], scare us, and divide us.).”
The group also questioned the credibility of the upcoming elections with the recent appointment of Marcos’ lawyer to the Commission on Elections. It said that the harassment and sabotage of Leni-Kiko and other candidates’ campaign activities had raised the alarm among civil society groups.
In response to these issues, march participants clamored for increased transparency and better governance. “Milyon ang nagugutom sa Pilipinas dahil sa korapsyon. Ipaglaban po natin si VP Leni, si Kiko para po maging epektibo ang kanilang gobyerno…Ito pong laban na ito ay laban ng mabuti at masama. Doon po tayo sa mabuti lamang, sa katotohanan at sa malinis na gobyerno. (Millions are starving in the Philippines because of corruption. We must fight for Vice President Leni and Kiko so their government can be effective. This is a battle of good and evil. We are for the good, the truth, and clean governance),” said Nida Gonzales-Chan of United Filipinos of North America.
Matt Rosales of 1Sambayan USA-Northeast said, “the future of our country is in our hands.” Other participants in the rally encouraged fellow Filipinos to amplify the demand for genuine, pro-people change and progress by supporting the growing opposition.
The coalition said they intend to continue their momentum and grow the people’s opposition movement with Angat Buhay Walk on April 3 at Lincoln Park in Jersey City.
— With Jay Domingo/PDM
