Protesters didn’t mind the rains and continue the planned Luneta rally against Marcos burial.
Despite of the rains, thousands of Filipinos joined the rally on Friday against the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Based on the crowd estimate, more than 10,000 protesters joined the rally.
Many demonstrators brought umbrellas following the rain on Friday afternoon. They held banners and placards saying “Marcos no hero” and “You can’t bury the truth”.
This is to show their dismay about the surprise burial of Marcos on November 18 when many Filipinos felt betrayed about the happening.
Aside from the students, also joined the protest were those persecuted during martial law under Marcos regime.
To recall, the former president was buried after the judges on the Supreme Court on Nov. 8 ruled 9-5 in favour of throwing out petitions against the burial.
The rallyists wore black, and they began arriving at the Luneta before 4 p.m. separately from Taft Avenue and Liwasang Bonifacio, chanting: “Nandito na ang sambayanan!”
The program proper at the park began at 4 p.m. where performer Juana Change impersonated former first lady Imelda Marcos. As Imelda, Juana Change kissed an effigy of her late husband in a coffin, just like in the photos, holding bags of money.
Chants of the public of “Marcos, Hitler, diktador, tuta!” also echoed in the crowd along with other anti-Marcos slogans held by the protesters.
Some protesters came directly from their schools so they were still in their uniforms as they came at the venue.
Students were from St. Scholastica’s College, University of Sto. Tomas, University of the Philippines Diliman, UP Manila, Adamson University, and Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
There were also other participants like the members of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), Kilusang Mangbubukid ng Pilipinas, ACT Teachers Partylist, and GABRIELA.
They were proudly waving their “Marcos hindi bayani” signs.