'Disgusted' citizenry get off fence to join pork-barrel protest

A 25-year-old graphic artist, Ej David will be joining Monday's “Million People March” protest on the pork barrel fund. He had never before joined a street protest. “Asar na asar ako sa mga pangyayari,” said David. “Dahil nakakapikon na walang nangyayari sa binabayaran kong tax, habang sobrang daming naghihirap sa bansang ‘to.” Markus Alcantara, a 22-year-old high school teacher will be joining David on Monday's march. And like, Alcantara, he, too, is a first time protester. “I believe that even though Pres. Aquino has finally shown some initiative last Friday to abolish the PDAF… the government needs to see that their constituents are not naive [to]... the injustices and corruption that is happening. “We are now beyond disappointed.” Recent revelations on an alleged pork barrel scam, in which 200 lawmakers misused the Priority Assistance Development fund for kickbacks totaling in the billions of pesos, has so galled sections of the public that they feel the need to take to the streets. The echoes of EDSA 1 and 2 is not lost on Monday's would be protesters. Marilou Syjueco, 50, had last taken to the streets during the Marcos era but has since lost interest in protests. But the pork barrel scam has prompted her to return to the streets, and this time, she convinced her daughter, Marie, 24, to join her. “Pagktapos niya mag-aktibista nung panahon ni Marcos... Sabi niya, hindi lahat ng problema protesta ang solusyon,” said daughter Marie. “May mga proseso na pwedeng gawin para masolusyunan ang mga problema. “But, now... worth it suportahan ito [ang prostesa para tanggalin ang pork barrel].” Aside from the organized bodies like militant groups, church, schools, and non-government organizations, Peachy Betaña, one initiator of the pork-barrel protest, projected that it would be individual, concerned citizens that would make up the crowd. “Mas maraming pupunta na hindi group, hindi organized or hindi affiliated kaya lumaki ng ganito [‘yung event].” Social media driven protest Branded as a “pocket picnic” for taxpayers who are demanding that the pork barrel be scrapped, Monday’s Luneta protest started from an online call for a “Million People March.” The call was given a date, August 26 (also National Heroes Day) and an event page for the march was set up. Hours after the creation of the Facebook page, thousands had committed to the protest. According to Betaña, who came up with the date and place for the protest, there was no single leader or personality fronting the march. Volunteers had made things happen. “I was disgusted. I am frustrated at nasusuka sa mga pangyayari kasi gusto kong magprotesta kahit ako mag-isa. Pero siyempre mas maganda kung may kasama,” Bretaña told GMA News online in a phone interview. For his part, Vonz Santos, chairman of group Filipino Unite and event volunteer, noted that the “leaderless protest” was a testament to the Filipino people as a collective of leaders. “We’re all the bosses. We are all stepping up as leaders.” Offline protest, online support The Million People Protest, as it begins at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, will not be leaving the online world behind. Aware that this was where it all started, a giant LED monitor will display posts gathered from social media sites. Netizens who cannot join the “real” protest, can show their “virtual” support by posting their thoughts on the pork-barrel issue via social media websites like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. “We are not leaving the netizens because we want to keep that nature of event,” Vince Lazatin, executive director of Transparency and Accountability Network, told GMA News Online. Meanwhile, the crowd of protesters will be arranged with big groups asked to occupy the grandstand’s outer circle, while individuals or smaller groups were asked to stay in the inner section. According to Santos, they have a permit for the march, which allowed the gathering from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. “Between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, there will be no real program per se,” Santos said. Individual groups may set-up their own activities where anyone may listen and walk-in. “We have no program because once you have a program, you are putting political color on the event. Some people who will be attending a rally for the very first time don’t want political color. It is just a coming together of people,” Lazatin noted. After 2 p.m., there will be two separate events that people may choose to attend – a march going to Malacañang Palace in Mendiola and a concert at the grandstand. Volunteer-organizers of the event were split on what would happen after the Million Person March on Monday. “Beyond August 26, I will go back to my private life but I will stay vigilant. We will not take this sitting down,” Bretaña said, adding that online protest against the pork barrel will continue. For his part, Santos said, “If the Monday protest reaches the threshold, I will be supporting specific groups.” — DVM, GMA News