LAYOUT | Lander San Buenaventura, Layout Artist
Numerous progressive groups, student activists, and concerned citizens assembled at the Battle of Legaspi Monument, Legazpi City to protest against corruption on the 53rd Martial Law Commemoration day on Sunday, September 21.
The Albay Movement Against Corruption (AMAC) fronted the movement that started at the Redemptorists Church for a mass followed by the “Walk Against Corruption” rally through the city to the monument.
Cry for change
Alongside AMAC, many active figures of movement joined the cause like BUeños Kontra Korapsyon (BKK), Bicolana Gabriela, Kabataan Party-list (KPL) - Albay, Rise 4 Education - Bicol University (R4E-BU), National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), church members, various student-led organizations, and representatives of different working and community sectors.
Each platform present in protest announced their sentiments — expressing their disgust, abhorrence, and call to action towards a corrupt government.
“...Dakulon baga an satuyang kwarta. Trilyon po ang pig-uulayan dito. 1.3 Trilyon an budget puon 2022-2025. Kaya dapat inalik na ninda sa taumbayan,” an activist, who requested anonymity, shared.
Meanwhile, Nic Valencia, representative for BUEÑOS Kontra Korapsyon, expressed her words of empowerment for the youth.
She also stressed the severity of the current situation circulating around the military presence in the Bicol University College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (BUCSSP).
Pivotal March
Amid the unpredictable weather, participants still shared enthusiasm from the rally.
“Gusto ko ang rally ngayon. Kasi marami ang nag join as compared to our rally last 2022.” Ezekiah Venice Gillego, a student from College of Science (CS) BS Biology expressed in an interview.
“Dapat if gagawa ng movement, movement ng lahat. Kasi lahat tayo apektado eh. Nagkataon lang talaga na galing sa atin yung (initiative). Yung isa sa mga sangkot, one of the biggest contributor, is from Legazpi, makasusupog,” Gillego said.
Furthermore, the Albay-based group named Sining Banwa and cast of “Higit sa Pag-ibig: the Musical” showcased cultural performances anchored to their protest.
Right to Protest
Participants of the rally were a diverse population of students, concerned citizens, the working sector, and few members of the church.
Nica Ombao, the regional coordinator for Bicolana Gabriela has expressed her expectations for a peaceful protest, saying that it is a democratic right.
“Karapatan natin ‘to bilang Pilipino. Karapatan nating mag salita, tayo ay demokrasya, ‘di ba?” Ombao stated.
“Sana walang state forces na mag-intervene at mang-harass like they always do kasi this is ano, this is the democratic–this is (our) right of the Bicolanos and the Filipino people na magpahayag ng kanilang galit, ng kanilang sama ng loob, ng kanilang discontent sa nangyayari sa bansa natin ngayon,” Ombao added.
Meanwhile, the rally concluded without reports of escalated riots nor state-force interventions.
Furthermore, attendees dispersed right after and AMAC even handed out food packs to the attendees because the event ended past noon.
*Originally published on September 22, 2025
