Protesters to converge at Luneta on Sept 21

September 19, 2017

A nationwide protest on the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines  on September 21  will proceed whether it is declared a holiday or not, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, co-convenor of the Movement Against Tyranny Tuesday.

"Rain or shine, class or no class we are going to continue", Mananzan said in an interview with DZMM.

President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday he will declare September 21 as a "national day of protest" and government work and classes will be suspended but it is not a holiday.

Mananzan said suspending work and classes might be the "strategy" of the government for people not to participate in the protest.

"Maybe that is their strategy in order to get people not to go  but anyway it's up to the people whatever they want to do. I think this is the time that we should stand up and speak out", she said.

The protest will be held at the Bonifacio shrine in Luneta  park at 4:00 pm.  A mass will be held at the San Agustin church led by Most. Rev Pablo Virgilio David at 2:00 pm before proceeding to the venue, she said.

BAYAN ( Bagong Alyansang Makabayan) Southern Tagalog said in a statement they will hold a morning program at the Bonifacio Shrine with burning of an image of Duterte.

There is  mass-up of schools and institutions along Taft Avenue at 2:30. At 3: 30 pm. the protesters will march from Mendiola to Luneta Park.

Mananzan said they are in "rainbow colors" and they do not distinguish themselves as red or yellow.

She said there will be ringing of the bells in all chapels in Manila at 8:00 pm and a tribute for the grieving mothers who lost their child at the end of the program.

"At 8 all the bells in Manila will ring and we will also ring our own bells... We are also asking to wear something black because we are grieving for these people who are killed. We also have tribute to the mothers ...who lost their child", she said. Alanna Ambi/DMS