Evil May Day - ROSES AND THORNS by Alejandro R. Roces

Before the war, the first of May was historically associated with Commodore George Dewey’s victory over the Spanish fleet under Admiral Patricio Montojo in the Battle of Manila Bay. It was not till 15 years later that May 1st became Labor Day. But the biggest common-man’s May celebration was the feast of San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers. To this day, the San Isidro Labrador fiesta is one of the most colorful Filipino festivities. In Pulilan, Bulacan, it is observed with carabaos marching in procession. It is very touching to see them kneeling one by one in front of the church. In Lucena and Sariaya the same feast is celebrated by decorating the streets with colorful folk material. No fiesta has a more indigenous touch.

The month of May is also traditionally celebrated with two religious celebrations – the Sta. Cruz de Mayo and the Flores de Mayo. The Sta. Cruz de Mayo commemorates the finding of the true cross by the Empress St. Helena. The Flores de Mayo is a devotion to the Virgin Mary. Both celebrations are the forerunners of our modern beauty contests, for both always feature the most beautiful girls in the neighborhood who walk in procession as Sta. Elena, Reyna de las Flores and Rosa Mistica.

Last May 1 was undoubtedly the worst May Day in Philippine history. The irony is that the Philippines was not alone. London, Berlin and Sydney had identical problems. For London, it was nothing new. Way back in May 1 of 1517, London apprentices attacked the foreign merchants and artisans and the event came to be historically known as Evil May Day. And in the past few years, May Day demonstrations have become a regular occurrence in London. In last year’s demonstration, the unruly mob daubed the cenotaph in Whitehall with graffiti, splashed green paint on a statue of Winston Churchill and dug up the lawn in Parliament Square. To prevent a recurrence, the Metropolitan police in London pledged a "zero-tolerance" policy this year. Barricades were erected around Parliament Square where workmen boarded up the statues of Churchill and Abraham Lincoln. It took 6000 police officers to keep order in the streets. Forty people were arrested.

In Berlin, 500 protesters erected barricades, started fires and hurled stones and bottles at the police. The police had to use water cannons to disperse the rioters. In two separate incidents, 6000 people confronted the police, while elsewhere 500 clashed with the authorities. No less than 40 people were apprehended.

So our May Day riot was not exclusive. We just hope it does not become a May Day tradition.