A tale of two rallies

Last week there were two political rallies in Metro Manila, staged in two different locations, and with two slightly different objectives. Whether these two rallies achieved their objectives or changed the political environment and narrative, were the subject of analysis and discussions in the subsequent days, including its effects/implications on the PBBM administration, the Marcos family, the Duterte political ambitions, and the ongoing DPWH corruption scandals.

The Iglesia ni Kristo (INK) rally in Luneta, with some 600,000 attendees, was officially for government accountability, transparency, and good governance in response to the DPWH corruption scandals. It was not supposed to demand the ouster/resignation of PBBM or call for a change in government. Presumably, these were the agreement between Malacañang and the heads of the INK. In the early hours of Sunday, the INK marshals sidelined/removed the placards/posters demanding the ouster/resignation of PBBM, and in the speeches. During the second day of the rally, with the crowd still large and vibrant, the anti-PBBM activists could not let the opportunity pass, so that speeches against PBBM by known pro-Duterte politicians were allowed, and eventually the fiery scorch-the-family speech of Imee Marcos, including drug addiction of their family members. Her speech literally broke the camel’s back and ended the rally on its second day, as Malacañang had alerted the INK of the agreement and its repercussions on INK.

The other rally in the EDSA People Power monument had an estimated crowd of less than 5,000 attendees, but was a more belligerent group. There were more incendiary speeches and calls for PBBM’s ouster and resignation, but these were drowned and overtaken by the more explosive happenings in the Luneta INK rally on the second day. However, attendees of the EDSA rally claimed to have better food provisions than the Luneta attendees.

The INK rally in Luneta was well organized. The buses, vans, and other vehicles that brought the attendees had designated parking areas, the crowds were properly directed to the right places with the proper T-shirts, and they brought with them personal weather gear and provisions. Tents and rest equipment were also provided. It can be believed that the attendees were not paid to attend the rally, and they did bring their own provisions. The INK hierarchy provided the transportation, and all the other expenses of the attendees were deductible from their monthly “tithes/mandatory contributions” that are required from all INK members.

The EDSA pro-Duterte crowd, on the other hand, had to be physically funded, so the government are now investigating who provided the funds for the food, transportation, allowances, and other expenses. The financiers are also wondering if the funds were properly accounted and the results worth the sparse crowd and the results.

Majority of the independent post-rally analysis and prognosis are of the opinion that the two rallies did not alter/change the current political equation/situation. No gain or advantage can be claimed by the anti-BBM/pro-Duterte side, but neither can the pro-BBM side claim any victory. It did not weaken the PBBM administration, but it damaged more the Marcos family reputation that the family has been trying to rehabilitate. However, both rallies highlighted the need for the government to fast-track the resolution of the DPWH graft investigations, and for those guilty to be in jail and the money recovered as soon as possible.

Both rallies also spurred the filing in Congress of the anti-political dynasty bill and the amendments to the partylist representatives bill, that may become laws in 2026 with further push from the Filipino people. These are the unintended consequences of the two rallies, but will be the intended consequences of the coming November 30 civil society rally.