When Nepal protested, the Philippines awoke

The Philippines and Nepal are both countries that share similarities when it comes to corruption in their governments. In Nepal, a movement going on, nicknamed the “Gen Z Movement,” had emerged with people taking to the streets and protesting their rights, challenging authoritarianism, and taking justice into their own hands, with even the prime minister resigning after two days of constant pressure from the people. The “Gen Z Movement” went viral on various social media outlets, and most of Asia, including the Philippines, had witnessed one of the largest political transformations of the 21st century.

Movements like this are showing that the younger generations are done accepting these injustices, and this can be seen surging throughout the Philippines. Filipinos are starting to walk down the streets with signs protesting the corruption and unfairness of the government. One of the main sparks being the so-called “Nepo Babies” and the trend of officials pocketing budgets that were meant to be for flood control projects or bridges. The Filipinos, much like the Nepalese, are taking a stand and trying to enact change.

These marches and protests are merely the beginning. Change is happening, and it is up to the Filipino people to implement these changes. With houses submerged and projects being abandoned, the Filipinos are holding their government accountable and demanding change. The neighboring Asian countries have been watching closely and are fighting back against corruption in their home countries, with Nepal showing the world that it's possible. The Philippines, suffering from similar problems, is finding its voice and no longer accepting the abuse.

Nepal has started a new era, and the Philippines is now at its turning point. Only time will tell what will happen next, but one thing is for certain. With corruption and injustice present, there will always be people who will fight against those injustices and eliminate unfairness. It is human nature to want equality, and it's not a matter of if but when it will happen, and in the instance of the Philippines, it might just be around the corner. But it raises the question, will protests be enough to change this flawed system?

Trevor KlydeApa

Political Science Student University of Cebu