I went to the Million People March yesterday. As what everyone has been experiencing here in the Philippines, our government is both inefficient and corrupt-- a tandem that just keeps screwing us over. People have finally had it, so on our National Heroes Day, we all just sort of agree to go to Luneta and protest against the pork barrel system, or the budget politicians have for their projects. It wasn't organized by any political group or party, and I believe it's the most patriotic we have been.
We are a confused nation; years of colonization and the challenges of having an intricate archipelago have made it hard to for us to distinguish our identity as a people. With over 400,000 participants from all social classes and provinces gathered for a peaceful, non-organized protest, this event is a bold statement to ourselves and to the world that what defines and unifies the Philippines today is our demand for a straight and honest system.
The weather was chilly, but I was walking around this historical event while eating Buko Salad ice candy with friends. What we were doing felt simple yet momentous. We were experiencing the reason why we are a democracy, biting on a sweet dessert, and feeling the blowing winds change.
