A significant public demonstration combining prayer and protest is scheduled for Sunday, November 30, in Cebu City, calling for an end to corruption and demanding greater transparency in government.
Event Details and Call to Action
The event will commence with a Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica del Sto. Niño at 2:30 p.m.. Following the mass, participants will embark on a march towards Fuente Osmeña. Organizers are urging the public to attend and let their collective cry for an honest government be heard, emphasizing that this effort is for the future of their children and grandchildren.
The gathering is intentionally designed as a prayer rally, focusing on two core aspects. First, it is a call for communal prayer, seeking divine intervention to touch the consciences of those allegedly involved in stealing from national coffers. Second, it serves as a rally to raise public consciousness about the pressing issues of corruption and the need for accountability.
Historical Echoes on Bonifacio Day
The timing of the protest on Bonifacio Day holds profound symbolic weight. Unlike Dr. Jose Rizal, revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio was executed by his fellow Filipinos, a painful and divisive chapter in the nation's history. His bones have never been conclusively found, nearly 130 years after his death.
Reflecting on this history reveals unsettling parallels with modern times. The infighting between the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions of the Katipunan, driven by personal ambition, mirrors the lack of unity that often plagues efforts against corruption today. Historical accounts of alleged cheating during the Tejeros Convention and the subsequent refusal to acknowledge the results, coupled with the lack of due process in Bonifacio's execution, serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of division and injustice.
The rally aims to learn from these historical mistakes. The message behind Bonifacio's tearing of the cedula, which was "Tama na!" (Enough!), finds its modern counterpart in the rallying cry "Ikulong na yan!" (Lock them up!). The event calls for setting aside ideological differences to present a united front against the common enemy of corruption.
A Season of Active Waiting and Hope
Furthermore, the protest falls on the first Sunday of Advent, a season symbolizing waiting and anticipation for the coming of God. However, this waiting is not meant to be passive. Organizers stress that the coming of God is manifested in the collective pursuit of justice and truth.
True spirituality, in this context, is integrated with the demand for transparency and justice, especially for the poor who suffer from corrupt practices like ghost projects. The righteous outrage over the victimization of the poor is seen as a space where God is actively visiting the nation.
The convergence of Bonifacio Day and the Advent season creates a powerful call to action: to actively work for a better government and a more just society, learning from the painful lessons of the past while holding onto hope for the future.
